AAA: Record Travel Expected for July 4th Week

If you are hitting the road this 4th of July, plan ahead.

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WASHINGTON DC - AAA projects 72.2 million people will travel at least 50 miles or more from home over the Independence Day holiday period, which runs Saturday, June 28 to Sunday, July 6. 

This year's domestic travel forecast is up 1.7 million travelers compared to last year and 7 million more than in 2019. 

AAA projects 61.6 million will travel by car, a 2.2 percent increase over last year, and the highest volume on record. Travelers are advised to get routine vehicle maintenance ahead of your trip and packing an emergency kit. 

Last July 4th week, AAA responded to nearly 700,000 emergency roadside assistance calls for issues such as dead batteries, flat tires, running out of gas, and getting locked outside of vehicles. 

Drivers are seeing some price increases at the pump, but summer gas prices are still the lowest they've been since 2021. The Israel Iran conflict has driven up the price in recent days and is something to watch as it rolls on. 

By air, AAA expects 5.84 million travelers, a 1.4 percent increase from 2024. 

INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, expects Wednesday, July 2 and Sunday, July 6 to be the busiest days on the road. Afternoon hours will be the most congested. Drivers should hit the road in the morning to avoid the worst traffic, but keep in mind construction, crashes, or severe weather could impact travel times. Watch for stopped vehicles and Slow Down, Move Over for emergency responders. 

For more information, visit https://newsroom.aaa.com/2025/06/july4forecast/