Record numbers of travelers are expected to hit the roads for the July 4 holiday, as AAA projects 72.2 million people planning to travel at least 50 miles or more from home. The 2.2 percent increase in car travel over last year, means that an estimate of additional 1.7 million people could be on the move. Those numbers are the highest on record. For those traveling on the road, the RV Industry Association (RVIA) estimates that roughly seven million will be doing so by RV for the Independence Day holiday.
What’s Behind the Summer Road Trip Surge
The surge in summer road travel is not limited to the holiday alone. According to the RVIA, 44 million Americans plan to RV this season, with over 70 percent doing so in a planned summer trip. But owners aren’t the only ones on the road. RV rentals have risen 24 percent year-over-year.
In an Allstar Coaches press release, Rob Tischler, the CEO of the Florida-based RV rental agency, says, “Travelers want to escape the chaos of commercial travel and take back control of their vacations. With the freedom of the open road, luxury accommodations, and savings of up to 38% compared to traditional travel, RV rentals just make sense financially, and for convenience.”
Spurring some of the increase in road travel are consistent fuel prices with fuel prices being at their lowest level since 2021, according to Yahoo Finance.
In AAA’s press release, they shared that INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, expects Wednesday, July 2 and Sunday, July 6 to be the busiest days on the road. Afternoon hours will be the most congested.
Expect Heat to Rise with the July 4 Traffic
However, temperatures for the weekend could hit records with a heat wave covering much of the eastern portion of the United States. Higher temperatures can affect both vehicles and individuals. Yale Medicine has a number of good tips to help be safe in the heat.
Interestingly, AAA’s release included a statistic that the company responded to over 700,000 calls for roadside assistance over the Independence Day holiday period last year. That’s why they recommend having a vehicle properly maintained and carrying an emergency kit as part of travel plans.
The Independence Day holiday travel period is defined as the nine-day period from Saturday, June 28 to Sunday, July 6. Historically, this holiday period included only one weekend. The expanded travel window was instituted starting in 2024 with historical results calculated back to 2019 using the new nine-day period.
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