AAA expects record-breaking travel for the 4th of July holiday, with 72.2 million Americans including 875,000 Oregonians going 50 miles or more from home over the Independence Day holiday travel period.
This is an increase of 1.7 million travelers compared to last year and 7 million more than 2019.
The number of Americans traveling by car and air over the holiday are expected to break records. AAA projects 61.6 million people including 686,000 Oregonians will take a good old American road trip. For air travel, AAA projects 5.84 million Americans including 124,000 Oregonians will fly to their destinations.
The Top Independence Day destinations are theme parks, beaches, and cruise gateway cities. Anaheim is the top U.S. destination for members of AAA Oregon/Idaho. Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. rank high because of the popularity of Alaska cruises this time of year. European cities dominate the list of international destinations. In Oregon, Central Oregon and the Oregon Coast are popular destinations. Both areas have two cities in the list of the top 10 most popular regional destinations.
The most congested times to drive are Wednesday, July 2 as folks head to their destinations, and Sunday, July 6 as travelers return home. Afternoon and evening hours will be the most congested. Drivers should hit the road in the morning to avoid the worst traffic.
AAA is ready to help drivers throughout the 4th of July travel period. The most common issues are dead batteries, flat tires, and lockouts. Last year over the holiday period, AAA responded to more than 700,000 requests for roadside assistance nationally, and 7,000 here in Oregon.
