A record 72.2 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home during the Independence Day holiday period, according to a new forecast from AAA.
The travel organization said Wednesday that the nine-day holiday travel window, spanning June 27 through July 5, is expected to surpass last year’s record of 71.8 million travelers. While overall travel growth has slowed compared to recent years, AAA says Americans continue to make summer travel a priority despite higher costs.
Road trips will once again dominate holiday travel. AAA projects 61.4 million people will travel by car, accounting for roughly 85% of all Independence Day travelers. That figure is nearly unchanged from last year, even as gasoline prices remain higher than they were during the 2025 holiday period.
Air travel is also expected to remain near record levels. AAA forecasts 5.85 million travelers will fly domestically during the holiday period, a slight increase from last year. Domestic roundtrip airfare is averaging about $830, roughly 5% higher than travelers paid for similar trips a year ago.
The fastest-growing travel category is cruises, trains and buses. Nearly 4.93 million Americans are expected to travel using those modes, a 5.3% increase from last year and above pre-pandemic levels. AAA attributed much of that growth to continued demand for cruise vacations.
According to AAA booking data, Seattle, Orlando, Anchorage, Miami and New York City rank among the most popular domestic destinations. Internationally, Vancouver, Rome, Dublin, Paris and London top the list of destinations booked by AAA members.
Traffic experts at INRIX warn that the busiest travel days will occur around the second weekend of the holiday period, particularly beginning Thursday, July 2. Drivers are encouraged to leave early in the day when possible and avoid peak afternoon and evening travel periods.
AAA is also urging motorists to focus on safety during the busy holiday week. The organization noted that nearly one-third of summertime traffic deaths involve an impaired driver and encouraged travelers to arrange sober transportation if they plan to drink. Last Independence Day week, AAA responded to more than 687,000 roadside assistance calls nationwide.
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