The roads will be congested with travelers taking to the road
Sunday is expected to be a busy day on U.S. roads, with AAA predicting that the number of people traveling on the July 4 holiday will be even higher than pre-pandemic levels.
LIVERMORE, California – Sunday is expected to be a busy day on U.S. roads, with AAA predicting that the number of people traveling on the July 4 holiday will be even higher than pre-pandemic levels.
AAA said 61 million people are expected to hit the road this holiday weekend, an additional 5 million travelers on our roads compared to 2019. The organization said gasoline prices are a major reason.
Gas prices are slightly lower this year than in July 2023, making driving a more tempting option.
Greater accessibility means greater demand, so expect to encounter plenty of other drivers on the roads if that’s how you travel.
Peak congestion hours on Sunday were between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
If you’re looking to avoid traffic, AAA says it’s best to go outside of peak hours.
Traveling on Sunday and even Monday might be a little slower, so allow extra time and leave early if you can.
But the roads aren’t the only places to be this busy weekend. AAA expects a record number of more than 5.5 million people to turn out for July 4 celebrations.
“The lines were so long, I’ve never seen anything like that,” said Julia Jayne, a traveler from Oakland.
“There weren’t many people on the Fourth of July, but this morning… there were lines out the door,” Noah Jayne said.
Many people were expected to be in the Bay Area for the holiday, as San Francisco was one of the cities with the highest demand for rental cars over the weekend, according to AAA.
