Whether they drive or fly, people traveling for the upcoming holiday weekend are expected to break records in what is already one of the busiest years for travel.
The Fourth of July holiday usually marks the peak of summer travel, and this summer is already showing signs of surpassing the past two record-setting summers.
With the Transportation Safety Administration reporting record numbers of passengers flying last month and AAA predicting 60 million drivers taking to the road, here’s what you need to know and how to avoid delays and traffic jams.
Travel records are broken all the time.
With people itching to get away due to the coronavirus shutdowns, air travel has taken off in recent years. Travel volumes are still growing, despite higher costs and a more volatile industry, according to Paula Twidale, senior vice president of travel at AAA.
Demand is being fueled by wealthier travelers spending more, while budget travelers and poorer families are booking fewer trips, analysts and surveys show.
In a survey by American Express Travel, 84 percent of people planned to spend more or the same amount on travel this year compared to 2023, and more than three-quarters said they valued the best travel experience relative to cost.
Airports are preparing for high flight volumes throughout the week.
The TSA, which has already reported record numbers of security screenings over the past two months, is preparing for more passengers than ever this weekend.
Nearly three million passengers were screened by TSA on June 24, a single-day record. And seven of the 10 busiest travel days occurred last month, according to TSA screening numbers.
While passenger numbers have increased, the number of flights has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, Ms Twidale said. This has made air travel less reliable in cases of extreme weather and accidents.
Expect lines and book links carefully.
For consumers booking a flight, Ms Twidale recommends paying attention to where and how long connections are. Booking a very short stopover at a busy airport leaves little room for delays, which could lead to a missed flight.
The cities with the busiest airports this week will likely be Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth and Denver, according to booking platform Hopper.
Hopper warns passengers should expect longer morning lines at most airports this week. At Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and New York’s Kennedy International Airport, however, the busiest departure times will be in the evenings.
Bernice Padilla, who has been a flight attendant for six years and creates travel content on social media, said airports are busier than ever this summer and travelers need to arrive earlier.
“I think the recommendation is probably two hours for the inside and three for the outside, but given the busy weekend I think you should give yourself more,” he said.
Ms. Padilla said to bring empty water bottles and portable chargers in case of delays, as well as snacks in case you arrive late at your destination.
So they have the most up-to-date information about their planes, Ms. Padilla said, flight attendants use Flighty and FlightAware, as well as the airline’s app.
Prepare for record breaking drivers and lunchtime traffic.
Those who get behind the wheel in the coming days should be careful: More than 60 million drivers are estimated to be on the road for the Independence Day holiday, according to AAA forecasts.
Ms Twidale said even with record numbers of drivers this weekend, some may choose to hit the road rather than book a flight to save money and hassle at the airport, especially for short journeys.
“You’re in control of your own destiny by taking your vehicle and stocking the car with water and snacks and you can stop along the way,” he said.
The busiest days on the road this week should be Wednesday, July 3 and Sunday, July 7, according to AAA. The company predicted traffic jams and busy roads would be at their worst midday on Wednesday and said it was best to start early in the morning, before 10am. or 8 p.m. would be ideal.
Some drivers traveling this past weekend ahead of the holiday week have already faced dangerous and busy roads: Traffic pile-ups on a busy interstate in Florida have killed several people and injured many others.
Plan a little, then relax and enjoy the fireworks.
Many people will flock to parks and major cities for fireworks displays.
In New York City, about a million people tried to claim seats offered by the city to see the Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks show, crashing the ticket website. In the end, 10,000 spectators were able to grab tickets for the premium spots.
Other cities with some of the biggest fireworks shows in the country include Washington, D.C. and Boston. Many officials advise checking updated traffic maps before leaving home on Independence Day, as many roads and areas may be closed for the fireworks and events.
Elsewhere, some are retreating to the outdoors this weekend — Michigan state parks and other locations along the Great Lakes are just under 95 percent full for this weekend, which is typical for the holiday weekend since 2021.
If you’re staying home or want to avoid the crowds, you can watch the Washington fireworks show on PBS or the New York show on NBC.
