The Best and Worst Times to Drive on July 4th Weekend, According to AAA
Air travel can be a mess right now, but according to the American Automobile Association (AAA), people traveling to their July 4th destination should be prepared for at least some traffic jams, during which the agency predicts there will be record breaking long weekend. .
Over the five-day period from Friday, June 30 to Tuesday, July 4, AAA predicts that 50.7 million Americans will drive at least 50 miles from home, breaking the previous record for Independence Day weekend when 49 million people traveled by Fourth of July. 2019.
While you may not be able to completely avoid traffic jams, you can reduce your chances of getting stuck in them by traveling at specific times during the weekend. Here’s what you need to know.
Best and Worst Times to Drive on Fourth of July Weekend
Using data from INRIX , a transportation information firm, AAA experts determined the best and worst times to hit the road this Fourth of July weekend:
Saturday 1 July
- Worst time : 13:00
- Best time : before 12:00.
Sunday 2 July
- Minimal traffic impact expected
Monday 3 July
- Minimal traffic impact expected
Tuesday 4 July
- Worst time : 12-15 hours.
- Best time : before 11:00; after 18:00
Wednesday 5 July
- Worst time : 15:00 to 18:00.
- Best time : before 14:00.
In other words, if you’re planning to travel far today, it’s best to travel within the next few hours. AAA also has tips for avoiding peak congestion in several US metropolitan areas.
“We never predicted so many trips for Independence Day weekend,” said Paula Twydale, senior vice president of AAA Travel. “This tells us that despite stocks being limited and some prices up to 50% higher, consumers are not cutting back on travel this summer. Many of them took our advice and booked in advance, which is another sign of high travel demand.”