A record 72.2 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more during the July 4th holiday period, as lower gas prices, cheaper flights, and more affordable hotel rooms encourage people to hit the road or take to the skies, according to travel group AAA.
The forecast marks an increase of 1.7 million travelers, or 2.4%, compared to last year and is 7 million higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
“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.”
AAA expects around 61.6 million people to drive to their destinations, up 2.2% from last year, while roughly 5.84 million will fly, an increase of 1.4%. Travel by other modes—such as buses, trains, and cruises—is projected to jump 7.4% to 4.78 million.
Last-minute trips are also on the rise. Vrbo, the vacation rental platform, said its newly launched feature promoting last-minute deals has seen strong uptake, indicating a growing trend of spontaneous travel.
Consumers are projected to spend about $9.5 billion over the Independence Day holiday, according to the National Retail Federation.
Meanwhile, the US Travel Association expects domestic leisure travel spending to reach approximately $1 trillion for the full year, a 3.9% increase from 2024.