According to a recent report from AAA, Americans are expected to set a new record for travel during the Fourth of July holiday in 2025. The organization’s ‘Independence Day Travel Forecast’ projects that 72.2 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home during the holiday period, with the travel window extending from June 28 to July 6. This represents a significant increase, with 1.7 million more travelers compared to last year and seven million more than in 2019. The report highlights a notable growth in road trips, with over 60 million drivers anticipated, as well as a rise in air travel, with 8% of travelers expected to fly. Stacey Barber, AAA’s Travel vice president, emphasized that summer is one of the busiest travel seasons, and with the holiday falling on a Friday, travelers have the option of making it a long weekend or a week-long celebration.
Americans Set to Break Travel Records for Independence Day 2025
A record 72.2 million Americans are expected to travel for the Fourth of July holiday in 2025, according to AAA’s latest ‘Independence Day Travel Forecast.’ This marks a significant increase compared to previous years, with 1.7 million more travelers than in 2024 and seven million more than in 2019. The report highlights a surge in road trips, with over 60 million drivers anticipated, and an increase in air travel, with 8% of travelers expected to fly.
The travel period extends from June 28 to July 6, giving travelers the option of making it a long weekend or a week-long celebration, as the holiday falls on a Friday. Stacey Barber, AAA’s Travel vice president, noted that summer is one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, with strong demand for both road trips and air travel over the Independence Day week.
The forecast indicates that over 60 million Americans are set to drive to their destinations, representing a 2.2% increase from 2024. Meanwhile, about 4.78 million travelers will use other forms of transportation, such as cruises or trains. The report also mentions the rise in anti-tourism protests, as seen in Europe, where tourists have been targeted by protesters with water guns.
With the increase in travel numbers, the report suggests that the travel industry is preparing for a busy holiday season. This includes hotels, rental car companies, and airlines anticipating higher demand and potentially adjusting their services to meet the needs of travelers. The data underscores the growing popularity of road trips and summer vacations in the United States, as people look to celebrate the nation’s 249th birthday with friends and family.