AAA predicts 72.2 million Americans, including over 1.9 million Hoosiers, will travel for the Fourth of July this year. The holiday travel period spans from June 28 through July 6.
Christina Griffiths, manager of public affairs and communications for AAA Hoosier Motor Club, said 1.78 million of the Hoosiers traveling will do so by car. That’s a 2.5 percent increase over last year. Griffiths attributes that, in part, to lower gas prices. A gallon of gas currently is an average of $3.203; at this time last year, the average sat slightly higher at $3.574.
“That is helping give people some relief for driving,” she said. “So, I think that's making a big difference with travel, too.”
Nationally, a record 61.6 million people will be driving and 5.84 million people will be flying. Of those 5.84 million flying, about 69,000 of them are Hoosiers.
Travel by other modes, Griffiths said, saw the largest increase; about 7.2 percent more people in Indiana than last year will be traveling by bus, train or cruise.
“Cruises this year, those are 40% more expensive,” she said. “The demand we're seeing, more people cruising this year than ever.”
Domestic flights are four percent more expensive, but international flights are four percent cheaper. Hotels are 11 percent cheaper. Top domestic destinations include Orlando, Seattle and New York, and the top international destinations are Vancouver, Rome and Paris.
Flexible work schedules can contribute to higher travel numbers, Griffiths said.
“I think there's a lot more flexibility with either working from home or just being able to kind of adjust your travel plans with what day you're going if you're going to do a long weekend,” she said.
Griffiths said besides January, AAA receives most roadside assistance calls in July. Extreme heat can damage car tires and cause older car batteries to die sooner. Last year, AAA responded to about 700,000 emergency roadside assistance calls nationwide during the July 4 travel period. The AAA Hoosier Motor Club, which covers 50 of Indiana’s 92 counties, responded to about 5,000 calls in that same period. Most of those concerned dead batteries and flat tires.
“If you're taking a long trip, the biggest thing is, check your tire pressure ahead of time. Make sure you have a portable tire inflator,” she said. “Make sure you're keeping an eye on that tire pressure. And then test your battery in advance, if you can, too. And make sure you know what kind of condition your battery is in.”
The busiest days on the road will be July 3 and 6, with higher levels of afternoon and evening traffic for most of the week. Griffiths recommends people travel earlier in the day, ideally before noon, to avoid traffic.
