Planning a trip for the Fourth of July? You’re not alone.
Aaaa Their number is estimated at about 70.9 million people. About 100,000 people will travel on the road in some form this year, traveling 50 miles or more from home. That’s a 5% increase from last year and 8% higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
And no mode of transportation will be more popular than the car. AAA says a record 60.6 million people will crowd the highways and side streets. That’s about 2.8 million more than last year. Hertz tells AAA it expects to see the biggest rental demand in Dallas, Denver, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Lower gas prices and an increased desire to travel are the reasons why more people are on the road.
So how can you avoid getting stuck in traffic for most of your vacation? It’s going to be really tough, and you might want to consider leaving a little earlier or a little later if you want to avoid the worst of it.
AAA says the worst time to travel on July 3 will be between 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., and your best bet is before noon. The same times will apply on July 4 as well.
If you’re planning a long weekend and plan to return on Sunday, an early departure is a wise idea, preferably before 11:00 a.m. AAA says things will be especially rough between 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
“Drivers in large urban areas can expect the worst traffic delays on Wednesday, July 3, when they leave the city, and Sunday, July 7, when they return,” said Bob Bishoy, a transportation analyst at INRI, a transportation data and information provider. “Road trips during the holiday week could take up to 67 percent longer than usual. Travelers should monitor 511 services, local news stations and traffic apps for real-time road conditions.”
In Chicago, that would represent a 61% increase in the usual travel time to Indianapolis via Interstate 65. Drivers heading from Tampa to Orlando on Wednesday can expect to spend 58% more time in the car. And if you plan to drive from Baltimore to Washington, D.C., on Monday afternoon, July 8, it will take 67% longer than usual, as some vacationers extend the weekend.
Best times to travel
Wednesday, July 3: Before 12:00 PM
Thursday, July 4: Before 12:00 PM
Friday, July 5: Before 10am
Saturday, July 6: Before 10am
Sunday, July 7: Before 11am
Monday, July 8: After 7pm
Worst times to travel
Wednesday, July 3: 2-7pm
Thursday, July 4: 2-7pm
Friday, July 5: 11am – 4pm
Saturday, July 6: 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Sunday, July 7: 2-8pm
Monday, July 8: 1-5pm