Stats: 44.2 Million People Expected to Travel for Independence Day Weekend

This Independence Day, a record-breaking 44.2 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more away from home, according to a recently released AAA study.

With 1.25 million more travelers than last year, 2017 will be marked as the most traveled Independence Day holiday weekend ever.
 
“Combined, strong employment, rising incomes and higher consumer confidence bode well for the travel industry, in particular this Independence Day weekend,” said Bill Sutherland, AAA’s senior vice president for Travel and Publishing, in a written statements. “A historic 44.2 million Americans will travel to celebrate our nation’s freedom this year, adding to an already bustling summer travel season.”
 

The Independence Day holiday travel period is defined as Friday, June 30 to Tuesday, July 4. Overall, 44.2 million travelers are expected to travel this Independence Day, a 2.9 percent increase over 2016.

According to the study, 37.5 million Americans will drive to their destinations, an increase of 2.9 percent over last year; 3.44 million people are taking to the skies this Independence Day, increasing air travel by 4.6 percent over last year; and 3.27 million travelers, an increase of 1.4 percent from 2016, will look to other modes of transportation, including cruises, trains and buses.

The national average gas price is four cents cheaper than this same time last year and a contributing factor to the increase in travelers on the roads this Independence Day. With today’s national average price for a gallon of gas at $2.28, prices remain historically low for the summer travel season. However, consumers may see prices increase, albeit by pennies, closer to the holiday weekend, similar to the Memorial Day gas price trend.
 
The vast majority of travelers—37.5 million Americans—will drive to their Independence Day destinations, an increase of 2.9 percent over last year. Air travel is expected to increase 4.6 percent over last year, with 3.44 million Americans taking to the skies this Independence Day. Travel by other modes of transportation, including cruises, trains and buses, will increase 1.4 percent, to 3.27 million travelers.

Travelers can expect lower prices for airfares and car rentals this Independence Day weekend. According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, average airfares for the top 40 domestic flight routes will be 10 percent lower this year, with an average round trip ticket landing at $186. Daily car rental rates will average $65, which is 14 percent less than last Independence Day. Hotel costs are the same as last year, with the average AAA Three Diamond Rated hotel costing $185 per night.

Visit www.aaa.com

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