MINNEAPOLIS — Transportation experts expect a record number of travelers over this year's Fourth of July holiday, projecting numbers in the millions on the move by air and by land.
AAA predicts nearly 71 million people total will travel over 50 miles to their vacation destinations this year, an increase of 5% over last year.
“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.”
The travel service said it expects about 60.6 million people to hit the road — 28 million more than in 2023 — while approximately 5.7 million are expected to fly. AAA said the busiest day ahead is likely Wednesday, July 3.
“Drivers in large metro areas can expect the worst traffic delays on Wednesday, July 3rd, as they leave town, and Sunday, July 7th, as they return,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, which provides data and insights regarding transportation.
INRIX data reveals Interstate 94W from western Wisconsin to Minneapolis will hit its peak congestion period on Monday, July 8 around 4:45 p.m.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) also predicts a record-breaking Independence Day travel season, as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) estimates a 5.4% increase over last year.
“This year’s record-breaking air travel is another good sign for our economy as more Americans take to the skies than ever before,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, in a statement.
According to AAA, both lower gas prices and cheap-ish airfare could be behind the push.
On the other side of travel, about 4.6 million people use transportation options like buses, trains and cruises — the latter of which is on a steep increase in popularity since most cruises were shuttered during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more facts and figures, visit AAA here or the USDOT here.
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