The July 4th weekend is just a week away and if you’re planning to escape for the long holiday weekend, guess what? You’re not alone. According to AAA, 44.2 million Americans plan to travel this weekend, which will make it the most traveled Independence Day ever, with 1.25 million more travelers than last year.If you were hoping for light traffic on the roads, don't hold your breath.
Spurred by lower gas prices, 37.5 million people are planning a road trip for the holiday, up 2.9% from last year. The airports will be equally as crowded with 3.44 million Americans flying to their Independence Day destination, up 4.6% from last year, while 3.27 million travelers will choose other ways of escaping, including cruises, trains and buses.And it’s not only cheap gas prices that’s getting people to travel. AAA reports that airfare prices are also down, with the average airfare for the Top 40 domestic flight routes down 10% from last year.
Car rental costs are also lower, showing a decrease of 14% over last year.As for where everyone’s going, AAA reports that the top July 4th destination is Orlando, Florida, followed by Vancouver, Canada.
Top Ten Independence Day Destinations
- Orlando, Florida
- Vancouver, Canada
- Cancun, Mexico
- Seattle, Washington
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Anaheim, California
- Anchorage, Alaska
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Montego Bay, Jamaica
Source: AAA