More than 600,000 Kentuckians will travel a distance of 50 miles or more over the June 30 through July 4 Independence Day Weekend AAA estimates, up nearly 4% over last year and setting a new record for the holiday.
Nearly 90% of travelers—or nearly 546,000 Kentuckians—will be hitting the road for the holiday, up about 2.4% over last year. Air travel is up more than 9% over last year, with AAA projecting more than 27,00 Kentuckians (4.4% of local travelers) will take to the skies. And, travel by other modes of transportation, which was slowest to recover from the pandemic, is up nearly 30% over last year, with more than 35,500 Kentuckians (nearly 6% of local travelers) traveling by rail, bus or cruise ship to their holiday destinations.
Nationally, AAA projects 50.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this Independence Day weekend, setting a new record for the holiday. Domestic travel over the long weekend will increase by 2.1 million people compared to 2022. This year’s projection surpasses the previous July 4th weekend record set in 2019 of 49 million travelers.
“These are the highest travel numbers we’ve ever projected for Independence Day weekend,” said Lori Weaver Hawkins, public affairs manager, AAA Blue Grass. “Despite inventory being limited and prices up to 50% higher in some instances, consumers are not forgoing travel this summer. Many of them heeded our advice and booked early, signaling strong travel demand.”
This July 4th weekend is expected to set a new record for the number of Americans traveling by car for the holiday. AAA expects 43.2 million people will drive to their destinations, an increase of 2.4% over 2022 and 4% higher than 2019. This summer, gas prices are well below what they were one year ago. The national average for a gallon of regular was $4.80 on July 4th, 2022. Gas prices have remained steady the past couple of months, with the national average hovering around $3.50 to $3.60 a gallon, thanks to the lower cost of oil.
Air travel is also expected to set a new record. AAA projects 4.17 million Americans will fly to their destinations Independence Day weekend, an increase of 11.2% over 2022 and 6.6% over 2019. The previous July 4th weekend air travel record of 3.91 million travelers was set in 2019. The share of air travelers in the overall holiday forecast this year is an impressive 8.2% — the highest percentage in nearly 20 years.
Other modes of transportation are also on the rise this year. AAA expects 3.36 million people will travel by bus, cruise, or train over the long weekend, an increase of 24% over last year. While more travelers are turning to these modes this year, the number is not expected to surpass 2019’s total of 3.54 million.
Best/Worst Times to Travel
INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, expects Friday, June 30 to be the busiest day on the roads during the Independence Day holiday weekend, with average travel times up nearly 30% over normal. Major metros like Boston, Seattle, and Washington, DC are expected to see the worst traffic. INRIX recommends leaving in the morning or after 6 p.m. to avoid the heaviest holiday congestion.
“With record-breaking travelers expected on the road this holiday weekend, drivers should prepare for above-average delays to their favorite destinations,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. “Using traffic apps, local DOT notifications, and 511 services are key to minimizing holiday travel traffic frustrations this Independence Day.”
AAA Blue Grass