Summary
- Record number of travelers expected for Independence Day weekend.
- Driving is the predominant mode of travel, with strategic timing recommended.
- Increased air travel forecast alongside declining domestic airfare.
- Cruise travel returning to pre-pandemic levels.
More than 50 million Americans are expected to travel for the July 4 holiday weekend, marking a historic high for holiday travel.
In total, 50.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more over the holiday period from Friday, June 30, to Tuesday, July 4, according to AAA. This is an increase from the previous July 4 record of 49 million travelers set in 2019, and it reflects 2.1 million more travelers than in 2022.
“We’ve never projected travel numbers this high for Independence Day weekend,” said Paula Twidale, the senior vice president of AAA Travel. “What this tells us is that despite limited inventory and some prices being 50% higher, consumers are not cutting back on travel this summer. Many of them heeded our advice and planned early, indicating strong travel demand.”
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Most travelers will choose to drive, with 43.2 million expected to hit the road. Timing is crucial for these travelers: the busiest day will be Friday, June 30, when average travel times are anticipated to rise by nearly 30%. This trend will be especially pronounced in major metropolitan areas like Boston, Seattle, and Washington D.C.
Conversely, the optimal days for travel will be Sunday, July 2, and Monday, July 3. For those determined to drive on other days during the holiday weekend, it is advisable to depart in the morning or after 6 p.m. to minimize time spent in traffic.
Moreover, July 4 travelers are planning to fly in record numbers, with 4.17 million Americans expected to take to the skies, according to AAA. This represents an 11.2 percent increase from last year and a 6.6 percent rise compared to 2019, when the previous record of air travelers was established.
The forecast is particularly interesting as domestic airfare for the July 4 holiday weekend has dropped by 27 percent compared to last year. This decline occurs even as international travel remains robust. Currently, the average round-trip domestic flight for the holiday weekend costs $300—$100 less than the same period last year—while flights to Europe are experiencing the highest prices in at least five years.
In addition to driving and flying, cruise travel is also returning to pre-pandemic levels, particularly with cruises to Alaska seeing a surge in demand, according to AAA. In total, 3.36 million people are expected to travel by cruise, bus, or train over the holiday weekend, reflecting a 24 percent increase over 2022.
