AAA Predicts Record-Breaking Travel For 4th of July Weekend

Los Angeles International Airport Braces For Independence Day Travel Surge — Source: VCG / Getty

A record-breaking number of Americans are traveling this Independence Day holiday, with 72.2 million people expected to travel 50 miles or more from home between June 28 and July 6, according to AAA. This marks a significant jump—1.7 million more travelers than last year, and 7 million more than in 2019, before the pandemic.

A majority of them – about 61.6 million people – are planning to travel by car, an increase of 2.2% or 1.3 million travelers compared with 2024, marking “the highest volume on record,” according to AAA.

Gas prices are expected to rise due to increased holiday travel, but according to AAA, summer fuel costs remain lower than they’ve been since 2021—even with ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

As of Thursday, the national average cost of a gallon of regular gasoline sat at $3.16, down from $3.51 a year ago.

Here’s a comprehensive summary of the best and worst times to travel during the July 4 weekend:

The best and worst times to travel during the Fourth of July holiday weekend:

(The times listed are based on the local time zone)