Despite continuing concerns about the economy, an estimated 36.7 million
Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home this
Independence Day, according to the AAA.
That figure is up almost one percent from last year’s total of
36.4 million estimated travelers. This year the Fourth of July holiday
falls on a Thursday, giving travelers an opportunity for a long holiday
weekend, and that may have some influence on the decision to travel, the
AAA says.
The $1.39 average price for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline
is down 24 cents from last Fourth of July, also sparking interest in
highway travel. Of the total number of vacationers, 32 million are
expected to travel by motor vehicle this year, up 1.4 percent from last
year’s 31.6 million.
The greatest number of motorists is expected to come from the
Southeast and the West with 7.9 million traveling from each region,
followed by the Midwest with 6.3 million; the Northeast, 5.3 million;
and the Great Lakes, 4.6 million.
Towns and rural areas lead the list of popular holiday
destinations with 32 percent of the travel volume, followed by cities
and oceans or beaches with 21 percent each; lakes, 12 percent;
mountains, 5 percent; state or national parks, 3 percent; theme parks, 2
percent. Four percent were undecided about their destination.
Of those spending at least one night at their destination,
camper/trailer/RV/tent comprised 11 percent. Research for Independence
Day is based on a national telephone survey of 1,300 American adults
conducted by the Travel Industry Association, which does special
research for AAA.
