AAA projects a record 72.2 million people in the U.S. will travel 50 miles or more from home over the Independence Day holiday period from last Saturday to Sunday, July 6.

That projection is an increase of 1.7 million travelers compared to last year and 7 million more than in 2019.

“Summertime is one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, and July 4th is one of the most popular times to get away,” said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel. “Following Memorial Day’s record forecast, AAA is seeing strong demand for road trips and air travel over Independence Day week. 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.”

INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, expects Sunday to be the busiest day on the road. Afternoon hours will be the most congested. Drivers should hit the road in the morning to avoid the worst traffic, but keep in mind construction, crashes, or severe weather could impact travel times

Vehicle Travel

AAA projects 61.6 million people will travel by car, a 2.2% increase over last year, and the highest volume on record.

Drivers are seeing some increases at the pump, but summer gas prices are still the lowest they’ve been since 2021.

For travelers renting cars, AAA car rental partner Hertz says today (July 3) is expected to be the busiest day to pick up vehicles. Some of the top destinations based on advanced bookings: Orlando, Denver, Boston, and Seattle.

Air Travel

The number of people traveling by air is also projected to set a new record. AAA expects 5.84 million travelers will fly to their destinations; that’s 8% of all Independence Day travelers. This year’s projection is a 1.4% increase over the previous record set last year.

According to AAA data, which is based on what travelers paid when they booked their July 4th trips, a roundtrip domestic flight is averaging $810, 4% more expensive than last year. When booking last-minute flights for summer trips, consider flying on weekdays like Tuesdays or Wednesdays for the best deals.

Other Modes of Travel

Travel by other modes is expected to grow by 7.4% over last year. AAA projects 4.78 million people will travel by bus, train, or cruise. This year’s number is just shy of the 2019 record of 4.79 million. Cruising is driving the popularity of this category, particularly this time of year, when Alaska cruise season is in full swing.