Skip to content

Search

Latest Stories

AAA: Nearly 71 million Americans expected to travel during Independence Day week

A record 60.6 million will drive over Independence Day, up by 2.8 million from last year

AAA: Nearly 71 million Americans expected to travel during Independence Day week

APPROXIMATELY 70.9 MILLION U.S. travelers are expected to journey 50 miles or more from home over the Independence Day holiday, according to the latest AAA forecast. For the first time, AAA considered the entire week of July 4th, plus the Saturday before and the Sunday after the holiday. This year's projected number of travelers marks a 5 percent increase from 2023 and an 8 percent increase from 2019.

“With summer vacations in full swing and the flexibility of remote work, more Americans are taking extended trips around Independence Day,” said Paula Twidale, AAA Travel’s senior vice president. “We anticipate this July 4th week will be the busiest ever with an additional 5.7 million people traveling compared to 2019.”


AAA estimated a record 60.6 million people will travel by car over Independence Day week, an increase of 2.8 million from last year. This year's number also surpasses the 55.3 million who traveled by car over July 4th week in 2019.

AAA car rental partner Hertz reported that Dallas, Denver, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco have the highest rental demand during the holiday week. The busiest pick-up days are expected to be Friday, Saturday, and July 3.

Gas prices are lower than last year's national average of $3.53, AAA said. Prices are expected to continue decreasing leading up to Independence Day, then stabilize until after Labor Day, similar to last year. However, hurricane season is currently underway and could impact gas prices if a storm disrupts Gulf Coast oil production and refining centers.

AAA projected that 5.74 million people will fly to their July 4th destinations, marking nearly a 7 percent increase from last year and a 12 percent increase from 2019. AAA booking data indicates domestic airfare is 2 percent cheaper this Independence Day week compared to last year, with the average price for a domestic roundtrip ticket at $800.

More than 4.6 million people are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, such as buses, cruises, and trains, AAA said. This category is experiencing a 9 percent increase compared to last year, but it falls short of the 2019 figure of 4.79 million.

A recent study by WalletHub found that about 75 percent of Americans plan to take road trips this summer, with around 33 percent intending to travel more than 250 miles from home. However, choosing an affordable travel destination is challenging due to higher gas prices, currently averaging over $3.45 per gallon nationwide, and increased accommodation costs.

More for you

AHLA members meet with U.S. lawmakers to discuss key hospitality legislation impacting hotel owners and workers

AHLA shares priorities with lawmakers

AHLA Members Unite on Capitol Hill to Advance Hospitality Legislation

MORE THAN 250 American Hotel & Lodging Association members met with lawmakers in the U.S. Senate and House to discuss legislative priorities critical to the hospitality industry. They raised concerns about tax and trade policies impacting hotel operating costs and travel demand amid ongoing budget reconciliation and tax negotiations.

Members also discussed expanding and upskilling the hospitality workforce through measures such as adjusting the H-2B visa cap and protecting the franchise model, which supports more than half of all U.S. hotels and 2.8 million jobs, the association said in a statement.

Keep ReadingShow less
CBRE: US Hotel RevPAR to Grow 1.3 Percent in 2025

CBRE: RevPAR to grow 1.3 percent in 2025

U.S. HOTEL REVPAR is expected to grow 1.3 percent in 2025, supported by urban markets from group and business travel and increased demand for drive-to and regional leisure destinations, according to CBRE. Occupancy is forecast to rise 14 basis points and ADR 1.2 percent year-over-year.

This represents slower growth than CBRE’s February forecast, which projected 2 percent RevPAR growth based on a 21-basis-point increase in occupancy and a 1.6 percent rise in ADR, the commercial real estate and investment firm said.

Keep ReadingShow less
Palette Hotels to Transform DoubleTree by Hilton in Washington, PA

Palette to manage Washington, PA, DoubleTree

Palette’s Expertise in Hospitality Management

SUNRISE GOLD HOSPITALITY recently selected Palette Hotels to manage its 140-room DoubleTree by Hilton Washington Meadow Lands Casino Area in Washington, Pennsylvania. Palette will oversee renovations, including Hilton Connected Rooms technology upgrades, new signage, landscaping, building systems and updates to the lobby, guestrooms, bathrooms, meeting spaces, restaurant, bar and lounge.

Sunrise Gold Hospitality is led by owner Ramesh Pandya, and Palette Hotels by Founder and CEO Richard Lou.

Keep ReadingShow less