A Record-Breaking 72.2 million People Are Traveling Over July 4—Here's How to Avoid Traffic
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For many Americans, 4th of July travel plans represent the quintessential summer vacation, one filled with beaches, barbecue, and priceless moments with family and friends. But before you can make it to the fireworks and good times, you have to survive the slog of traffic, crowds, and general chaos that comes along with peak travel.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R15ekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R25ekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframeThis year, the 4th of July travel forecast is set to be particularly hectic. A record-breaking 72.2 million people are expected to travel over the Independence Day period stretching from Saturday, June 28, to Sunday, July 6, according to estimates from AAA. That’s a 2.4% jump from last year. “Following Memorial Day’s record forecast, AAA is seeing strong demand for road trips and air travel over Independence Day week,” Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in a release. “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.”
That means travelers should expect record-level congestion on highways and crowds inside airport terminals: the TSA projects it will screen 18.5 million people from Tuesday, July 1, through Monday, July 7. Here’s how to avoid traffic and crowds this July 4, whether you’re traveling by car, plane, train, or cruise ship.
Road trips
The vast majority of travelers this Independence Day will be heading out on a road trip. AAA predicts that a whopping 61.6 million people will travel by car over the holiday period—an additional 1.3 million road travelers compared to 2024, and the highest volume the agency has ever recorded.
With those unprecedented numbers, timing your departure times strategically has never been more important. The busiest days on the road will be Wednesday, July 2, and Sunday, July 6, according to transportation insights firm Inrix. In general, afternoon hours will be the most congested, so travelers should aim to depart in the early morning.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R1bekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R2bekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframeInrix and AAA have also identified the peak congestion times over the holiday for 16 major metro areas across the country, including: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, and Washington, DC. If you plan to drive to or from one of these cities, it would be well worth it to consult the list of predicted worst congestion times. For example, the worst time to leave Atlanta is Sunday, June 29, at 12:15 p.m., while drivers departing Chicago can expect the most traffic on Wednesday, July 2, at 6 p.m.
For drivers who plan to rent their vehicles, rental car company Hertz says that the busiest pickup day will be July 3, with the highest number of rentals booked in Orlando, Denver, Boston, Oahu, and Seattle. If you’re getting a car from one of those cities, check to see if your rental company offers an express pick-up option. These expedited reservations usually allow travelers who have free loyalty memberships with the car company to skip the line or be processed through an express lane. Hertz, for instance, advises passengers to make a free account with its Gold Plus Rewards program and link it with a free account from Clear to access its Fast Lane, which allows drivers to exit the rental lot in seconds.
Air travel
As with road trips, the number of people planning to travel by plane over July 4 is poised to set a new record. AAA says that 5.84 million travelers will fly to their Independence Day vacation spots in 2025, a 1.4% increase compared to 2024.
TSA predicts the busiest day at airports nationwide will be Sunday, July 6, when it expects to screen approximately 2.9 million travelers. That’s just shy of the agency’s busiest day ever recorded, which just occurred on June 22 when the agency screened 3.1 million travelers following the Juneteenth holiday. As such, all fliers should plan to arrive at the airport early—at least two hours ahead of time for a domestic flight, especially if you’re checking bags—and don’t forget your Real ID. If you show up with a regular old driver’s license for a domestic flight, you could be delayed even further at the TSA checkpoint.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R1hekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R2hekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframeIf you have TSA PreCheck, which will be extremely useful for cutting down on wait times at security, double check that your Known Traveler Number is on your flight reservation so you’re admitted to the correct security lane. You could also consider opting into TSA PreCheck’s Touchless ID program, which allows travelers to scan their faces instead of presenting a boarding pass and physical ID. The optional program is much more streamlined, but it requires travelers to have both PreCheck and a loyalty account with their airline.
Touchless ID is free and available at 12 major US hubs, in partnership with four airlines: United, American, Delta, and Alaska Airlines. If you’re flying with one of those carriers, check the TSA’s website to see if your airport is part of the program.
Train and cruise journeys
A total of 4.78 million people will travel by other modes of transport this week, including buses, trains, and cruises, AAA says. That’s 7.4% more than in 2024 and just beneath the record set in 2019 in which 4.79 million travelers took alternate modes of transportation. “Cruising is driving the popularity of this category, particularly this time of year, when Alaska cruise season is in full swing,” AAA’s release says.
If you’re planning to cruise over the July 4 holiday period—particularly on an Alaska voyage—you’ll want to be prepared for embarkation day, when lines to board the ship can snake through the cruise terminal. If you don’t already have access to priority boarding through your loyalty status or suite booking, consider purchasing a separate package to bypass crowds and get on board the ship faster. Add-ons like Norwegian Cruise Line’s Priority Access and Carnival’s Faster to the Fun include benefits like priority check-in and boarding, express luggage delivery, plus additional onboard perks when the ship gets underway.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R1nekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R2nekkr8lb2m7nfblbH1» iframeFor rail travelers, it’s safe to assume that the peak travel times by train will be more or less the same as for car trips. That means, if possible, try to avoid evening journeys on Wednesday, July 2, and Sunday, July 6, when the majority of travelers are projected to depart and return home. Another good rule of thumb to keep in mind when planning your departure: heat waves can cause delays on Amtrak, further exacerbating crowded operations. Book a flexible ticket and keep an eye on the weather. If you can, avoid riding the rails if a heat advisory is issued.
If you plan to travel by Amtrak, consider upgrading to the company’s business class. This car, located at the very end of the train, offers assigned seating for added peace of mind (meaning you’ll avoid the last-minute game of musical chairs during the boarding process). The premium car is available on 15 lines, including along the Northeast Corridor, as well as select Midwest and West Coast corridors.
This story has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
Originally Appeared on Condé Nast Traveler
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