AAA: 72.2 Million Americans Will Travel During July 4 Week
The company projects that 61.4 million people will travel by car, despite high gas costs.
Jun 19, 2026
The week of June 27 through July 5 is expected to see 72.2 million Americans traveling at least 50 miles from home for the Fourth of July, according to a projection from AAA. That is more than last year’s 71.8 million, AAA said.
The projection includes 61.4 million traveling by car, or 85%, compared to 61.3 million last year. AAA pointed out that those road trips are happening despite elevated gas prices, although prices are still lower than the national average of $4.80 on Independence Day in 2022.
“For many Americans, traveling the week of July 4th is tradition,” said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel. “The nine-day travel forecast includes travelers who are vacationing all week and people just getting away for the long holiday weekend. While the overall number of Independence Day travelers appears to be plateauing, we’re still expecting record volumes this year.”
As for what consumers will need to celebrate the Fourth of July, Circana data shows American premium beer topped its Independence Day-related subcategory with more than $257 million in sales for the week ending July 6, 2025. Premixed cocktails also grew more than 40% during Independence Day last year.
Hot dog and hamburger bun sales generated $62 million, making it the third-biggest category behind lagers and soft drinks, Circana said.
