OCALA, FL (352today.com) — If it feels like everyone you know is heading out of town for the Fourth of July, you’re not wrong. AAA projects a record-breaking 72.2 million Americans will travel domestically during this year’s expanded Independence Day holiday period from Saturday, June 28 through Sunday, July 6. That’s 1.7 million more travelers than last year and a staggering 7 million more than in 2019.

Here in Florida, nearly 4.6 million residents are expected to travel, up 3% over last year’s numbers, setting a new holiday travel record for the Sunshine State.

How Floridians Are Traveling

Florida travel is expected to reach historic levels, with nearly 4.6 million Floridians hitting the road, skies, and rails – that’s up 146,000 (3%) from last year.

Florida Independence Day Travelers 
 AutoAirOtherTotal
20254 million329,762203,6294.6 million
20243.9 million325,471188,8094.4 million
20193.5 million277,394191,0393.9 million

“Independence Day is one of the most popular times for travel, with Americans eager to take advantage of summer vacation opportunities,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of AAA Travel. “This year, we’re seeing strong demand for road trips, flights, and cruises, especially with the holiday falling on a Friday. This is allowing travelers to extend their getaways and make lasting memories with loved ones.”

Top Destinations and Best Times to Hit the Road

AAA’s booking data shows Orlando remains the No. 1 U.S. destination for July 4th travel. Other Florida hot spots like Fort Lauderdale and Miami also made the top 10. Internationally, Vancouver, Rome, and Paris top the list.

DomesticInternational
ORLANDO, FLVANCOUVER, CANADA
SEATTLE, WAROME, ITALY
NEW YORK, NYPARIS, FRANCE
ANCHORAGE, AKLONDON, ENGLAND
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLBARCELONA, SPAIN
HONOLULU, HIDUBLIN, IRELAND
DENVER, COAMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
MIAMI, FLCALGARY, CANADA
BOSTON, MAATHENS, GREECE
ATLANTA, GALISBON, PORTUGAL

For those driving, AAA recommends traveling in the early morning to avoid peak congestion. Traffic is expected to be heaviest Wednesday, July 2 and Sunday, July 6, particularly during afternoon and early evening hours.

Best and Worst Times to Travel by Car 
DateWorst Travel TimeBest Travel Time
Saturday, Jun 2812:00 PM – 5:00 PMBefore 10:00 AM
Sunday, Jun 292:00 PM – 4:00 PMBefore 11:00 AM
Monday, Jun 302:00 PM – 6:00 PMBefore 12:00 PM
Tuesday, Jul 013:00 PM – 6:00 PMBefore 2:00 PM
Wednesday, Jul 0212:00 PM – 9:00 PMBefore 12:00 PM
Thursday, Jul 032:00 PM – 6:00 PMBefore 12:00 PM
Friday, Jul 0412:00 PM – 7:00 PMBefore 12:00 PM
Saturday, Jul 0511:00 AM – 5:00 PMBefore 11:00 AM
Sunday, Jul 0612:00 PM – 6:00 PMBefore 11:00 AM

AAA also encourages travelers to consider travel insurance, especially for flight delays or last-minute cancellations.

To plan your getaway, check out AAA’s road trip guides, flight deals, and family vacation ideas at AAA.com/travel.

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