With Independence Day falling on a Tuesday this year, many Americans are looking forward to a long holiday weekend. A record-setting number of them are expected to travel.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) projects a record-breaking 50.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home. Most folks will drive, with 43.2 million people projected to hit the road. Another 4.17 million will likely fly. And more than 3.3 million are predicted to travel by bus, cruise, or train.
This year’s projection surpasses the Fourth of July weekend record set in 2019 of 49 million travelers.
“We’ve never projected travel numbers this high for Independence Day weekend,” says Senior Vice President of AAA Travel Paula Twidale. “What this tells us is that despite inventory being limited and some prices 50% higher, consumers are not cutting back on travel this summer.”
One factor encouraging drivers is that gas prices have come down considerably from last year when the national average was $4.80 a gallon. Gas prices have remained steady the past couple of months, with the national average hovering around $3.50 to $3.60 a gallon due to the lower cost of oil.
RELATED Law enforcement on high-visibility patrols during holiday
Expect packed roadways
The official holiday travel period this year is 102 hours long. It begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 30, and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4. Friday is expected to be the busiest day on the road, with traffic on Sunday and Monday looking considerably lighter.
Nationwide, the most congested corridors are predictably expected to be those between cities and nearby beaches. Transportation data analytics company INRIX predicts the average travel times on Friday will be up nearly 30% over normal.
Major metros like Boston, Seattle, and Washington DC, are expected to see the worst traffic. INRIX recommends leaving in the morning or after 6 p.m. to avoid the heaviest holiday congestion.
“With record-breaking travelers expected on the road this holiday weekend, drivers should prepare for above-average delays to their favorite destinations,” said INRIX Transportation Analyst Bob Pishue.
Pishue recommends using traffic apps, local DOT notifications, and 511 services to help minimize holiday travel traffic frustrations.
Travelers exiting the Georgia coast along I-16 West between Savannah and Atlanta should prepare for lengthy delays returning home Tuesday. INRIX says peak congestion will be around 6 p.m. on July 4, stretching the normally 4-hour drive to over 6 hours.
SEE ALSO
