This year’s Independence Day holiday is expected to see more than 70 million Americans traveling, making it the busiest week ever in history. Both airport and road traffic conditions are anticipated to be unusually hectic.
The Independence Day travel period refers to a 9-day stretch from June 29 (Saturday) to July 7 (Sunday). During this time, millions of people will simultaneously be taking flights, embarking on road trips, or enjoying vacations on cruises.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) predicts that 70.9 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles away from home, with around 60.6 million opting to travel by car.
AAA’s car rental partner, Hertz, stated that cities such as Dallas in Texas, Denver in Colorado, Salt Lake City in Utah, Los Angeles and San Francisco in California are the ones with the highest demand for holiday week car rentals.
Aside from the influx of tourists, the number of Southern Californians going on holiday trips themselves is staggering. The Automobile Club of Southern California forecasts that around 5.4 million people will be traveling during the holiday week, with nearly 80% of them driving. This is expected to lead to particularly severe congestion.
Most Southern Californians are set to visit popular self-driving destinations like San Diego, Las Vegas, the Central Coast, and national parks.
“Drivers in major U.S. metropolitan areas may experience the most severe traffic delays when leaving on Wednesday, July 3, and returning on Sunday, July 7,” analysts from traffic analysis firm INRIX project, “the average road travel time during the holiday week is expected to be nearly 67% longer than usual.”
The most severe outbound congestion in Southern California is foreseen on the afternoons and evenings of July 3, 4, and 5; the return journey’s peak congestion is anticipated on the afternoon of Monday, July 8, particularly on the southbound segment of Highway 5 between Bakersfield and Los Angeles, where it’s estimated to take nearly two hours.
INRIX has summarized the best and worst times for driving during the Independence Day holiday:
– On the 3rd and 4th, the most congested periods are 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm, with the best travel times being before noon.
– On the 5th, peak congestion is from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, and the best time to travel is before 10:00 am.
– On the 6th, the heaviest congestion occurs between 10:30 am and 2:30 pm, with the best travel time being before 10:00 am.
– On the 7th, congestion peaks from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and the best travel time is before 11:00 am.
– On the 8th, the busiest hours are from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, with the best travel time after 7:00 pm.
Currently, the average gas prices in the U.S. are lower than during the holiday period last year. Before Independence Day, gas prices may continue to decline, stabilize thereafter, and remain relatively steady. However, it’s worth noting that if storms in the hurricane season impact oil production and refining centers along the Gulf of Mexico coast negatively, it could lead to price increases.
As of July 2, the average price of regular self-serve gasoline in the U.S. is $3.50 per gallon, while in California, it’s $4.79 per gallon.
To have a pleasant and safe holiday, the Automobile Club of Southern California recommends that travelers embarking on road trips conduct a comprehensive vehicle check before departure and prepare an emergency roadside kit.
For air travel, it’s advisable to arrive at the airport two to three hours early, pre-book parking, complete check-in procedures online in advance, and stay updated on flight changes constantly.