The Fourth of July is just around the corner and travel crowds are already ramping up.
Millions of Americans are preparing to leave the city sometime during the upcoming holiday week. That probably means busy roads, but also busy airports and train stations.
Motor club AAA predicts that about 70.9 million travelers will travel 50 miles (80 kilometers) or more from home during a nine-day Independence Day travel period — surpassing pre-pandemic figures for the U.S. holiday. And the Transportation Security Administration expects to screen more than 32 million individuals at airports from next Thursday through July 8, a 5.4% increase over last year's figures.
Are you traveling for the Fourth? Here's an overview of what you need to know.
Smooth sailing for travel around any holiday can never be taken for granted. But avoiding the most hectic times, when others are running out of town, is a good way to start.
Car
If you’re traveling by car on the Fourth of July, it’s best to hit the road in the morning, according to transportation data and insights provider INRIX. Peak traffic congestion varies by location, according to INRIX data published by AAA, but the worst times to drive on or around the holiday are generally between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Either way, be prepared for the roads to be congested.
“Road trips during the holiday week can take up to 67% longer than normal,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, in a prepared statement.
July 4 falls on a Thursday this year, and many travelers will likely take Friday, July 5, off to extend their travel into a four-day weekend. Drivers in major metropolitan areas can expect the worst delays on Wednesday, July 3, and Sunday, July 7 — when travelers are departing and returning to the city, Pishue added.
And if you rent a car before July 4, the busiest pickup days are the Friday, Saturday and Wednesday before the holiday, AAA notes.
Aeroplane
Airports will likely be full all week, but the TSA expects most people will take to the skies on Friday.
It expects to screen more than 3 million people on Friday, which would surpass the agency's current record for most people screened in a single day, which reached just under 3 million on Sunday.
“We expect this summer to be our busiest ever,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske, adding that typical traffic spikes occur around Independence Day.
Last year, the busiest day for air travel on July 4 was also the Friday before the holiday, TSA data shows. If past trends hold, travel will likely be higher on the days before and after the Fourth — especially closer to the weekend. In 2023, for example, more than 2 million people will be screened on the Fourth, which landed on a Tuesday last year, compared with 2.88 million the Friday before.
Flights can be delayed or canceled for all sorts of reasons – from aircraft-specific mechanical problems to major storms that impact popular travel routes.
If your flight is canceled, airlines are required to provide refunds to customers, even if the cancellation is due to weather conditions. Delays are trickier, as they usually have to meet certain criteria for relief, such as refunds or compensation. However, airlines often give customers the chance to transfer to alternative flights at no cost, if available.
In April, the Biden administration issued final rules that, among other things, require airlines to automatically provide cash refunds for canceled flights and “significant” delays within a few days. Those rules will take effect over the next two years, but the Department of Transportation has a site where consumers can see the Commitments made by each airline for refunds and to cover other costs when flights are canceled or significantly delayed.
It's better to be stuck at home than to be stuck in traffic for hours or stranded in an airport terminal. Do yourself a favor and check the status of your travel plans before you head out the door this holiday week.
Is your flight, train or bus delayed? Are there traffic incidents disrupting your journey? What about the weather? A quick glance at your travel schedule (such as travel updates on a carrier’s website), checking weather forecasts and checking road safety via services like the 511 hotline or your phone’s navigation apps can go a long way toward preventing travel misery.
More tips
Here are a few more tips to keep in mind:
— Leave early: There are more people everywhere during a holiday week, so lines will be longer and roads will be busier. Give yourself more time to get to your destination or get through airport security.
— Keep an eye on the weather — and not just for your destination: check the weather for your entire travel itinerary. Even if it's sunny both at home and where you're going, it's important to watch out for any storms in between. You may need to perform a redirect.
— Be kind: A trip delay or cancellation can be incredibly frustrating — but if you’re dealing with disruptions, chances are others are too. Customer service agents are busy this time of year, and it’s important to be patient and respectful when they’re trying to help you.
