Flying Or Driving For July 4? Here’s The Best Time To Leave And How Much It’ll Cost

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• A record 72.2 million Americans are expected to travel domestically for the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
• Driving remains the most popular mode of transportation, but air travel is also expected to hit record numbers.
• Travelers can find tips on the best and worst times to drive to avoid holiday traffic congestion.

Summer travelers, gear up. This Fourth of July is going to be a busy one.

Independence Day is often one of the busiest travel periods outside the winter holidays, and this year is expected to be no different. A record-setting 72.2 million travelers are estimated to go on a domestic trip between Saturday, June 28, and Sunday, July 6, according to AAA. That's 2.4% more than last year.

As usual, driving will be the most popular mode of transportation, as a predicted 61.6 million car travelers will hit the road. However, air passengers are also projected to break a record, with 5.84 million fliers despite round-trip domestic airfare being 4% more expensive than last year at an average of $810.

This year, the Fourth of July is a long weekend – the perfect chance for a summer getaway. "It’s been almost a decade since travelers have had a 'Fourth of July Friday,' meaning they are likely taking full advantage of the long weekend to build out longer trips," said Katy Nastro, travel expert at Going. "For travelers who are planning an international getaway this year, the day-off positioning means people can strategically build a weeklong trip without burning a full work week of PTO."

Here's what to know about Fourth of July travel in 2025.

According to Going, airfare during the Fourth of July week runs slightly higher than the rest of the summer due to travel demand.

Still, summer ticket prices overall are down 7% from last year. For the holiday week, domestic airfare averages 3.4% more at $585, while international flights are higher by 3.9%, averaging $1,396. Travelers can save a few bucks – and avoid crowds – if they fly on the holiday itself.

Domestic

• Orlando, Fla.
• Seattle, Wash.
• New York, N.Y.
• Achorage, Alaska
• Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
• Honolulu, Hawaii
• Denver, Colo.
• Miami, Fla.
• Boston, Mass.
• Atlanta, Ga.

International

• Vancouver, Canada
• Rome, Italy
• Paris, France
• London, England
• Barcelona, Spain
• Dublin, Ireland
• Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Calgary, Canada
• Athens, Greece
• Lisbon, Portugal

For the two weeks surrounding the holiday, car travelers should aim to embark in the morning to avoid the worst traffic, according to INRIX.

Here are the best travel times:

• Saturday, June 28 - Before 10 a.m.
• Sunday, June 29 - Before 11 a.m.
• Monday, June 30 - Before noon
• Tuesday, July 1 - Before 2 p.m.
• Wednesday, July 2 - Before noon
• Thursday, July 3 - Before noon
• Friday, July 4 - Before noon
• Saturday, July 5 - Before 11 a.m.
• Sunday, July 6 - Before 11 a.m.

Drivers can anticipate the busiest days on the road to be Wednesday, July 2, as people head to their destinations and Sunday, July 6, when they return home, according to INRIX. Throughout the rest of the travel period, afternoons will likely see the most congestion.

Below are the worst travel times:

• Saturday, June 28 - Between noon and 5 p.m.
• Sunday, June 29 - Between 2 and 4 p.m.
• Monday, June 30 - Between 2 and 6 p.m.
• Tuesday, July 1 - Between 3 and 6 p.m.
• Wednesday, July 2 - Between noon and 9 p.m.
• Thursday, July 3 - Between 2 and 6 p.m.
• Friday, July 4 - Between noon and 7 p.m.
• Saturday, July 5 - Between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
• Sunday, July 6 - Between noon and 6 p.m.

Atlanta

• Departing: Sunday, June 29, from Atlanta to Birmingham on I-20 W at 12:15 p.m.
• Returning: Sunday, July 6, from Savannah to Atlanta on I-16 W at 2:30 p.m.

Boston

• Departing: Saturday, June 28, from Boston to Hyannis on Route 3 S at 10:45 a.m.
• Returning: Saturday, July 5, from Hyannis to Boston on Route 3 N at 11:45 a.m.

Denver

• Departing: Monday, June 30, from Denver to Fort Collins on I-25 N at 1:45 p.m.
• Returning: Saturday, July 5, from Fort Collins to Denver on I-25 S at 6:30 p.m.

Houston

• Departing: Saturday, June 28, from Houston to Galveston on I-45 S at 11:15 a.m.
• Returning: Sunday, July 6, from Galveston to Houston on I-45 N at 11:45 a.m.

Los Angeles

• Departing: Saturday, June 28, from Los Angeles to San Diego on I-5 S at 5 p.m.
• Returning: Sunday, July 6, from Las Vegas to Los Angeles on I-15 S at 5 p.m.

New York

• Departing: Tuesday, July 1, from New York to Jersey Shore on Garden State Pkwy S at 4:30 p.m.
• Returning: Sunday, July 6, from Albany to New York on I-87 S at 4:15 a.m.

San Francisco

• Departing: Wednesday, July 2, from San Francisco to Sacramento on I-80 E at 5:30 p.m.
• Returning: Sunday, July 6, from Sacramento to San Francisco on I-80 W at 4:30 p.m.

Seattle

• Departing: Wednesday, July 2, from Seattle to Ocean Shores on I-5 S at 5:45 p.m.
• Returning: Sunday, July 6, from Ellensburg to Seattle on I-90 E at 430 p.m.

Washington, D.C.

• Departing: Saturday, June 28, from Washington, D.C. to Annapolis on US-50 E at 1:45 p.m.
• Returning: Friday, July 4, from Annapolis to Washington, D.C. on US-50 W at 11:30 a.m.