BALTIMORE, MD—More Americans are taking extended trips around Independence Day as summer vacations heat up and the flexibility of remote work allows for more time off.

A new report from AAA Travel finds that 70.9 million people will head 50 miles or more from home over the Independence Day holiday travel period, which is 5% higher than 2023 and 8% higher than 2019 when the country hit a record 55.3 million travelers over July 4th week.

The report finds that the busiest pick-up days for car travel are Friday, June 28; Saturday, June 29; and Wednesday, July 3, with gas prices expected to level off and remain relatively stable until after Labor Day. However, AAA warns that the hurricane season, which is currently underway, could negatively impact Gulf Coast oil production and refining centers if a storm makes landfall.

Air travel is also expected to reach a record high, with 5.74 million people flying to their July 4th destinations, which is 7% higher than last year and 12% higher over 2019. Domestic airfare is 2% cheaper this week compared to last year, but AAA recommends arriving two hours early, reserving parking ahead of time, and traveling with carry-on luggage versus checked bags to save time and money.

More than 4.6 million people are also expected to travel by other modes of transportation, including buses, cruises, and trains. This category is seeing an increase of 9% compared to last year, but this year’s number is shy of 2019’s figure of 4.79 million. Cruisers are continuing to find deals this summer, with some cruise lines offering targeted discounts to fill older inventory for remaining cabins.

Source: INRIX

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

Photo via Pixabay