Fourth Of July Travel: When To Leave, Where To Go In 2019

LAKE FOREST, CA —Three-and-a-half million Southern California residents are getting out of Dodge this Independence Day. That is expected to be an all-time travel record for the holiday, topping three years of record travel, the Automobile Club of Southern California says.

Travel is expected to increase by 3.9 percent locally and statewide compared to 2018's Independence Day traffic.

Over the past six years, Fourth of July travelers have fled the Golden State in search of greener pastures.

A holiday trip is defined as 50 miles or more away from home between Wednesday, July 3 and Sunday, July 7. Will you hit the road this Fourth of July? Let us know in this Patch Poll.

Flying Far From Home?

AAA has seen an increase in flights to destinations such as Hawaii and Europe.

Filomena Andre, the Auto Club's vice president for travel products and services says that many travelers love the new river cruise ships both in the United States and Europe.

Travelers also love the increased airline competition that has lowered airfares to Hawaii.

AAA projected that out of the 3.5 million Southlanders hitting the road this Fourth of July holiday, 2.8 million will travel by car, 471,000 by air and 278,000 by other means, such as a bus, train or cruise ship.

Top Destinations for Southern Californians are:

• Las Vegas
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• Seattle for Alaska cruises
• local travel
• Grand Canyon
• Anaheim, Disneyland

Disneyland's Disney Resort is expected to be the fifth most popular destination nationwide for travelers, according to the AAA.

The Cost of Driving...

After several weeks of declines at the pumps, Southern California gas prices are hovering at or near the same levels as this time last year. The average pump prices are now about $3.70 per gallon for regular, but could increase closer to the holiday as a 5.6-cent gas tax increase in California takes effect on July 1.

When to Go...
Traffic congestion is expected to be unusually heavy on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 3 throughout Southern California due to holiday travelers, the Auto Club said.

In the Los Angeles metropolitan area and Orange County, holiday traffic will almost triple travel times at the peak and traffic will be the worst between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on July 3.

If you're driving, and can leave earlier or on the morning of the 4th, those would be the best times to go, according to projected traffic.

Inspect Your Vehicle Before You Go!

Get those tires checked! AAA tow trucks expect to rescue nearly 367,000 motorists at the roadside this Independence Day holiday, that organization has said.

Dead batteries, flat tires, and lockouts will be the primary reasons for vehicle troubles.

If you have a newer vehicle, consider downloading your app to be able to unlock your car via remote! Trust us that has saved this writer a time or two.

Happy Fourth of July!

Fill out our random, unscientific Patch Poll and tell us where you're headed over the four-day weekend! And have a safe and happy Fourth of July from all of us at Patch.com.