A record 72.2 million people are expected to travel at least 50 miles or more from home over the Independence Day holiday period from Saturday, June 28 to Sunday, July 6, according to a new report from AAA.

This represents an increase of 1.7 million domestic travelers compared to last year and 7 million more than in 2019.

More than 8.9 million Californians are expected to travel for the holiday, marking an increase of nearly 182,000 compared to 2024 and over 615,000 from than in 2019. 

AAA’s Independence Day forecast includes two weekends instead of one to better reflect the flow of holiday travelers.

“Summertime is one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, and July 4 is one of the most popular times to get away,” said AAA Mountain West Group spokesperson Doug Johnson. “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, travelers have the option of making it a long weekend or taking the entire week to make memories with family and friends.”

Independence day travelers by mode of transportation

By car: AAA projects 61.6 million people will travel by car, a 2.2% increase over last year, and the highest volume on record. This Independence Day holiday period is expected to see an additional 1.3 million road travelers compared to 2024. In California, more than 7 million people will be traveling by car throughout the Golden State.

By air: Air travel is also projected to set a new record. AAA expects 5.84 million travelers will fly to their destinations; that’s 8% of all Independence Day travelers. This year’s projection is a 1.4% increase over the previous record set last Independence Day week of 5.76 million air travelers. In California, more than 1.2 Million residents will be flying this holiday weekend, about 24,000more than in 2024.

By other modes: AAA projects 4.78 million people will travel by bus, train, or cruise, a 7.4% increase over 2024. This year’s number is just shy of the 2019 record of 4.79 million. Cruising is driving the popularity of this category, particularly this time of year, when Alaska cruise season is in full swing. About 593 thousand Californians are expected to travel by bus, train, or cruise.

July 4th travel tips

Save on gas. Use the AAA Mobile App to find the cheapest gas stations along your route, plan your trip, request roadside assistance and more. 

Be road trip ready. Pack an emergency kit and get a pre-trip inspection to prevent common breakdowns like dead batteries and blown tires.

Avoid speeding. Fuel economy peaks around 50 mph on most cars, then drops off as speeds increase. Reducing highway speeds by 5 to 10 mph can increase fuel economy by as much as 14%.

Hit the road early. Wednesday, July 2 and Sunday, July 6 are projected to be the busiest travel days with 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. being the most congested hours. Keep in mind construction, crashes, or severe weather could impact your travel times. 

Stay alert while driving. Avoid distractions while on the road and slow down, move over for emergency vehicles, tow trucks, or disabled vehicles on the side of the road.