A record 72.2 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles this week for the Fourth of July, according to AAA’s projections — up about 300,000 from last year’s Independence Day.
The vast majority of people, approximately 61 million, or 85%, are expected to travel by car. That’s about the same amount as in 2025 — a figure that held steady despite a 20% increase in gas prices driven by the war in Iran.
“With an extended holiday travel period, we expect busy roads, steady demand for flights, and continued interest in cruises across many parts of the country,” Debbie Haas, AAA’s vice president of travel, said in a statement.
More than 5.8 million travelers are anticipated to take domestic flights during the week of July 4, a slight increase over last year. The average price of a round-trip ticket for a domestic flight is about $830, according to AAA data.
Read more from Yahoo Travel: 6 of the best last-minute 4th of July weekend getaways
Other ways of transportation, including bus, train and boat, are seeing the biggest year-over-year growth. These modes of traveling are projected to increase by 5.3%, to 4.93 million people.
As for the best time to travel by car over the holiday weekend? AAA suggests the roads will be less packed in the morning on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Travelers heading home on July 4 will encounter the least traffic in the late afternoon. But on Sunday, drivers should expect traffic most of the day.
Where are travelers headed, anyway? AAA says based on booking data, the top U.S. destination is Seattle, while the top choice for international travelers is Vancouver, British Columbia — both ideal locations as travelers headed to the central or eastern U.S. will be melting under record-high temperatures for any outdoor festivities.
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