More than 1.3 million people are expected to hit the road or air for the long holiday weekend in Virginia – setting a new holiday record for the state.
“It’s going to be a busy holiday on the roads of Virginia, AAA encourages drivers to make sure everyone is buckled up, limit distractions, avoid drugs and alcohol, and obey the speed limit,” said Morgan Dean, AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson in Virginia. “And, don’t forget, Virginia’s Move Over law is changing on July 1. Along with slowing down and moving over for red, blue and amber lights, drivers will also need to do the same for stationary vehicles displaying hazard lights, emergency signs or flares.”
AAA projects 50.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this Independence Day weekend.
Domestic travel over the long weekend will increase by 2.1 million people compared to 2022. This year’s projection surpasses the previous July 4th weekend record set in 2019 of 49 million travelers.
“We’ve never projected travel numbers this high for Independence Day weekend,” said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel. “What this tells us is that despite inventory being limited and some prices 50 percent higher, consumers are not cutting back on travel this summer.”
This July 4th weekend is expected to set a new record for the number of Americans traveling by car for the holiday.
AAA expects 43.2 million people will drive to their destinations, an increase of 2.4 percent over 2022 and 4 percent higher than 2019.
This summer, gas prices are well below what they were one year ago. The national average for a gallon of regular was $4.80 on July 4, 2022. Gas prices have remained steady the past couple of months, with the national average hovering around $3.50 to $3.60 a gallon, thanks to the lower cost of oil.
Air travel is also expected to set a new record. AAA projects 4.17 million Americans will fly to their destinations Independence Day weekend, an increase of 11.2 percent over 2022 and 6.6 percent over 2019. The previous July 4th weekend air travel record of 3.91 million travelers was set in 2019. The share of air travelers in the overall holiday forecast this year is an impressive 8.2 percent – the highest percentage in nearly 20 years.
Other modes of transportation are also on the rise this year. AAA expects 3.36 million people will travel by bus, cruise or train over the long weekend, an increase of 24 percent over last year. While more travelers are turning to these modes this year, the number is not expected to surpass 2019’s total of 3.54 million.
Travel congestion
INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, expects Friday, June 30, to be the busiest day on the roads during the Independence Day holiday weekend, with average travel times up nearly 30 percent over normal.
Major metros like Boston, Seattle, and Washington, DC are expected to see the worst traffic. I
“With record-breaking travelers expected on the road this holiday weekend, drivers should prepare for above-average delays to their favorite destinations,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. “Using traffic apps, local DOT notifications, and 511 services are key to minimizing holiday travel traffic frustrations this Independence Day.”
The Independence Day holiday travel period is defined as the five-day period from Friday, June 30, to Tuesday, July 4.
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Crystal Graham
