From sea to shining sea — and from Pikeville to Paducah — AAA is projecting strong travel volume for the upcoming Independence Day holiday.
“Travelers are gearing up for a busy Fourth of July travel period across the bluegrass,” says Lori Weaver Hawkins, public and government affairs manager, AAA Club Alliance. “With a wide majority of travelers going by car, AAA is reminding Kentuckians to follow the rules of the road, always stay sober behind the wheel, be courteous to other road users and remember to buckle up―everyone, every time, every trip―before heading down the road.”
Despite gas prices that are currently trending more than 60 cents higher than a year ago in Kentucky, the majority of those traveling from the region — and across the country — will be taking a road trip.
AAA is also reminding drivers not to be distracted.
“Phones should be set to ‘do not disturb,’” reminds Weaver Hawkins. “Set the navigation, climate control and infotainment controls before leaving the driveway. Instead of going through a fast-food drive-through, take a break from driving and go inside the restaurant to eat. Not only will that cut down on driving fatigue, but it will also keep food and beverage from becoming a distraction.”
Last year during Independence Day travel week, AAA responded to more than 687,000 roadside assistance calls across the country. Half of those required towing services, and nearly 30% of those calls were for battery replacement and flat tires. Drivers are reminded to be sure their vehicle is up to date on regular maintenance or bring it to a AAA-approved car care center before hitting the road. Get the battery checked by a qualified technician and check tire pressure and tread. “Tires and batteries are some of the most common problems that interrupt summer travel,” Weaver Hawkins adds.
Overall, travel for the 2026 Fourth of July travel period remains very close to the number of travelers in 2025, with a slight increase in the percentage of travelers choosing a mode of transportation other than car or plane. Here’s a quick look at some of the numbers, trends and tips from AAA’s forecast for Independence Day 2026:
• 815,415 – Number of Kentuckians who will travel 50 miles or more from home for the Independence Day holiday travel period (June 27 – July 5), nearly steady (up just 0.1%) compared to actual travel numbers last year.
• 90.4% – Percentage of Kentucky travelers who will drive to their Independence Day holiday destination. The 737,098 road trippers represent a slight 0.1% decrease from last year.
• 4.5% – Percentage of Kentuckians that will take to the skies. The 36,855 Kentuckians flying represent a small 0.7% decrease over 2025 numbers.
• 5.1% – Percentage of Kentuckians opting to travel by cruise, train and other modes of transportation for the Fourth of July holiday period,
numbering 41,462.
• 72.2 million – Number of travelers nationwide AAA projects will travel during the Independence Day holiday travel period, a slight 0.5% increase compared to 2025.
• 85.1% – Percentage of travelers nationwide who will drive to their Independence Day destinations. The 61.4 million travelers across the country represents only a 0.2% increase over 2025.
• 8.1% – Percentage of travelers nationwide who will fly. The 5.85 million taking to the skies represent a slight 0.2% increase over 2025.
• 6.3% – Percentage of travelers nationwide who will travel by cruise, train or other mode of transportation over the Fourth of July holiday,
• 5.3% increase over 2025.
“While a majority of Kentuckians are traveling by car, airports will be busy as well. Those planning to take to the skies should download the airline’s app ahead of time so they can stay on top of any flight or gate changes,” Weaver Hawkins says. “Get to the airport in plenty of time ahead of your boarding time. Expect airport security lines to be longer over the Fourth of July travel period.”
Road travel trends, tips and safety reminders
• 11th – Ranking of Kentucky in the lowest average gas prices in the nation. (As of 6/24/26)
• $3.54 – Kentucky average cost per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline, as of 6/24/26, about 62 cents more than the average one year ago.
• $3.92 – National average gas price (As of 6/24/26), about 70 cents higher than a year ago.
• 2,988 – Number of vehicle crashes in Kentucky over the 2025 Independence Day travel period, Jun 28 – July 6, about 33 crashes more than the prior year.
• 26 – Number of fatalities from vehicle crashes in Kentucky during the Independence Day holiday period in 2025, compared to 23 fatalities in 2024.
• 751 – Number of injuries caused by vehicle crashes in Kentucky over the holiday period in 2025, an increase of 56 injuries over 2024.
“In addition to avoiding distractions, drivers should pack their patience,” Weaver Hawkins reminds. “There’s no place for aggression behind the wheel. Keep anger in check. If you see another driver being discourteous, don’t take matters into your own hands. It’s not your job to correct the driving behaviors of others. Save the fireworks for the community celebration.”
Travel price trends
• 1% – Increase in the average cost, $830, of domestic flights over the Independence Day travel period compared to 2025.
• 16% – Decrease in the cost of international flights over the Fourth of July holiday compared to 2025, now averaging $1,150.
• 25% – Increase in price of domestic hotels this Independence Day compared to last year, at an average cost of $735.
• 8% – Increase in the price of international hotels this Independence Day compared to last year, at an average booking cost of $845 for a few night’s stay..
• 10% – Increase in the cost of a domestic car rental, with an average booking cost (typically several days) of $735 total.
• 27% – Increase in the cost of cruises departing from domestic cities compared to Independence Day 2024, with an average cost of $2,400.
Best and worst times to travel
Not surprisingly, the weekend leading up to the Fourth of July holiday, starting with July 2, is expected to be the busiest days on the road for travel during the Independence Day travel period. Morning hours will be less congested on the roadways than afternoons.
Top destinations
Top Domestic Destinations for the Independence Day holiday, based on AAA Travel bookings and reflecting heavily on domestic cruise ports:
• Seattle, WA
• Orlando, FL
• Anchorage, AK
• Miami, FL
• New York, NY
• Chicago, IL
• Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Fairbanks, AK
• Denver, CO
• Boston, MA
Top international destinations:
• Vancouver, BC Canada
• Rome, Italy
• Dublin, Ireland
• Paris, France
• London, England
• Calgary, Canada
• Reykjavik, Iceland
• Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Athens, Greece
• Barcelona, Spain
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