CLEVELAND — Do you have any travel plans for the July 4 holiday? You’re not alone…
AAA projects that 70.9 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home over the Fourth of July holiday travel period, marking a 5% increase when compared to 2023.
“With summer vacations in full swing and the flexibility of remote work, more Americans are taking extended trips around Independence Day,” said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel. “We anticipate this July 4th week will be the busiest ever with an additional 5.7 million people traveling compared to 2019.”
DRIVING
Of those travelers, 60.6 million are expected to hit the roads -- which AAA says is 2.8 million more people than last year.
If you’re planning to drive anywhere throughout the coming days, here’s an outline as provided by AAA regarding the best and worst times on roadways across the country...
Tuesday, July 2, 2024
- Worst travel time: 2-6 p.m.
- Best travel time: After 7 p.m.
Wednesday, July 3
- Worst travel time: 2-7 p.m.
- Best travel time: Before noon
Thursday, July 4
- Worst travel time: 2-7 p.m.
- Best travel time: Before noon
Friday, July 5
- Worst travel time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Best travel time: Before 10 a.m.
Saturday, July 6
- Worst travel time: 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Best travel time: Before 10 a.m.
Sunday, July 7
- Worst travel time: 2-8 p.m.
- Best travel time: Before 11 a.m.
Monday, July 8
- Worst travel time: 1-5 p.m.
- Best travel time: After 7 p.m.
FLYING
When it comes to flying, AAA is also predicting a new record with 5.74 million people taking a flight to their destination. This represents an increase of nearly 7% when compared to last year.
“AAA booking data shows domestic airfare is 2% cheaper this Independence Day week compared to last year, and the average price for a domestic roundtrip ticket is $800,” according to AAA’s site. “Airports will be packed throughout the week. AAA recommends arriving two hours early, reserving parking ahead of time and traveling with carry-on luggage versus checked bags to save time and money.”
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