WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – AAA is anticipating a busy Independence Day holiday with an estimated 71 million people expected to travel across the U.S. during the long-range forecast period.
This year's forecast represents a 5 percent increase from the 67.4 million travelers expected on July 4th in 2023 and a sharp 8 percent increase from the pre-pandemic record. For the first time, AAA has expanded its forecast range to include the entire week around July 4th, including the Saturday before the holiday and the Sunday after.
An estimated 8.76 million Californians are expected to join the traveling ranks during the nine-day forecast period, reflecting a 5 percent increase from last year.
While the majority of Californians (79%) travel by car, air travel showed the strongest growth of all transportation modes, increasing 12.3% since 2019.
“Californians are opting for longer trips with Independence Day falling on Thursday,” said Brian Ng, senior vice president of membership and travel marketing for AAA Northern California. “This will further fuel summer travel demand that shows no signs of slowing.”
AAA Northern California offers these tips for travelers:
Stay updated: Gas prices are currently lower than they will be in 2023, but a potentially active hurricane season could impact costs. Airfares are about 2% lower than last year, but the average domestic round-trip flight is still $800. Be patient and exercise: Road congestion is expected to peak on July 3 and again on July 7 and July 8. To avoid traffic jams, travel during the early morning hours and avoid rush hour from 2 to 7 p.m. If you travel by air, consider arriving at the airport at least two hours before departure and minimizing checked baggage to expedite check-in. Be prepared: AAA expects approximately 800,000 roadside service calls nationwide during the holiday week, with 177,000 of those calls in California. A pre-trip inspection at a AAA auto repair center can help prevent common breakdowns and ensure a smooth road trip. Use the AAA mobile app to find the lowest gas prices, request roadside assistance and other helpful resources on the go.
methodology
For this forecast, the Independence Day holiday travel window is defined as the nine-day period beginning on Saturday, June 29 and ending on Sunday, July 7. Historically, the Independence Day holiday period has only included one weekend. This is the first year that the Independence Day holiday travel window will be a longer period that includes two weekends.
