Planning on hitting the road for Independence Day weekend? Better plan your route carefully. A record-breaking number of people are expected to be out there with you, according to AAA’s annual forecast.
More than four million Floridians are expected to be driving from Saturday, June 27, through Sunday, July 5, AAA spokesperson Mark Jenkins said in a June 17 email, even though four-year-high gas prices have dampened the recent surge in travel.
It’s the most ever, but still only a 1% gain over 2025. Nationwide, 61.4 million people are expected to be road tripping, AAA said.
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Forecasted air travel dropped 0.1% from 329,762 Floridians in 2025 to an expected 329,326 travelers this year, Jenkins said. Nationally, AAA said interest in alternative modes of travel, such as buses, trains, and cruises, increased 5.3% over last year, possibly because cruise passengers know how much the trip will cost upfront.
“For many families, traveling for Independence Day isn’t just a trip, it’s a tradition,” said Debbie Haas, AAA Vice President of Travel. “Vacations are one category where consumers are still willing to spend, even if that means cutting back on something else.
“With an extended holiday travel period, we expect busy roads, steady demand for flights, and continued interest in cruises across many parts of the country.”
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Travelers cutting back this year
Even if they’re not cutting back on travel plans, Floridians may be cutting costs where they can, Jenkins said, trimming budgets by:
Florida gas prices for the holiday
As of June 17, the average price for gas in Florida was $3.738, well below the national average of $4.025 but much higher than last year’s average of $3.087.
It’s unknown at this point how developments in the Iran war and any potential agreements to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which is currently blocking easy transportation of about 20% of the world’s oil, will affect gas prices two weeks from now.
Best, worst times to drive for July 4 weekend
According to the transportation data site INRIX, the second weekend of the holiday period, starting Thursday, July 2, will be the busiest for drivers. Here’s what to know to plan your trip.
Florida a top destination for Fourth of July travel
Some of the people on the roads may be driving into the state. Of the top 10 domestic destinations for travelers for the Fourth of July weekend, three of them are in the Sunshine State “thanks to theme parks, beaches, and cruise ports,” AAA said.
C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Best, worst times to drive in Florida for record-breaking July 4 week
Reporting by C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
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By C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
