Wednesday to be among busiest days on road amid record-breaking 4th of July travel period

Record-breaking travel is expected in Texas and the U.S. around Independence Day, with Wednesday being one of the busiest travel days.

5.7 million Texans are expected to travel 50 miles or more, a 2.2% increase from 2024. Gas prices are lower than last summer, contributing to the high volume of car travel. Air travel costs are up, and rental car demand is high. Travel by bus, train, or cruise ship is also expected to increase significantly, driven by the popularity of cruises.

Trips around the Fourth of July are projected to increase by 2.2% compared to last year, according to the American Automobile Association Texas. A total of 72.2 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from their homes between Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, July 6. Of those, 5.7 million will be Texans.

The 2025 domestic travel forecast reports an increase of 369,000 Texas travelers compared to last year and an increase of 521,000 from 2019. Experts say Wednesday, July 2 and Sunday, July 6 will be the busiest days for those traveling by car. Afternoon hours will also be more congested, so driving in the morning may help travelers avoid the worst traffic. However, this will change in areas with construction, crashes or severe weather. AAA Texas urges drivers to watch for stopped vehicles and to slow down and move over to allow emergency responders to pass.

"Summer is one of the busiest travel seasons, and Independence Day consistently ranks among the most popular times for a getaway," said Galen Grillo, Vice President and General Manager of AAA Texas. "Following a record-setting Memorial Day forecast, AAA Texas is seeing continued strong demand for both road trips and air travel during the July Fourth holiday period. With the holiday falling on a Friday this year, many travelers are planning extended weekends or full-week vacations to spend quality time with family and friends."

Nationally, this year's Independence Day travel is anticipated to break records for total travel as well as travel by car and by air. AAA Texas reports 85% of those traveling for leisure over the holiday will do so by car. This can be at least partly attributed to summer gas prices, which are at their lowest since 2021. Gas is about 30 cents cheaper than it was last summer.

Independence Day 2025 travel forecast: Texas

Mode of Travel	Leisure Travelers	Change from 2024	Change from 2019
Total Travel Volume	5.7 million	+2.2%	+10%
Auto	4.9 million	+2.1%	+10.3%
Air	564,000	+1.2%	+17%
Other (bus, train, cruise)	244,000	+4.5%	-7.4%

Table by Alexis Simmerman/American-Statesman | Data by AAA Texas

Independence Day 2025 travel forecast: US

Mode of Travel	Leisure Travelers	Change from 2024	Change from 2019
Total Travel Volume	72.2 million	+2.4%	+10.7%
Auto	61.6 million	+2.2%	+11.3%
Air	5.84 million	+1.4%	+14.2%
Other (bus, train, cruise)	4.78 million	+7.4%	-0.1%

Table by Alexis Simmerman/American-Statesman | Data by AAA Texas

More Fourth of July 2025 travel statistics

In addition to travel volume by vehicle, AAA Texas provides the following information about Independence Day travel:

• Expect busy roadways: An estimated 2% more Americans are expected to travel by car compared to last year. This will also be the highest volume on record, with 1.3 million more road travelers than in 2024.
• Prepare for roadside emergencies: It's a good idea to get routine vehicle maintenance prior to trips, as well as packing an emergency kit. Last year, AAA responded to nearly 700,000 emergency roadside assistance calls for issues ranging from dead batteries to flat tires, and people locking themselves out of vehicles or running out of gas.
• Watch gas prices in accordance with weather: Crude oil prices have lowered gas prices by approximately 30 cents per gallon compared to the same time last year. However, storms along the Gulf Coast can impact oil refineries and fuel deliveries, which may temporarily increase gas prices.
• Be mindful of rental car demand: Thursday, July 3 will likely be the busiest day to pick up vehicles, according to AAA car rental partner Hertz. The company says most drivers seek to rent SUVs and midsize sedans.
• Remember air travel costs are up: A roundtrip domestic flight is averaging $810, which is 4% more expensive than last year, according to AAA data. The best deals for last-minute summer flights are typically for weekdays.
• Expect busy cruise ports: Compared to last year, travel by bus, train or cruise is estimated to grow by 7.4% for a total of 4.78 million Americans — just shy of the 2019 record of 4.79 million. This is largely due to the growing popularity of cruises.