Texas, as well as the U.S. as a whole, is likely to see record-breaking travel in the days surrounding Independence Day, and Wednesday is expected to be one of the busiest days for travelers on the road.
Trips around the Fourth of July are projected to increase by 2.2% compared to last year, according to the American Automobile Association Texas. A total of 72.2 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from their homes between Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, July 6. Of those, 5.7 million will be Texans.
The 2025 domestic travel forecast reports an increase of 369,000 Texas travelers compared to last year and an increase of 521,000 from 2019. Experts say Wednesday, July 2 and Sunday, July 6 will be the busiest days for those traveling by car. Afternoon hours will also be more congested, so driving in the morning may help travelers avoid the worst traffic. However, this will change in areas with construction, crashes or severe weather. AAA Texas urges drivers to watch for stopped vehicles and to slow down and move over to allow emergency responders to pass.
“Summer is one of the busiest travel seasons, and Independence Day consistently ranks among the most popular times for a getaway,” said Galen Grillo, Vice President and General Manager of AAA Texas. “Following a record-setting Memorial Day forecast, AAA Texas is seeing continued strong demand for both road trips and air travel during the July Fourth holiday period. With the holiday falling on a Friday this year, many travelers are planning extended weekends or full-week vacations to spend quality time with family and friends.”
Nationally, this year’s Independence Day travel is anticipated to break records for total travel as well as travel by car and by air. AAA Texas reports 85% of those traveling for leisure over the holiday will do so by car. This can be at least partly attributed to summer gas prices, which are at their lowest since 2021. Gas is about 30 cents cheaper than it was last summer.
Independence Day 2025 travel forecast: Texas
Independence Day 2025 travel forecast: US
More Fourth of July 2025 travel statistics
In addition to travel volume by vehicle, AAA Texas provides the following information about Independence Day travel:
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Wednesday to be among busiest days on road amid record-breaking 4th of July travel period
Reporting by Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman / Austin American-Statesman
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
