They say everything is bigger in Texas, and if AAA’s estimates are correct, the state will break travel records this Independence Day weekend.
A record 5.6 million people are expected to travel across the state during the July 4 holiday, which is expected to be the largest Independence Day travel holiday in Texas history, according to AAA.
According to AAA data, the state is expected to see a 5.2% increase in travelers from 2023 — also a record year — and an 8.3% increase from 2019.
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90% of Texans Expected to Drive
With a record number of travelers this July 4, Texas is expected to see more motorists and travelers than ever before.
Highways are likely to be crowded: 90% of the 5.6 million Texans expected to travel this weekend will be traveling by car, according to AAA estimates. That’s 4.8 million people flooding Texas roads, more than the state has ever seen in the fourth quarter.
Texas skies are also expected to be particularly busy, with about 555,000 people traveling by air. That’s a 6.9% increase from 2023 and a 15.1% increase from 2019.
Austin International Airport is expected to welcome about 33,000 departing travelers on Wednesday, July 3, according to the airport’s public information office.
For reference, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport could handle about 30,000 people on an average travel day.
On Sunday, July 7 and Monday, July 8, the airport expects up to 35,000 travelers per day.
“This will be a momentous day of independence,” said Daniel Armbruster of AAA Texas.
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What to Know When Traveling by Car in Texas
With so many people on the road this Independence Day weekend, AAA is preparing for a lot of outages.
“We hope to save 41,000 motorists here in Texas,” Armbruster said.
To avoid being one of them, AAA recommends checking your car battery if it’s more than three years old, checking your car’s fluid levels, and making sure your tires are in good condition for traveling.
“The top roadside emergencies AAA will see in Texas this Independence Day are dead batteries, flat tires and engine problems,” Armbruster said.
Although the cost of gasoline in Texas increased about 5 cents in anticipation of the holiday, prices are about 10 cents lower than last year, according to data compiled by AAA.
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What to Know When Flying to Texas
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport had its busiest month ever in May, with 2,068,404 passengers. The previous record month was July 2023.
With more travelers passing through Texas airports than ever before, this July could set a new record.
During the busy Independence Day weekend, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport advises you to arrive early for your flights. But how much time is enough?
The airport advises arriving 2.5 hours before departure for domestic flights and 3 hours before departure for international flights.
To facilitate parking, the airport has an online tool allowing travelers to check the availability of different garages in real time.
As always, it can be difficult to remember what you can and can’t bring with you on a plane. Visit the TSA’s “What Can I Bring” online page to learn the dos and don’ts.
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Nationwide, more travelers than ever before for July 4th
AAA estimates that travel across the United States will break records over Independence Day weekend.
The organization projects that 70.9 million Americans will travel this holiday season, up 5.2% from 2023. That increase won’t just come from domestic travel, but also from an increase in international vacations, according to AAA.
AAA projects that 60.6 million people will travel by car and 5.74 million will fly for the busiest Fourth of July in American history.
