Daytona Beach, FL - AAA predicts more Americans will travel for this Independence Day than ever before.
They predict almost 47 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles or more away from home, a five percent increase since AAA began tracking 18 years ago.
"We are already seeing a busy summer travel season and Independence Day will be no exception," said Vicky Evans, Assistant Vice President of Travel Sales Development for AAA. "Consumers remain confident in the economy and have additional disposable income to put toward a summer getaway."
In addition to other economic variables, the increase in travelers is aided by Independence Day falling on a Wednesday, giving travelers better flexibility to schedule a trip that begins with the weekend before the holiday or ends with the weekend after the holiday.
Florida is expected to have 2.4 million people travelling the holiday weekend, a 6.3% increase that represents almost 142,000 more travelers than last year.
Gas prices are also expected to continue their decline into Independence Day.
“Declining gas prices will give Americans one more reason to celebrate this Independence Day,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA. “After paying some of the highest gas prices in more than three years, this break couldn’t come at a better time, as Americans prepare for the most-traveled holiday of the summer.”
Airfare prices are also expected to remain low. AAA's Leisure Travel Index says travelers will pay an average $171 for a round-trip flight. That is the lowest Independence Day airfare in five years and a nine percent decrease since last year.
AAA also predicts that Orlando, Florida will be the number one domestic destination for this Independence Day.
