BUFFALO, N.Y. — As millions of Americans prepare to celebrate our nation's independence, they're also gearing up to hit the road for their Fourth of July destinations.
Inrix is identifying the times when drivers should *not* be on the roads, as it could cause a lot of traffic headaches.
“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. “Road trips over the holiday week could take up to 67% longer than normal. Travelers should monitor 511 services, local news stations, and traffic apps for up-to-the-minute road conditions.”
This year, your best bet is to avoid driving on Wednesday, July 3rd, and Sunday, July 7th, between the hours of 2 and 7 p.m.
AAA says this holiday will be plenty busy, with over 60-million Americans traveling to their holiday destinations by car. That's 2.8 million more than last year.
“With summer vacations in full swing and the flexibility of remote work, more Americans are taking extended trips around Independence Day,” said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel. “We anticipate this July 4th week will be the busiest ever with an additional 5.7 million people traveling compared to 2019.”
And with that uptick, experts predict your Fourth of July road trip could take up to 67% longer than normal.
It won't be just motorists traveling to their destinations. AAA says the number of air travelers is also expected to set a new record, projecting 5.74 million people will fly to their July 4th destinations.
Where are all these air travelers going? AAA says the top 10 domestic trips are: Seattle, Orlando, Anchorage, Honolulu, Miami, NY, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Denver, and Anaheim/Los Angeles.
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