July 4th travel in the Louisville area is shaping up to be busy, with 2024 tourism numbers likely to surpass those of the previous year.
The high travel numbers coincide with gasoline prices in many states “near or even well below where they were a year ago,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, a national fuel savings platform based in Dallas.
A recent study from the company found that Independence Day gas costs are at their lowest level since 2021. Could affordable miles be contributing to holiday travel in the area? Here’s what we know.
July 4th in LouisvilleJuly 4th travel is expected to be very busy, surpassing 2023 numbers. What you need to know
AAA, Louisville officials predict high travel numbers for July 4
Spokespeople for AAA and the Louisville Regional Airport Authority told the Courier Journal that Independence Day travel will likely surpass previous years, with millions of people traveling by various means throughout the country’s mid-east region, which includes Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi.
“More Americans are taking advantage of the opportunity to travel during the Independence Day holiday,” said Bevi Powell, senior vice president of AAA East Central. “Whether by car, plane or train, we’re seeing more people planning extended trips during the holiday to celebrate with family and friends.”
Louisville July 4 Visitor Estimates by Transportation Type
According to AAA’s Independence Day forecast, 3.2 million people are expected to travel by car, 162,000 by plane and 169,000 by other means of transportation, including bus, train and boat, in the Southeast Central region. Those numbers represent a 4.7 percent increase over last year’s holiday.
Natalie Chaudoin, a spokeswoman for the Louisville Regional Airport Authority, said more than 44,500 departing seats are filled July 4-8 on various airlines traveling to and from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.
The busiest days will be Sunday, with more than 9,600 outbound seats scheduled, and Monday, with more than 10,100 outbound seats scheduled. Planned air traffic for 2024 is up from last year, but only by about 170 seats.
Tourists turn to car travel for Independence Day
As air travel sees an uptick, a majority of travelers are choosing to drive for the Fourth of July weekend. A recent study from GasBuddy found that motorists are enjoying the lowest gas prices during the holiday since 2021, with “45% of Americans planning to hit the road during Independence Day weekend,” according to the company’s summer survey.
Average Gas Prices Drop for July 4th Travel
Gas prices have been dropping in recent years around the Fourth of July, but travel to Louisville has increased. In 2023, Louisville set a new airport record with more than 4.6 million travelers.
The city recently hosted the 150th Kentucky Derby and the PGA Championship, and upcoming events like Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life are sure to draw a crowd.
What is the average cost of gasoline on July 4th?
The average price of gasoline is expected to be $3.49 per gallon on July 4, a penny lower than in 2023 but more than $1.30 lower than the average cost in 2022, according to the release.
States with the biggest drop in gasoline prices on Independence Day
See below for the ten states with the lowest gas prices for the 4th of July.
- Washington (-71 cents)
- Oregon (-60 cents)
- Utah (-44 cents)
- Colorado (-42 cents)
- Alaska (-42 cents)
- Wyoming (-41 cents)
- Idaho (-37 cents)
- Arizona (-31 cents)
- Montana (-28 cents)
- South Dakota (-27 cents)
States with the highest gas prices as of July 4, 2024
Find out the five states with the highest gas prices on July 4th.
- Ohio (+23 cents)
- Indiana (+22 cents)
- Michigan (+14 cents)
- Georgia (+14 cents)
- Delaware (+10 cents)
