GARDEN CITY, NY (June 27, 2022) Higher prices for everything are not deterring Americans from taking a July 4th trip with 47.9 million traveling 50 miles or more, second highest all-time trailing only the 49 million who traveled in 2019. Car travel will set a record with 42 million road trippers despite $4.90 gasoline, the highest price ever for Independence Day. Ongoing problems with flight cancellations and delays may be partly responsible for the surge in car trips. While more are flying than last year, 3.55 million versus 3.50 in 2021, the percentage of air travelers (7.4%) is the lowest since 2011, outside the aberrant pandemic year of 2020. Travel in the “other” category includes trains, busses and cruise ships and will see 2.42 million travelers, much higher than last year’s 900,000. The bulk of the additional “other” trips will happen on cruise ships with all-inclusive pricing attractive during high inflation.
“Travel sales are booming, especially since the decision to abolish the need for a negative Covid test to reenter the U.S.,” said Robert Sinclair, Jr. of AAA Northeast. “Cruising is very popular with so many home ports around the U.S., eliminating having to take a flight and the problems that might come with it,” Sinclair added. Air fares that are 14 percent higher than last year may also be putting a damper on flying. Two- and Three-Diamond hotels are more expensive, 27 and 23 percent, respectively. Car rentals, however, are 34 percent less than last year, an additional incentive to hit the road for the holiday.
Those that drive had better prepare the trusty family vehicle (now averaging more than 12 years old) before heading out. AAA anticipates more than 446,000 emergency road service calls over the holiday weekend, June 30 to July 4. Flat tires, dead batteries and lockouts will be the top items AAA members will seek help with.
Friday July 1st is shaping up to be the busiest day to fly. Drivers will see the most traffic Thursday and Friday.
AAA booking data show that big cities and international classics are the top destinations this Independence Day. Reservations for air, car rentals, cruises, hotels, and tours at domestic destinations are up 60 percent compared to last year, and 252 percent higher for international destinations.
| 2022 Top Independence Day Destinations | |
| U.S Destinations | International Destinations |
| Orlando, FL | Vancouver, BC, Canada |
| Seattle, WA | Paris, France |
| New York, NY | London, England |
| Anaheim, CA | Rome, Italy |
| Anchorage, AK | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Ft. Lauderdale, FL | Dublin, Ireland |
| Las Vegas, NV | Calgary, AB, Canada |
| Honolulu, HI | Punta Cana, Dominican Republic |
| Denver, CO | Cancun, Mexico |
| Chicago, IL | Nassau, Bahamas |
| Worst Corridors and Times to Travel | |||
| Metro Area | Corridor | Peak Congestion | % Over Normal |
| Atlanta | I-85 S, Clairmont Rd to MLK Dr | Thursday, 2:30-4:30 PM | 134% |
| Boston | I-93 S, Purchase St to MA-24 | Thursday, 2:00-4:00 PM | 103% |
| Chicago | I-290 W, Morgan St to Wolf Rd | Friday, 2:45-4:45 PM | 100% |
| Detroit | I-696 W, MI-10 to I-275 | Thursday, 3:30-5:30 PM | 67% |
| Houston | I-69 N, I-610 to I-10 | Friday, 3:30-5:30 PM | 92% |
| Los Angeles | I-5 S, Colorado St to Florence Ave | Friday, 4:15-6:15 PM | 147% |
| New York | Belt Parkway W, Cohancy St to I-278 | Saturday, 10:30 AM-12:30 PM | 142% |
| San Francisco | I-80 W, Maritime St to San Pablo Dam Rd | Thursday, 5:45-7:45 PM | 75% |
| Seattle | I-5 S, WA-18 to WA-7 | Friday, 4:00-6:00 PM | 138% |
| Washington DC | I-495 Counterclockwise; New Hampshire Ave to I-267 | Thursday, 3:15-5:15PM | 63% |
| Source: INRIX | |||
| Daily Worst and Best Times to Travel | ||
| Day | Worst Time | Best Time |
| Thursday | 2:00-8:00 PM | Before 7:00 AM / After 8:00 PM |
| Friday | 12:00-9:00 PM | Before 10:00 AM / After 9:00 PM |
| Saturday | 2:00-4:00 PM | Before 12:00 PM / After 7:00 PM |
| Sunday | Low congestion expected all day | |
| Monday | Low congestion expected all day | |
| Source: INRIX | ||