AAA

According to AAA, nearly 49 million Americans are making plans to honor the red, white, and blue with an Independence Day getaway this year.

This is the highest figure on record since AAA began tracking holiday travel in 2000.

Overall travel volume for the holiday is expected to rise 4.1 percent over last year, with an additional 1.9 million people planning road trips and other vacations to celebrate America’s birthday. For the record-high 41.4 million Americans who will travel by automobile this Independence Day, INRIX, a global mobility analytics company, predicts drivers could face delays as much as four times a normal commute, with July 3 the worst day on the roads.

In addition to lower gas prices compared with last summer, broader economic fundamentals remain strong. Low unemployment, robust consumer spending and rising disposable incomes are all encouraging more consumers to invest their hard-earned money in travel this summer.

“The strong economy and lower gas prices are a perfect combination, sparking more Americans to travel and celebrate the holiday with family and friends,” Sally McCorrison, director of travel services, AAA East Central, East Penn Region, said. “After the long cold winter months, beaches and theme parks are a welcomed sight and will surely serve as fun destinations this summer.”

For the 41.4 million Americans traveling by automobile this Independence Day, INRIX, in collaboration with AAA, predicts drivers will experience the greatest amount of congestion on July 3 as commuters mix with holiday travelers. In major metropolitan areas, drivers could face delays as much as four times a normal commute. Nationwide, delays are expected to increase by approximately 9 percent.

With the current national average of $2.67, gas prices are 17 cents less year-over-year and could drop even lower into the summer. This is motivating record numbers of travelers to take road trips for the holiday weekend. Statewide, Pennsylvania motorists are paying 15 cents less than this time last year at the pump at an average of $2.85.

Some of the savings travelers are enjoying from lower gas prices will go toward other travel costs this holiday, which are trending higher.

According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, average car rental rates are 5 percent higher than last year, at $69 daily. Meanwhile, midrange accommodations have increased and are expected to cost travelers between $153 for AAA Two Diamond and $189 for AAA Three Diamond Rated hotels.

Fun-in-the-sun locales like Orlando, Fla. and the beaches of South Carolina lead the top 10 list of popular destinations for travelers in this territory, based on advance AAA Travel bookings for Independence Day. The list includes: Orlando, Fla., South Carolina’s beaches, Virginia Beach, Niagara Falls, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, Nev., New York City, Miami, Fla., Chicago, Ill., and Tampa, Fla.

For those travelers planning an international vacation, Europe is the destination of choice.

Rome, London, Dublin and Paris are the most popular spots for international vacations this Independence Day, with Vancouver, Canada -- a top departure port for Alaskan cruises -- rounding out the top five.

According to Hertz, a 40-year AAA partner, the busiest airport pick-up locations for travelers renting a car this Independence Day are expected to be Orlando (MCO), Los Angeles (LAX), Denver (DEN), Las Vegas (LAS) and San Francisco (SFO). The busiest day for rental pick-ups is expected to be July 3.

AAA expects to rescue nearly 367,000 motorists at the roadside this Independence Day holiday. Dead batteries, flat tires and lockouts will be the leading reasons AAA members will experience car trouble. AAA recommends motorists take their vehicles to a trusted repair facility to perform any needed maintenance before heading out on a road trip. Additionally, before hitting the road, motorists need to be prepared for emergencies by taking along a mobile phone and car charger, a flashlight with extra batteries, a first-aid kit, a basic toolkit and drinking water and snacks for all passengers.

AAA’s projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Markit, a London-based business information provider. For the purposes of this forecast, the Independence Day holiday travel period is defined as the five-day period July 3 to 7. In cooperation with AAA, IHS Markit developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes, using macroeconomic drivers such as employment; output; household net worth; asset prices including stock indices; interest rates; housing market indicators and variables related to travel and tourism, including prices of gasoline, airline travel and hotel stays. The complete AAA/IHS Markit 2019 Independence Day holiday travel forecast is available here.

About INRIX:

INRIX is the global leader in connected car services and transportation analytics. Leveraging big data and the cloud, INRIX delivers comprehensive services and solutions to help move people, cities and businesses forward. Our partners are automakers, governments, mobile operators, developers, advertisers, as well as enterprises large and small.

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 79 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members.