AAA projects 72.2 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Independence Day holiday travel period. AAA’s forecast defines the Independence Day holiday travel period as the nine-day period from Saturday, June 27 to Sunday, July 5, 2026. The AAA Independence Day holiday travel period includes two weekends to better reflect the flow of holiday travelers.
Despite gas prices reaching four-year highs, over 61 million travelers are expected to travel by car, which accounts for 85% of travelers. Drivers in the midstate can expect gas prices that are more than a dollar higher than last year at this time. As of June 23, the current average in Pennsylvania was $4.09 compared to $3.38 one year ago.
AAA advises drivers to travel to their destinations in the morning, as the worst times to travel by car before and on July 4 will be between 12-7 pm. AAA expects that Thursday, July 2 will be the busiest day on the road. Drivers looking to avoid the heaviest traffic while heading home should leave early in the day or consider traveling on Monday or Tuesday.
AAA also advises travelers to stay up-to-date on traffic conditions by using mobile traffic apps, 511 services and local news stations. During the Independence Day travel period last year, AAA responded to more than 687,000 emergency roadside assistance calls. Half of those required towing services, and nearly 30% of those calls were for battery replacement and flat tires. AAA offers these car travel tips:
- Get routine vehicle maintenance ahead of your trip to avoid issues like flat tires or dead batteries
- Fill up your tank and check your oil before starting your route
- Secure loose items that can become projectiles in the event of a sudden stop
- Pack an emergency kit with first-aid supplies, water, snacks, jumper cables and flares
- Fully charge your phone and take a phone charger in the car in case you need to reach AAA Roadside Assistance
- Map your route with AAA TripTik and plan stops and activities along the way on AAA Trip Canvas
- Prepare for safe travel by setting up hands-free driving prior to departure including setting up navigation for directions and music. Effective June 5, 2025, Paul Miller’s Law prohibits the use of interactive mobile devices while driving. Drivers cannot hold or use a handheld phone for any interaction including texting, calling or browsing. The law not only covers active driving but driving while stationary at a red traffic light or stop sign.
- Remember to Slow Down, Move Over whenever there are emergency responders and stranded motorists on the side of the road. By reducing speed and changing lanes, drivers allow roadside workers to do their jobs safely and help prevent tragedies.
The number of air travelers and travelers taking other modes of transportation is also expected to have an increase over last year. AAA expects 5.85 million people to take domestic flights to their destinations, which is 8% of all Independence Day travelers. AAA also projects 4.93 million Americans will take buses, trains and cruises over Independence Day week, a 5.3% increase from last year.
