Americans will take more trips than ever this Independence Day weekend. The nearly 43 million people projected to travel represents the highest Fourth of July travel volume on record and five million more travelers compared to Memorial Day weekend. This trend holds true in the Garden State, as AAA Mid-Atlantic projects that almost 1.3 million people will travel, a 1.6 percent increase over last year. AAA defines the holiday travel period as Thursday, June 30 to Monday, July 4.

AAA Independence Day Travel Highlights

• GROWTH: Independence Day holiday travelers will grow for the sixth time out of the last seven years. The 2016 total will be 10.7 percent above the 2000-2015 average.
• ROAD TRIPS RULE: The 36.3 million auto travelers will mark the third consecutive year of all-time high auto travelers.
• AIR TRAVEL UP, UP AND AWAY: Air travel will show the highest growth by mode as airfares are down by 15 percent for the year.
• LONG WEEKEND: 2016 will be the fourth consecutive year of a five-day Independence Day holiday travel period.

“With school out for summer, the Fourth of July holiday is typically the busiest summer travel holiday,” says Tracy E. Noble, spokesperson for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Fueled by lower gas and airfare prices, over 315,000 more New Jerseyans will be traveling for Independence Day compared to Memorial Day just a little over a month ago.”

Travel by Mode of Transportation:

Automobile

• New Jersey – 1,070,371 (84% of travelers), an increase of 1.1% from last year
• Nationally – 36 million (84% of travelers), up 1.2% from 2015

Air

• New Jersey – 100,664 (7.8% of travelers), an increase of  1.4% from those who flew in 2015
• Nationally – 3.3 million (7.7% of travelers), up 2.2% from last Fourth of July

Other Mode

• New Jersey – 104,454 (8.1% of travelers), an increase of 3.6% from 2015
• Nationally – 3.3 million (7.6% of travelers), up 2% from last year.

Saving Green on Gas

U.S. drivers have saved about $20 billion on gasoline so far this year compared to the same period in 2015, which has made travel more affordable. Today’s average price for gas in New Jersey is $2.11, which is 50 cents less than the same date last year. AAA expects most U.S. drivers will pay the lowest Independence Day gas prices since 2005.

Road Trips are Trending

Nationally, 84 percent of holiday travelers – more than 36 million people – will drive to their Independence Day destinations, an increase of 1.2 percent over last year. Air travel is expected to increase 2.2 percent over last year, with 3.3 million Americans taking to the skies this Independence Day. Travel by other modes of transportation, including cruises, trains and buses, will increase two percent to 3.3 million travelers. Most of those travelers are expected to fill cruise cabins and AAA’s holiday cruise bookings are 35 percent higher than last Independence Day.

Airfare and Accommodation Rates Drop
According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, average airfares for the top 40 domestic flight routes will be nine percent less this Independence Day, with an average roundtrip ticket costing $207. Hotel costs have fallen slightly compared to last Independence Day. AAA Three Diamond Rated hotels will average $185, while a AAA Two Diamond Rated hotel will average $144 nightly.

More than 370,000 Independence Day motorists to request roadside assistance
AAA expects to rescue more than 370,000 motorists during the Independence Day holiday travel period, with the primary reasons being dead batteries, lockouts and flat tires. From July 1 through July 5 of last year, AAA Mid-Atlantic helped more than 25,000 motorists with vehicle issues, 6,700 of those from New Jersey. AAA recommends motorists check the condition of their battery and tires before heading out on a road trip. Also, have vehicles inspected by a trusted repair shop, such as one of the nearly 7,000 AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities across North America. Members can download the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com or call 1-800-AAA-HELP to request roadside assistance.

Finally, AAA reminds motorists that temperatures inside parked cars can quickly reach dangerous levels putting unattended children and pets at high risk.

• Never leave children or animals unattended in a car—not even for a short period of time. Outside air temperatures in the nineties can rise to 125 degrees inside the vehicle within 20 minutes causing brain damage or death.
• When parked, use a sun shield to cover the windshield to minimize heat buildup and to help protect the car’s interior. Cover metal and plastic parts on seat belts and child safety seats to prevent burns.
• Open the vehicle’s doors and let the interior cool for a few minutes before entering.

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