AAA’s recent report projects about 72.2 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home for Independence Day through July 5, surpassing last year’s record of 71.8 million travelers. The increase, however, is smaller than recent year-over-year gains.
“For many Americans, traveling the week of July 4th is tradition,” said Stacey Barber, vice president, AAA Travel. “The 9-day travel forecast includes travelers who are vacationing all week and people just getting away for the long holiday weekend. While the overall number of Independence Day travelers appears to be plateauing, we’re still expecting record volumes this year.”
Top U.S. destinations for the weekend include Seattle, Orlando, Anchorage, Miami, New York, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Fairbanks, Denver and Boston. Seattle, Anchorage and Fairbanks are popular because of peak Alaska cruise season.
Internationally, Americans are traveling to Vancouver, Canada; Rome, Italy; Dublin, Ireland; Paris, France; London, England; Calgary, Canada; Reykjavik, Iceland; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Athens, Greece; and Barcelona, Spain.
Compared to last year, the number of travelers driving and flying to destinations is relatively flat, while travel by other modes, like cruises, sees the biggest increase.
By car, AAA predicts 61.4 million people will travel, nearly the same as last year. Despite gas prices reaching four-year highs, 85 percent of Americans are driving to their destinations.
About 5.8 million travelers will take domestic flights over July 4 weekend, a 0.2 percent increase over last year. Round-trip domestic flights to top destinations like Chicago and Denver are 5 percent more expensive, according to AAA data. On average, domestic flights are about $830 a ticket. Air travelers make up 8 percent of the share of holiday travelers.
AAA projects nearly 5 million Americans will take buses, trains and cruises over the weekend, a drastic 5.3 percent increase from last year. Additionally, this year is expected to surpass 2019’s figure of 4.79 million travelers via these modes ,thanks in part to the post-COVID-19 cruising boom.
According to AAA, travelers find upfront costs of cruises appealing, as well as all-inclusive dining, various entertainment options and stops at multiple destinations.
Are you traveling for July 4th weekend or staying near home? Where are you traveling? How are you getting there? Email us at letters@globaltravelerusa.com. Please include your full name and location.
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