Traveling for July Fourth? When to expect the worst traffic, busiest airports
As for road trips, AAA is forecasting that a record 61.6 million people will travel by car – a 2.2% increase, or 1.3 million additional travelers, over last year.
'Summertime is one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, and July 4th is one of the most popular times to get away,' said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel. 'Following Memorial Day's record forecast, AAA is seeing strong demand for road trips and air travel over Independence Day week. With the holiday falling on a Friday, travelers have the option of making it a long weekend or taking the entire week to make memories with family and friends.'
According to transportation data provider Inrix, July 2 and July 6 are expected to be the busiest driving days.
With the potential for construction delays, crashes or severe weather, Independence Day travelers are advised to leave early as the afternoon hours are expected to be the most congested.
Inrix gave this break down of the best and worst times by day:
A number of major highways received special mention when it comes to the worst travel times (all times local):
Before fighting your way through Fourth of July traffic, AAA recommends taking the following precautions: get routine vehicle maintenance done beforehand, and make sure to pack an emergency kit.
The Transportation Security Administration says it is prepared for the holiday rush at the nation's airports, but warns air travelers that they should expect the busiest day to be Sunday, July 6, when passenger volume is forecast to reach 2.9 million.
'We are deploying technologies and procedures to improve security and enhance the passenger experience, including for families,' TSA Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill said in a press release. 'We ask travelers to pack their patience, especially during peak travel days, as we work to provide maximum hospitality to our customers.'
The TSA also reminds parents and guardians enrolled in TSA PreCheck that children 12 and under can accompany them in the security lanes without any restrictions.
AAA projects that the Fourth of July week will see a record 5.84 million air travelers over the Independence Day week, a 1.4% jump from last year's record of 5.76 million.
Also up from last year is the average cost of a domestic flight for the holiday – $810 is 4% higher than last year's numbers.
According to AAA, the most popular domestic destinations are Orlando, FL; Seattle, WA; New York, NY; Anchorage, AK; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Honolulu, FL; Denver, CO; Miami, FL; Boston, MA; and Atlanta, GA.
The top international destination is Vancouver, Canada, followed by Rome, Italy; Paris, France; London, England; Barcelona, Spain; Dublin, Ireland; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Calgary, Canada; Athens, Greece; and Lisbon, Portugal.
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