AAA: 50.7 million Americans will travel this Independence Day

Monday, June 26, 2023

AAA projects that a record-breaking number of Americans will travel this Independence Day weekend, with an estimated 50.7 million people journeying 50 miles or more from home.

This surpasses the previous record set in 2019 of 49 million travellers. Despite limited inventory and higher prices, consumers are demonstrating a strong demand for travel this summer, as evidenced by the high number of bookings made in advance.

Car travel is expected to dominate this holiday weekend, with approximately 43.2 million individuals opting to drive to their destinations. This represents a 2.4% increase compared to 2022 and a 4% rise compared to 2019. Favorable gas prices, averaging around $3.50 to $3.60 per gallon, have contributed to the appeal of road trips.

The air travel is predicted to reach a new high, with approximately 4.17 million Americans flying for the holiday. This reflects an 11.2% increase from 2022 and a 6.6% increase from 2019. The share of air travelers in the overall forecast stands at an impressive 8.2%, the highest percentage in almost two decades.

Other modes of transportation such as buses, cruises, and trains are also experiencing a surge in popularity, with an estimated 3.36 million people expected to utilise these options. This represents a 24% increase from the previous year, although it is not projected to surpass the total number of travelers in 2019.

These projections highlight the resilience and eagerness of Americans to travel, even in the face of limited availability and increased costs. With record-breaking numbers expected in both car and air travel, this Independence Day weekend promises to be one of the busiest in recent years.

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