Fourth of July Travelers Face Busy Highways and Airports This Week

AAA’s annual Independence Day forecast now includes two weekends instead of one, better reflecting the flow of holiday travelers, officials said.
Fourth of July Travelers Face Busy Highways and Airports This Week
Passengers go through a security checkpoint at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Ill., on May 7, 2025. Scott Olson/Getty Images
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Nearly 72 million people are expected to travel during the Fourth of July holiday, likely leading to crowded highway traffic and congested airports across the United States. However, holiday travelers should also see lower gas prices and airfares as they go to their Independence Day destinations, experts say.

Nationally, AAA Travel, the travel‐services arm of the American Automobile Association, forecasts that 72.2 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home during the Independence Day holiday period from June 28 to July 6. This year’s domestic travel projection is 1.7 million more travelers than last year and 7 million more than in 2019.
Wesley Brown
Wesley Brown
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Wesley Brown is a long-time business and public policy reporter based in Arkansas. He has written for many print and digital publications across the country.