Independence Day travel in Texas expected to set record with 4.9M cars projected on roads

DALLAS — With 5.7 million Texans projected to travel over the Fourth of July holiday, according to AAA Texas, Independence Day trips are up 2.2% compared to last year. 

That is an increase of 369,000 Texas travelers. The projected travel period starts Saturday, June 28 to Sunday, July 6 to best reflect the flow of the holiday travelers. 

“With the holiday falling on a Friday this year, many travelers are planning extended weekends or full-week vacations to spend quality time with family and friends,” said Galen Grillo, Vice President and General Manager of AAA Texas.

With so many people on the roads, in the airports, and more on their way out of town, things can get hectic. AAA Texas determined some things to expect if your traveling this holiday. 

There is a projected 4.9 million Texans expected to travel by car this holiday weekend, according to AAA. All across the states, 61.6 million Americans will travel by car. This 2% increase in drivers over last year’s mark estimates to be the highest volume on record for Independence Day travel. Inevitably, more drivers means more traffic, so drivers should allot some extra time in their drive out of town. 

According to INRIX, a provider of transportation data, expects Wednesday, July 2 and Sunday, July 6 to be the busiest days on the road. They say that afternoon hours are going to have the most traffic, so drivers should aim to get on the road in the morning. There are also other factors that could impact your trip, so keep updated on construction, crashes, or severe weather before getting in the car. 

Last Fourth of July, AAA responded to nearly 700,000 emergency roadside assistance calls. The issues ranged from dead batteries, flat tires, people locking themselves out of their cars, and running out of gas. AAA recommends that before this holiday trip, you get a routine vehicle maintenance check. They also recommend packing an emergency kit to help in any unpredictable circumstance. 

Texas drivers have a smile on their face at the gas pump this summer. Gas prices are lowest they’ve been since 2021, with drivers paying about 30 cents less a gallon than they were at this time last year. The only disruption to this good news is the Atlantic hurricane season kicking off. With predictions by NOAA saying a there’s a 60% chance of an above normal season, there is a chance the oil refineries in the Gulf Coast could be disrupted. This could halt fuel deliveries leading to temporary increases in gas prices. 

AAA predicts another record being set this holiday: people traveling by air. They expect there to be 5.84 million travelers flying by plane. That is 8% of all Independence Day travelers. Last year, a record was set with 5.76 million air travelers, making this prediction a 1.4% increase. But, hey, records were made to be broken. 

According to AAA data, a roundtrip domestic flight for Fourth of July trips was on average $810. That is 4% more expensive than last year. The advice is, when booking last minute flights this summer, to consider flying on weekdays. Weekdays like Tuesday and Wednesday are more likely to have a more cost friendly deal than weekends. 

According to AAA, their rental partner, Hertz, says Thursday, July 3 is expected to be the busiest day to pick up rental vehicles. Their data also says most drivers are renting SUVs and midsize sedans for their road trips this Fourth of July holiday. So, when renting a car for this holiday travel period aim for another pick up date and even a less popular car. 

AAA has developed a list of the most popular destinations for the Independence Day travel period. They say that the main attraction for these destinations are beaches, cruises, and firework shows. 

Top Domestic Destinations:

1. Orlando, FL
2. Seattle, WA
3. New York, NY
4. Anchorage, AK
5. Fort Lauderdale, FL

Top International Destinations:

1. Vancouver, Canada 
2. Rome, Italy
3. Paris, France
4. London, England
5. Barcelona, Spain