How to Avoid Traffic and Crowds While Traveling Over 4th of July
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In a summer that has so far seen record-breaking crowds traveling over holidays, the week of the Fourth of July 2024 won’t be any exception. In fact, this Independence Day is projected to be one of the busiest travel days in US history.
Nearly 71 million people are expected to travel over the July Fourth holiday period from June 29 to July 7, according to estimates from AAA. That’s a jump of 5% more travelers than last year. “With summer vacations in full swing and the flexibility of remote work, more Americans are taking extended trips around Independence Day,” Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel, said in a statement. “We anticipate this July 4th week will be the busiest ever with an additional 5.7 million people traveling compared to 2019.”
From an air travel perspective, TSA predicts the July Fourth travel period will also be a record-setting week in terms of airline passengers. “We expect this summer to be our busiest ever and summer travel usually peaks over the Independence Day holiday,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a statement.
Of course, navigating these historic crowds will take a bit of planning—and patience—to ensure your holiday vacation doesn’t start off on an vexing note. Here’s how to best avoid traffic and crowds while traveling this July Fourth, whether you’re taking a trip by train, plane, or car.
Road trips
The most popular mode of transport by far over the holiday week will be road tripping. “AAA projects a record 60.6 million people will travel by car over Independence Day week—that’s an additional 2.8 million travelers compared to last year,” says AAA’s report.
That means if you’re planning to set out by car, choosing the exact right time to hit the road could make all the difference. Depart at the wrong time, and your road trip could take up to 67% longer than normal, according to projections by Inrix, a traffic analysis firm that collaborated with AAA on its report.
In general, plan to get an early start. Inrix’s data shows the best times to travel by car on Wednesday July 3 and Thursday July 4 are before noon, while road trippers traveling on July 6 and 7 should aim to depart before 10 a.m.
To side-step the worst slow-downs, there are a couple of popular travel days that would best be avoided if possible. “Drivers in large metro areas can expect the worst traffic delays on Wednesday, July 3rd, as they leave town, and Sunday, July 7th, as they return,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at Inrix. AAA’s report also shows the peak congestion periods for the holiday in 16 major cities across the US—and it’s definitely worth taking into consideration. For example, if you plan to depart Chicago via I-65 South, the worst congestion is predicted to take place on July 3 at 2:45 p.m., potentially adding a whopping 61% to your travel time.
For those renting cars, the busiest pick-up days are expected to be June 28, June 29, and July 3, according to data from Hertz. The rental company also says that the cities with the highest demand for rental cars over Independence Day week are Dallas, Denver, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. If you’re getting a car on those days or from one of those cities, check to see if your rental company offers an express pick-up option. These expedited reservations usually allow travelers who have free loyalty memberships with the car company to skip the line or be processed through a fast lane.
Air travel
The only thing worse than being stuck on the freeway is missing a flight because of long lines and traffic jams at the airport. And this July Fourth, there will be historic crowds transiting through US airports: 5.74 million people plan to travel by plane, AAA’s data shows, an uptick of 7% compared to 2023.
TSA predictions are showing a similar, record-shattering trend. “TSA expects to screen more than 32 million individuals from Thursday, June 27 through Monday, July 8, which is a 5.4% increase over 2023 Independence Day holiday travel volumes,” the agency said in a recent release.
The busiest day at airports will be Friday, June 28, according to TSA’s data. That day, the security organization expects to screen more than 3 million fliers—the highest number in its entire history.
But if you’re flying anytime during the week—from June 29 to July 7—plan to arrive at the airport early. At least two hours before departure for domestic flights and three hours for international trips. You may also consider checking in online, using a digital boarding pass, and avoiding check luggage to avoid long lines at the check-in counter. If you have TSA PreCheck, which will be extremely useful for cutting down on wait-times at security, be sure your Known Traveler Number is in your flight reservation so you’re admitted to the correct security lane.
Train journeys
AAA predicts that more than 4.6 million people are projected to travel by other modes of transportation over the holiday. That’s a 9% jump compared to last year and includes train journeys, bus trips, and cruises.
It’s safe to assume that the peak travel times by train will be more or less the same for both car and rail trips. That means if possible, avoid traveling by train in the afternoon or evening on Wednesday July 3 and Sunday July 7, when the biggest crowds of vacationers are predicted to depart and return home.
To minimize stress, consider upgrading to Amtrak’s business class cabin if it’s offered on your route. The premium car comes with assigned seats to avoid having to scramble for a spot along with the hordes of passengers. Plus, you’ll get access to the Metropolitan Lounge for a more comfortable place to wait at in crowded stations. One of the easiest—and cheapest—ways to upgrade is to use Amtrak’s online bidding feature, which generally offers more affordable fares than booking a business class seat outright.
And keep in mind that heat waves can cause delays on Amtrak, further exacerbating crowded operations. Book a flexible ticket and keep an eye on the weather. Days with heat advisories from meteorologists—or with potential heat-related delay warnings from Amtrak—should be avoided for smoother rail trips.
Originally Appeared on Condé Nast Traveler
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