4th Of July Travel: Best Time To Get Out Of Pennsylvania

PENNSYLVANIA — Heading out of town this 4th of July? Expect company on Pennsylvania roads — nearly 48 million people are expected to travel over the coming holiday weekend, according to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and AAA.

In fact, AAA predicts the country could see the second-highest Independence Day travel volume on record, a huge contrast to last year when the pandemic prompted a nearly 40 percent reduction in travelers.

"Travel is in full swing this summer as Americans eagerly pursue travel opportunities they’ve deferred for the last year-and-a-half," Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel, said in a news release. "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 to follow."

Most travelers will opt for 4th of July road trips this year. A record 43.6 million Americans will drive to their destinations, accounting for 91 percent of all travelers. Another 3.5 million will fly, a 164 percent increase from last year.

If you’re among those driving, you might want to avoid certain peak travel times leading up to the holiday.

More than 5.7 million people are projected to be taking trips on the Pennsylvania Turnpike during the Independence Day holiday through next week.

"We are anticipating 5.7 million customers traveling our roadway from Friday, July 2 through Sunday, July 11," PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton said. "The traffic during this 10-day period represents a near return to pre-pandemic traffic levels and more than a one million increase over last year’s traffic numbers during the pandemic."

The commissioner predicts the most travelers will be out on July 2 (690,000 vehicles anticipated on the turnpike) and July 9 (675,000 anticipated vehicles on the turnpike).

Below are estimated daily traffic breakdowns for upcoming days:

• July 2 — 690,000
• July 3 — 525,000
• July 4 — 420,000
• July 5 — 525,000
• July 6 and July 7 — 600,000
• July 8 — 625,000
• July 9 — 675,000
• July 10 — 540,000
• July 11 — 535,000

The PA Turnpike will have patrols and safety teams throughout the system who are there to assure travelers get safely to their destination. That means responding to travelers in need of assistance, as well as, taking action against illegal or unsafe behaviors.

To help accommodate heavier holiday traffic, the Turnpike will suspend maintenance and construction work and have all available lanes open in each direction beginning at 5 a.m. Friday, through 11 p.m. on Sunday, July 11.

Other major metro areas across the United States could see usual delays nearly double, with drivers in Boston and San Francisco likely to experience nearly three times the delays.

Travelers should also plan for higher prices over the 4th of July holiday. Gas prices are at a seven-year high, and daily car rental rates have increased 86 percent compared with last Independence Day. Travelers can also expect to pay more for hotel rooms, according to AAA.

Curious where people are traveling? AAA also rounded up the top 10 destinations this 4th of July:

1. Orlando, Florida
2. Anaheim, California
3. Denver, Colorado
4. Las Vegas, Nevada
5. Seattle, Washington
6. Chicago, Illinois
7. New York City
8. Atlanta, Georgia
9. Boston, Massachusetts
10. Kahului, Maui, Hawaii

Is It Safe To Travel?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated its guidance to state that fully vaccinated people can travel domestically at low risk to themselves.

Vaccinated or not, travelers should take the proper precautions and heed a few tips before they hit the road:

Plan ahead. Check with state and local authorities where you are, along your route, and at your planned destination to learn about local circumstances and any restrictions that may be in place.

Minimize stops along the way. Pack meals, extra snacks and drinks in addition to an emergency roadside kit.

Follow public health guidance and new mask guidance. If you’re unvaccinated, wear face masks and remember to practice social distancing. Wash your hands regularly and be sure to pack disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer.

Check with your hotel. Prior to any hotel stay, call ahead to ask what precautions it is taking and what requirements are in place to protect guests.

For other helpful travel guidance from AAA, visit the organization’s COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Map for the latest state and local travel restrictions. You can also 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.