Americans are expected to set a new record for July 4 holiday travel this week, according to AAA.
A thriving economy will set 46.9 million Americans traveling for the Independence Day holiday this year, up 5 percent from last year and the highest number ever.
“This Independence Day will be one for the record books, as more Americans take to the nation’s roads, skies, rails and waterways than ever before,” said Bill Sutherland, senior vice president of AAA Travel and Publishing. “Confident consumers with additional disposable income will look to spend on travel this holiday, building on an already busy summer travel season.”
Nearly 40 million Americans are expected to drive 50 miles or more over the holiday despite higher gas prices and higher charges for rental cars. Gas prices are up 59 cents compared with a year ago. Car rentals are up around 2 percent, according to AAA.
According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, travelers opting for domestic air travel will pay an average $171 for a round-trip flight. That is the lowest Independence Day airfare in five years, and nine percent less than last year, according to AAA.