- 61.6 million people are expected to drive over 50 miles during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
- Airports, cruise ships, and trains are also forecast to see a surge in passenger traffic.
- Car rental companies are predicting July 3 will be the busiest pickup day.
The Great American road trip is roaring back.
A record-breaking 61.6 million people are expected to hit the roads over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, which shatters a previous record from 2024 by more than 1 million people. In total more than 72 million people will travel by car, airplane, bus, or cruise ship. With the packed roads and lower gas prices, road warriors can expect delays, but there are easy ways to navigate the traffic and crowds.
AAA shares that the busiest days on the road are predicted to be Wednesday, July 2, and Sunday, July 6, as travelers depart and head home from the holiday weekend.
“Following Memorial Day’s record forecast, AAA is seeing strong demand for road trips and air travel over Independence Day week,” AAA Travel Vice President Stacey Barber said in a news release. “With the holiday falling on a Friday, travelers have the option of making it a long weekend or taking the entire week to make memories with family and friends.”
The auto agency recommends getting routine car maintenance, an oil change, and emergency kits in place before hitting the road for the safety of drivers and passengers. The agency said that over July 4th week in 2024, it responded to nearly 700,000 troubleshooting calls, ranging from lockouts to flat tires.
The report also shows that top destinations for domestic travelers over Independence Day week include Orlando, Florida; Seattle; New York; and Anchorage, Alaska. In terms of most popular international destinations, travelers will be jetting to Vancouver, Rome, Paris, and London, according to AAA’s data.
The Fourth of July weekend is also a popular time for travelers to rent cars. Rental car firm Hertz shared with Travel + Leisure that Thursday, July 3, will be the busiest day for pickups. And another tip for travelers planning to rent a car: Hertz recently acquired a brand-new fleet of 2025 Jeep Wranglers, and in celebration, the company is offering a 20 percent discount on rentals of its new Jeeps.
Travelers hitting the road can also save at the pump, even if it’s just a few cents. The price of gas has fallen from highs of $3.70 a gallon in May of 2024, to a low of $3.49 a gallon, according to GasBuddy. The gas pricing website shares that recent international tensions have increased the price of oil, which gets passed to the consumer.
