For the upcoming Independence Day holidays, the American Automobile Association (AAA) forecasts a record-setting 72.2 million domestic travellers between 28 June and 6 July. This surge marks a 2.4% increase in comparison to last year, making it one of the busiest travel periods outside of the winter holidays.
“Summertime is one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, and the 4th of July is one of the most popular times to get away,” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. “Following Memorial Day’s record forecast, AAA is seeing strong demand for road trips and air travel over Independence Day week. With the holiday falling on a Friday, travellers have the option of making it a long weekend or taking the entire week to make memories with family and friends.”
Traveling for the 4th? You're not alone. We're projecting more than 72 million travelers this holiday — the most ever for 4th of July weekend.
— AAA Colorado (@AAAColorado) June 24, 2025
Don't forget to check out our best and worst times to hit the road if you want to avoid traffic. Pro tip: leave early! pic.twitter.com/4elONeGQCe
While driving will once again be the preferred method of transport, with an estimated 61.1 million car travellers, a record-breaking 5.84 million people are projected to fly for the holiday. On 22 June, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported this was its busiest day ever, with almost 3.1 million travellers. The TSA also noted that 6 July is expected to be the busiest day ever during the holiday period.
This year, the Fourth of July is on Friday, making it part of a long weekend, offering an ideal opportunity for a summer holiday. “It’s been almost a decade since travellers have had a ‘Fourth of July Friday,’ meaning they are likely taking full advantage of the long weekend to build out longer trips,” said Katy Nastro, travel expert at Going.
Moreover, those travelling by car should begin their journey early in the morning to escape traffic and have a seamless journey. According to Inrix, a company providing transportation data and analytics, in the best-case scenario, travellers will depart their homes before noon, as the company projects that the times with the most congestion are the afternoons and early evenings.
Travellers are choosing their Independence Day destinations based on their desire for cruises, beaches, and fireworks, as indicated by AAA’s booking data. This leads to strong demand for Alaska cruises during their peak season, as well as for resorts and attractions in Florida and Hawaii. Cities like New York and Boston are popular for their nationally recognised fireworks displays. Internationally, Vancouver is the leading destination, closely followed by key European cities that are in high demand during the summer months.
Top 4 July domestic destinations:
- Orlando, Florida
- Seattle
- New York
- Anchorage, Alaska
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Honolulu
- Denver
- Miami
- Boston
- Atlanta
Top 4 July international destinations:
- Vancouver, British Columbia
- Rome
- Paris
- London
- Barcelona
- Dublin
- Amsterdam
- Calgary, Alberta
- Athens, Greece
- Lisbon, Portugal
