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AAA: Record travel expected for Fourth of July weekend

If you plan on traveling for July 4 you may save a little extra money compared to last year. AAA says to expect record travelers on the road and in the skies.

TAMPA, Fla. — If you plan on traveling for Independence Day you won’t be alone. AAA forecasts more than 2.8 million Floridians will take at least one trip of 50 miles or more between Friday, June 30 and Tuesday, July 4. That’s 87,000 more holiday travelers than the previous record high, set last year.

Nationally, travelers are also expected to set new records. An estimated 50.7 million Americans are expected to travel for the holiday weekend. That’s nearly 2.1 million more travelers than last year’s holiday and almost 1.8 million more than the previous high, set back in 2019.

“Independence Day weekend appears to be the continuation of what has already been a very strong summer travel season,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Although airfares and hotel rates are more expensive than last year, Americans are still eager to travel. So, expect to see congested roads, busy hotels, and long lines at airports and attractions.”

Prices for those of you flying within the U.S. are actually cheaper. However, international airfare prices continue to rise.  According to the travel app Hopper, if you’re looking to catch a last-minute flight, there are still affordable options, depending on the day you take off and of course the airline.  

The worst days to fly are expected to be this Thursday or Friday, June 29 and 30. The best day to fly is Saturday, July 1. Hopper reports the busiest airports will be Atlanta, Dallas (DFW), Denver and Los Angeles. 

When it comes to hotels, you may not find the best deals as prices are about the same as they were last year averaging around $200 a night.

Popular 4th of July destinations this year include major cities like Las Vegas, Miami, New York, Atlanta and New Orleans. Those who are choosing to fly internationally are still staying close with better deal options offered in Mexico, Puerto Rico and Canada.

AAA reports road trips will still be the most dominant way people are expected to travel for the July 4 holiday. Nearly 85% of all travelers will take a road trip.

AAA predicts 43.2 million Americans will drive to their destinations. That’s a little over 1 million more people on the road than last year. In Florida, more than 2.4 million are forecast to take a holiday road trip. That’s 37,000 more than last year.

Friday, June 30 is expected to be the busiest day on the roads during the Independence Day holiday weekend, according to INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights. The worst travel times vary by day but are generally in the afternoon and early evening.

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