Record Breaking Travel Expected for July 4th; Orlando a Top Destination
Can you believe that it’s almost time for the Fourth of July?! June has absolutely flown by, and Independence Day is fast approaching.
Disney World is a great place to celebrate the holiday, and it seems like a lot of people agree with that sentiment. It’s predicted that some record-breaking travel is about to happen for the Fourth!
Over 72 Million Americans Expected to Travel for the Fourth
AAA is projecting that 72.2 million people will travel domestically during the Fourth of July holiday period this year! This period lasts from Saturday, June 28th, through Sunday, July 6th.
This is an increase of 1.7 million travelers compared to last year and 7 million more than in 2019, according to AAA.
And, where is one of the top places people are going to visit during this travel period? That’s right — Orlando, Florida, AKA the home of Disney World!
Orlando joins other cities as a popular destination during the Fourth of July holiday period, including New York City, New York; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Denver, Colorado; and Boston, Massachusetts.
Travelers in Florida are also expected to break records, with AAA saying nearly 4.6 million people will travel in total, according to Fox 13.
“Summertime is one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, and July 4th is one of the most popular times to get away. Following Memorial Day’s record forecast, AAA is seeing strong demand for road trips and air travel over Independence Day week. With the holiday falling on a Friday, travelers have the option of making it a long weekend or taking the entire week to make memories with family and friends,” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel.
Cinderella Castle
There will be 61.6 million people that will travel by car, which is up 2.2% from last year and the highest number on record (1.3 million more people than last year).
Summer gas prices are up a little, but they are still the lowest they’ve been since 2021. Gas prices in Florida as of today (June 20th) are at an average of $3.14 per gallon, which is a little less than the national average of $3.21.
If you’re renting a car, Thursday, July 3rd, is supposed to be the busiest day to pick up a car, according to Hertz.
The amount of people that will fly during this holiday period is also supposed to set a new record. AAA said they expect 5.84 million people to fly, so 8% of all travelers, and a 1.4% increase compared to the previous record set last year with 5.76 million air travelers.
Photo: ABC
The busiest days on the road, according to INRIX, will likely be Wednesday, July 2nd and Sunday, July 6th. Afternoon hours will be the most congested so it’s recommended to travel in the morning to avoid the worst of the traffic!
Keep in mind that the Fourth of July is usually a VERY busy time in Disney World, and these numbers prove that many are going to be in the Orlando area for the holiday. If you have a trip planned, make sure you have your dining booked up and snag those Lightning Lanes as soon as you can!
We hope you have safe Fourth of July travels and stay tuned for more Disney World news and updates!
