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With Independence Day approaching on July 4, people are planning on hitting the road.
And according to AAA Northeast, that means traffic – lots of it.
“Summer vacations are in full swing, and with the flexibility of remote work, more Americans are taking extended trips around Independence Day,” AAA Northeast Senior Spokesperson Mark Schieldrop, said in a statement sent to USA Today Network New England. “We anticipate this July 4 week will be the busiest ever with an additional 5.7 million people traveling compared to 2019.”
Here’s what to know about traveling during the upcoming holiday.
How many travelers are expected on the roads for July 4 travel?
AAA is projecting that 70.9 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home during the holiday travel period from June 29 to July 7.
This year’s projected number of travelers for that time period represents a 5% increase compared to 2023 and an 8% increase over 2019, according to a statement from AAA Northeast.
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How many people are expected to travel by car?
AAA stated that a record 60.6 million people will travel by car over Independence Day week, which represents an additional 2.8 million travelers compared to 2023.
What are the worst times to travel by car during July 4 week?
AAA said that “the worst times to travel by car on the days leading up to and including July 4 are between 2 and 7 p.m., according to transportation data and insights provider INRIX.”
AAA added that the worst traffic delays are expected on Wednesday, July 3, “as travelers leave town, and on Sunday, July 7, as they return.”
Here are the best, worst times to travel by car during the upcoming holiday week, according to AAA Northeast.
| Best and Worst Times to Travel by Car | ||
| Date | Worst Travel Time | Best Travel Time |
| Monday, July 1 | Minimal Traffic Impact Expected | |
| Tuesday, July 2 | 2- 6 p.m. | After 7 p.m. |
| Wednesday, July 3 | 2-7 p.m. | Before noon |
| Thursday, July 4 | 2-7 p.m. | Before noon |
| Friday, July 5 | 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. | Before 10 a.m. |
| Saturday, July 6 | 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. | Before 10 a.m. |
| Sunday, July 7 | 2-8 p.m. | Before 11 a.m. |
| Monday, July 8 | 1-5 p.m. | After 7 p.m. |
How many travelers are expected to fly next week?
AAA stated that the number of people flying is also expected to set a new record. The auto agency is estimating that “5.74 million people will fly to their July 4 destinations. That’s an increase of nearly 7% compared to last year and a 12% increase over 2019.”
Are people traveling by other ways as well?
AAA noted that more than 4.6 million people are expected to travel by other modes of transportation during the upcoming holiday week. Those means of travel include taking buses, cruise ships and trains. This category is seeing an increase of 9% compared to last year.