The best and worst times to travel for Fourth of July
Domestic travel is expected to increase by 1.7 million travelers this year, and many will flock to New York City for the Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Show.
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The average price for a New York City hotel in July is $350, according to KAYAK. The cheapest day of the week to book is Sunday and the most expensive is $548. Hotels.com lists rooms ranging from just over $100 per night to $1,809 per night for a stay at the Four Seasons.
Most people will travel by car, according to AAA. Wednesday, July 2 and Sunday, July 6 are expected to be the worst days on the road, especially in the afternoon. The best time to travel on Wednesday is before 12 p.m., and on Sunday, before 11 a.m.
If you're renting a car, July 3 will be the busiest pickup day, with most drivers wanting SUVs and midsize sedans, according to Hertz.
If you're flying to your destination, the average round-trip domestic flight is $810. Tuesdays and Wednesdays will have the best Fourth of July deals.
John F. Kennedy Airport is expecting high travel volume this weekend and is warning travelers to 'budget extra travel time.'
Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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USA Today
a day ago
- USA Today
Hotter summers have travelers ditching popular destinations for a 'coolcation'
Summer vacations are as American as apple pie, baseball and Fourth of July fireworks. The classic version usually involves a road trip to someplace warm and sandy. Boardwalks, roller coasters and campfires are nice touches, and copious amounts of seasonal snacks are standard. But the quintessential summer vacation is changing, according to Rose Gray, business relationship director for vacation sales at Oshkosh, Wis.-based Fox World Travel. "Destinations that were frequently requested for traditional summer vacations are no longer at the top of travelers' lists thanks to rising temperatures, over-tourism and extreme fire seasons,' Gray says. Enter the 'coolcation.' 'In addition to seeking more pleasant temperatures, travelers are looking for destinations with fewer crowds,' Gray says. 'By choosing less-popular tourist spots with … slightly cooler temperatures, vacationers looking for a 'coolcation' are discovering remote locations with unique activities.'The mercury doesn't lie: Last summer, 180 cities in the Northern Hemisphere had at least one dangerous extreme heat wave, according to Climate Central, which says extreme heat waves in these cities are, on average, 21 times more likely than they were 30 years ago. 'Summers in the United States have warmed in general, but it's the West, South and Northeast that are warming the fastest,' says Jonathan Erdman, senior digital meteorologist at 'To put that into context: If your kids are off school in the summer and you're planning to take that big family trip, you have to think carefully about where you want to go. Do you really want to go to the Gulf Coast, for example, where the humidity is off the charts in July and August, and where you're dealing with throngs of people who had the same idea that you did?' If the typical summer vacation is a sweaty cocktail of UV rays and body heat, then the coolcation is a comfortable tonic of invigorating adventure, refreshing respite and easy escapism. Here are a handful of cooler-weather locales where you can try one of your own. Western North Carolina When he lived in the Northeast, Neal K. Shah took annual family beach vacations to places like North Fork, N.Y., and Point Pleasant, N.J. When he moved to the Research Triangle Park area of Raleigh-Durham, N.C., he likewise relocated his summer holiday to Wrightsville Beach, N.C. Last year, however, the family decided to ditch the beach altogether. 'Last July was nuts — 105-plus degrees in Durham,' says Shah, CEO of elder care company CareYaya Health Technologies and cofounder of Counterforce Health, an AI startup that helps patients appeal denied health insurance claims. 'It was too hot to do family activities outside, so we found a random cabin up near Mount Mitchell. It was 20 degrees cooler up there. Now we're mountain people.' The highest peak in the Appalachian Mountains, Mount Mitchell is approximately 35 miles from Asheville, N.C., another Shah family favorite. 'Asheville proper stays, like, 15 degrees cooler than Raleigh-Durham,' says Shah, whose favorite spots to enjoy a cool summer breeze include Craggy Gardens, a popular hiking destination on the Blue Ridge Parkway that's known for its colorful wildflowers, and the historic Grove Park Inn, whose terrace offers spectacular views at sunset. Yet another hot — or rather, cool — spot in the region is Jackson County, N.C. Check out Whitewater Falls, the highest waterfall east of the Rockies; go swimming at Sliding Rock in Cashiers, where a natural rockslide leads to a pool of cool mountain water; rent a pontoon boat to explore the islands and coves around Lake Glenville, the highest lake east of the Mississippi River or travel the Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail to witness the underwater species that inhabit western North Carolina's scenic rivers and streams. Northern Michigan Although her home base of Chicago is best known for cold, blustery winters, its hot and humid summers can be equally extreme, says Janice Moskoff, author of the travel blog For that reason, she escapes at every opportunity to places such as northern Michigan. One of her favorite destinations is Traverse City, Mich., where the average high temperature in July is 81 degrees. On Lake Michigan beaches, 'Many west-facing dune-lined beaches look and sound like the ocean. And the water is refreshingly chill given its northern location, making it a perfect way to cool off on the sunniest July or August day,' Moskoff says. Take a break from the beach and visit the locally owned wineries that constitute the Traverse Wine Coast — for example, Gilchrist Farm, which is known for sustainable viticulture and farm-to-table cuisine, and Chateau Grand Traverse, a family-owned winery celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Cherry picking at the many local orchards also is a favorite pastime, as are camping, hiking and paddling at picture-perfect Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Elsewhere in Northern Michigan, don't miss Mackinac Island and Marquette County. An exclusively pedestrian destination that's as mild as it is charming, the former offers parasailing, biking, horse-drawn carriage rides and oodles of world-famous fudge. Located in the Upper Peninsula on the southern shore of Lake Superior, the latter is packed with picturesque waterfalls, lighthouses, rivers and hiking trails. New England Plymouth, Mass., antiques dealer Molly Garcia grew up on nearby Cape Cod, where beaches, bonfires and clam bakes make for quintessential summers. Although the Cape is cool, it's also extremely crowded in summer, which is why Garcia and her family have started spending the season in New Hampshire's Mount Washington Valley. 'Originally, we would make a few trips up over winter, stay at the (Omni Mount Washington Resort & Spa) and ski at Bretton Woods,' says Garcia, owner of White Whale Antiques & Vintage Goods. 'We then decided to take a summer vacation (there) … and that's when we realized how much we loved the area year-round.' Days can be warm at summer's peak, but evenings are 'cool' and 'magical,' according to Garcia, who says the valley's sky is filled with stars at night. She recommends tubing down the Saco River, swimming in the scenic waterfalls known as Diana's Baths, riding the Cog Railway to the peak of Mount Washington, visiting the Story Land theme park if you have young children or hiking at White Mountain National Forest, which is home to 48 4,000-foot mountains that adventurous climbers can try their hand at summiting. Moskoff also loves New England and spent a recent summer vacationing in Vermont with her husband. 'I wanted to be in the mountains and the coolness of the northern woods at the height of its summer season. So, we opted for an utterly relaxing and lovely inn-to-inn hiking trip,' she says, recalling stops in Bridgewater, Woodstock, Chittenden, Middlebury and Burlington. 'The historic inns overflowed with character, the cuisine was local and excellent, and the trails — some of which allowed us to pick wild blueberries as we walked — were uncrowded,' she says. Upstate New York When he moved with his fiancée from Massachusetts to the Las Vegas area, journalist and psychologist Jamie Bichelman thought he might melt. So come summer, the couple beelines it back to the East Coast. While Bichelman is partial to the Catskills region — it's 'extremely beautiful' and 'such an enjoyable drive' from New York City — an even better bet for coolcationers might be the Adirondack region further north. Birthplace of the word 'vacation,' which is said to have originated there when Gilded Age New Yorkers would 'vacate' for holidays upstate, the Adirondacks boast comfortable summer temps that average in the mid-70s. Visitors will find 2,000 miles of shady hiking trails, 3,000 ponds and lakes with water originating from cool mountain peaks, 30,000 miles of fresh and often chilly rivers and streams and millions of acres of sun-filtering forests. Favorite activities include walking beside gorgeous Mirror Lake in Lake Placid; cruising Lake George with Lake George Steamboat Company; jumping from 'The Bluffs' into the swimming hole at Big Tupper Lake; camping and fishing on Lake Champlain; and riding the whimsical Adirondack Carousel in Saranac Lake. The Rocky Mountains Often times, the best direction to go for heat-weary travelers is up. That makes the Rocky Mountains an ideal destination. Because they often fly under the radar in summer, ski towns that are crowded in winter can be especially attractive. In Snowmass, Colo., for example, temperatures average in the 70s during the day and dip into the 40s at night. Snowmass Village, near Aspen, is surrounded by 2.8 million acres of wilderness for hiking, biking, fly-fishing, horseback riding and more. The ski resorts in nearby Summit County, Colo., likewise are full of outdoor adventure, including whitewater rafting, dog sledding through wildflower-filled meadows, gondola rides and zip-lining. Or try e-biking along the 9.3-mile Blue River Bikeway from Breckenridge to Frisco, which features stunning views of Colorado's Lake Dillon along the way. Jackson, Wyo., is similarly cool and outdoorsy. Gateway to Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, it's home to epic wildlife viewing and a culture-rich town square that's flush with art galleries, theaters, breweries, shops and restaurants. Moskoff's favorite Rocky Mountain getaway is Montana's Glacier National Park, where chilly morning hikes are the norm even on the hottest days. 'I wanted to come to Glacier for its majestic scenery, outdoor experiences, and the chance to see and drive through the open spaces in Montana,' she says. 'It delivered and was gorgeous.'
Boston Globe
a day ago
- Boston Globe
Summer is here. The international tourists are not. Why the US is losing billions in visitor revenue.
Advertisement Predictions about tourism losses in the United States began shortly after Trump took office. But now that we've arrived in the thick of summer, a time when international tourism should be hitting its peak, those predictions have become reality. Airlines are Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The losses are hitting the travel industry across the board with ever-changing volatility, said Dulani Porter, an executive vice president with Spark, an agency that works with travel brands such as Visit Fort Lauderdale, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Hilton Hotels & Resorts. Visitors walk along an uncrowded Hollywood Walk of Fame on May 28, in Los Angeles. Justin Sullivan/Getty 'It's all sectors,' she said. 'Domestic travel has remained consistent, but the international travelers are not coming to the US this year. It's off 20 percent in some markets. The biggest declines have been from Canadian and Mexican travelers. Western Europeans are also going elsewhere.' Advertisement New research published last week from 'Factors contributing to the negative outlook include Trump administration posturing and policy announcements, such as 'Liberation Day' tariffs across long-standing trade partners,' Aran Ryan, director of industry studies, concluded. 'Media coverage of border security incidents and national travel advisories also pose risks.' Multiple countries have issued travel advisories in recent months. Australia updated its advisory last month, citing gun violence and unpredictable immigration enforcement in the United States. Germany, France, Denmark, and Finland all issued warnings about new US gender policies that may affect travelers who use nonbinary identifiers in their passports. The UK's Foreign Office is warning travelers to the United States that minor entry mistakes could lead to detention or deportation. Old Orchard Beach in Maine was quiet the weekend before the Fourth of July. The author didn't see a single Quebec license plate during his visit, which is highly unusual in the summer. Christopher Muther A Canadian actor on a work visa was detained at the Tijuana border for 12 days before being sent home, according to Musicians have also been canceling US tours. Bells Larsen, a transgender singer-songwriter based in Montreal, Advertisement 'The current political climate in the US, especially in regard to immigration and freedom of speech, is very worrisome,' the band wrote in a message The White House has dismissed the advisories. At In addition to the warnings, fees to enter the country for international visitors are rising. The Electronic System for Travel Authorization fee is rising from $21 to $40. The 'These fees are not reinvested in improving the travel experience and do nothing but discourage visitation at a time when foreign travelers are already concerned about the welcome experience and high prices,' Geoff Freeman, president of the US Travel Association, said in a All of these factors have made the United States a less appealing place for international tourists to spend their vacation dollars. Advertisement The travel industry publication A man walks past Delusions of Grandeur furniture shop in Ottawa in April. Signs that once announced sales are replaced with an anti-American sentiment that has not waned. Christopher Muther/Globe Staff New Englanders don't need an industry survey to see that those numbers are down. A quick drive through Old Orchard Beach, where French becomes the unofficial second language each summer, shows a distinct lack of license plates from Quebec in hotel parking lots. Wright, of Jay Peak, said he spent two weeks calling nearly 100 long-time Canadian customers who purchased season passes last year but haven't yet this year. 'They cite the present administration's flagrant disrespect of Canadian independence as not only a challenge to Canadian sovereignty, but to their own identity, and they feel the need to respond,' Wright said. The World Travel and Tourism Council estimates the loss of international tourism to the US economy at $12.5 billion. 'This is a wake-up call for the US government,' said Julia Simpson, president and CEO of the council. 'The world's biggest travel and tourism economy is heading in the wrong direction. . . . While other nations are rolling out the welcome mat, the US government is putting up the 'closed' sign.' Simpson's assessment may sound dramatic, but at a time when tourism is dropping, the government has slashed funding to market the country as a tourism destination. Part of Trump's Advertisement A Brand USA representative said that despite the cuts, the organization is proceeding with an America the Beautiful campaign slated to begin next month. 'We're trying to do all we can,' said Chris Heywood, chief communications officer for Brand USA. 'Despite our budget restrictions and limitations, we're putting all our chips on the table and still trying to deliver.' He's also optimistic that 2026 will be a stronger year for tourism, with events such as l ( But in the interim, the losses are piling up. The latest No matter what the financial loss, perhaps the largest hit is to the goodwill tourists feel toward the United States. In Perth, Nigel Goodman said he will 'not step foot in the US until the current administration is gone.' In New Brunswick, Adam MacDonald said he will not be visiting relatives in Massachusetts this summer. In Spain, Maria García is not comfortable with the thought of a US vacation. Advertisement 'I know the risks are low,' she said earlier this month at a rooftop bar in Madrid. 'But vacation shouldn't come with any risks at all.' Christopher Muther can be reached at
USA Today
3 days ago
- USA Today
Bo Nix quietly hosted Broncos teammates for offseason workouts in Idaho
No cameras, no social media posts, no fanfare. Just work. Just days after the Denver Broncos wrapped up their spring offseason program on June 12, quarterback Bo Nix hosted teammates for player-led practices in Idaho from June 16-18, tight end Adam Trautman revealed during a recent interview with Mike Klis of 9News. Nix, wide receivers, tight ends and running backs worked out together, practiced plays and had off-field bonding time for three days before their pre-training camp summer break. 'This was the first one where it wasn't after the Fourth of July in my entire career,'' Trautman told Klis. 'It was actually pretty nice. I think everybody kind of liked that because you didn't have time off, you jumped right back into it and you felt body-wise like you were ready to do it all.' Following those player-led practice sessions, veterans had a little more than a month off before reporting for the start of training camp this week. Now recharged and rejuvenated, Nix and Co. will look to hit the ground running at camp as they look forward to the start of preseason next month. Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
