4th Of July Travel Expected To Reach Pre-Pandemic Levels

CALIFORNIA — It's been more than a year since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down travel and travel volumes are expected to rebound to pre-pandemic levels this 4th Of July, according to a report from AAA.

More than 47 million travelers are expected to travel for the holiday, a 40% increase from 2020. It could be the second-highest Independence Day travel volume on record, trailing only 2019.

“We saw strong demand for travel around Memorial Day and the kick-off of summer, and all indications now point to a busy Independence Day with travel in full swing this summer,” Sergio Avila, AAA Northern California spokesperson, said in a statement.

Most travelers will hit the road by car and road trips will continue to dominate this summer with an expected 43.6 million travelers driving to their destination.

And although airfares have dropped 2% compared to last year, travelers can expect to pay more for hotels and car rentals as the travel demand increases. Higher gas prices also won’t stop travelers as more than 91% of holiday travel will be by car, AAA reports.

Here's what you should know before traveling:

• Know the updated guidance: Some local and state travel restrictions may still remain in place. Travelers who are not vaccinated should continue to physically distance, wear a mask, and get tested for COVID-19 before and after travel. Regardless of vaccination status, masks are required on planes, buses, trains, airplanes and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the U.S.
• Plan ahead: Exercise caution while traveling. It's important to research your destinations and have a plan.
• Be prepared: Drivers should check their vehicles are road-ready before embarking on a road trip. Visit an AAA-owned or Approved Auto Repair Center for a pre-trip inspection. AAA estimates it will rescue more than 460,000 stranded motorists at the roadside this holiday weekend.
• Know the high-volume times: Avoid travel on Thursday and Friday afternoon, along with Monday mid-day as nation-wide traffic volumes are expected to increase by 15% for the holiday.
• Check available resources: See the COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Map for local travel information. Use TripTik.AAA.com to plan your road trip and help determine which rest stops, gas stations, restaurants, and hotels are open along your route. Refer to the new AAA Digital TourBook guides at TourBook.AAA.com. Seek the advice of a knowledgeable travel agent to help plan their trips this summer. Learn more and visit AAA.com/Travel.

AAA partnered with IHS Markit to develop a methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes, using macroeconomic drivers such as employment, output, household net worth, asset prices including stock indices, interest rates, housing market indicators, and variables related to travel and tourism, including prices of gasoline, airline travel and hotel stays.

AAA represents six million members in California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming and Alaska. The travel service company offers roadside assistance, discounts and rewards, along with home, auto and life insurance, travel and home security services. Visit the website for more information.

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