The Worst Times to Hit the Road for Fourth of July Travel 2022

Caroline Morse Teel is the Executive Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Caroline has a passion for adventure travel and has hiked to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro and the bottom of the Grand Canyon in pursuit of a good story. Follow her around the world on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline.

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Getting out of town for the Fourth of July? You’re not alone. AAA predicts 47.9 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home over the upcoming holiday weekend (June 30 – July 4).

High gas prices aren’t deterring road trippers. According to AAA’s forecast, 42 million people will be traveling by car for the long weekend, despite an average price of over $5 per gallon for gas across the country.

“Earlier this year, we started seeing the demand for travel increase and it’s not tapering off”, said Paula Twidale, senior vice president, AAA Travel. “People are ready for a break and despite things costing more, they are finding ways to still take that much needed vacation.”

The Worst Times to Drive During the Fourth of July Weekend

AAA anticipates that the worst times to drive during the holiday weekend will be:

Thursday: 2 pm-8 pm
Friday: 12 pm-9 pm
Saturday: 2 pm-4 pm

The Best Times to Drive During the Fourth of July Weekend

According to AAA, the best times to drive during the long weekend will be:

Thursday before 7 am and after 8 pm
Friday before 10 am and after 9 pm
Saturday before 12 pm and after 7 pm
Any time on Sunday or Monday

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