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AAA forecasts most traveled July 4th ever |
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June 28, 2017 |
This Independence Day, a record-breaking 44.2
million Americans will travel 50 miles or more
away from home, taking to the nation’s roads,
skies, rails and waterways to honor the red,
white and blue. With 1.25 million more travelers
expected than last year, 2017 will be marked as
the most traveled Independence Day holiday
weekend ever.
“Combined, strong employment, rising incomes,
higher consumer confidence and low gas prices
bode well for the travel industry, in particular
this Independence Day weekend,” said Jennifer
Cook, AAA Washington’s senior manager of
corporate communications. “A historic 44.2
million Americans will travel to celebrate our
nation’s freedom this year, adding to an already
bustling summer travel season.”
The Independence Day holiday travel period is
defined as Friday, June 30 to Tuesday, July 4.
By the Numbers: Independence Day Travel Forecast
* Overall, 44.2 million travelers are expected to travel this
Independence Day, a 2.9 percent increase over
2016.
* 37.5 million Americans will drive to their destinations, an increase of
2.9 percent over last year.
* 3.44 million people are taking to the skies this Independence Day,
increasing air travel by 4.6 percent over last
year.
* 3.27 million travelers, an increase of 1.4 percent from 2016, will look
to other modes of transportation, including
cruises, trains and buses.
* Slightly higher gas prices not deterring holiday road trippers
Average gas prices remain above prices from this
time last year, but prices have gone down
slightly in the past month locally. In
Washington, the average price of gas is $2.82
per gallon, 6 cents less than a month ago and 18
cents above this time last year. In Oregon, the
average price for a gallon of gas is $2.67 and
in Idaho it’s $2.61. And, the national average
price for a gallon of gas is $2.28, 8 cents less
than a month ago and four cents less than a year
ago.
The vast majority of travelers — 37.5 million
Americans — will drive to their Independence Day
destinations, an increase of 2.9 percent over
last year. Air travel is expected to increase
4.6 percent over last year, with 3.44 million
Americans taking to the skies this Independence
Day. Travel by other modes of transportation,
including cruises, trains and buses, will
increase 1.4 percent, to 3.27 million travelers.
ravelers can expect lower prices for airfares,
car rentals and hotels this Independence Day
weekend. Average airfares for the top 40
domestic flight routes will be 10 percent lower
this year, with an average round trip ticket
landing at $186. Daily car rental rates will
average $65, which is 14 percent less than last
Independence Day. Hotel costs are the same as
last year, with the average AAA Three Diamond
Rated hotel costing $185 per night.
AAA expects to rescue more than 338,000
motorists across the country this Independence
Day weekend, with more than 7,500 of them
occurring in Washington. Some of the most
frequent reasons for member breakdowns include:
lockouts, flat tires and battery-related issues.
AAA recommends motorists take their vehicle to a
trusted repair facility to perform any needed
maintenance before heading out. Oil changes,
fluid level checks, battery tests and tire
inspections go a long way toward reducing the
chances of a breakdown.
The most-visited locales for 2017 summer travel
based on AAA’s summer travel bookings:
1. Orlando, Florida
2. Vancouver, Canada
3. Cancun, Mexico
4. Seattle, Washington
5. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
6. Honolulu, Hawaii
7. Anaheim, California
8. Anchorage, Alaska
9. Las Vegas, Nevada
10. Montego Bay, Jamaica
Before setting out for Independence Day,
download the free AAA Mobile. Travelers can use
the app to map a route, find lowest gas prices,
access exclusive member discounts, make travel
arrangements, request AAA roadside assistance,
find AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities and
more. Learn more at
www.AAA.com/mobile. |
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