AAA: Record travel predicted for Independence Day weekend

NEARLY 43 million travelers are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home this Independence Day weekend, including 2.2 million in New England, according to AAA Northeast. / COURTESY AAA
NEARLY 43 million travelers are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home this Independence Day weekend, including 2.2 million in New England, according to AAA Northeast. / COURTESY AAA

PROVIDENCE – Thanks to the lowest gasoline prices in more than a decade, AAA Northeast is predicting record travel Independence Day weekend, with 43 million Americans expected to travel, including 2.2 million from New England.
AAA said this represents the highest expected Independence Day travel on record and 6 million more travelers compared with Independence Day weekend last year. The number represents those expected to travel 50 miles or more.

The holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, June 30, to Monday, July 4.
“Spurred by the lowest gas prices since 2005, more people than ever are planning to travel this Independence Day weekend,” Lloyd Albert, senior vice president of public and government affairs, said in a statement. “Whether they’re traveling by car, plane, train or cruise ship, it will be exciting to see so many Americans celebrating our nation’s freedom with their friends and family over the long holiday weekend.”
AAA said U.S. drivers saved approximately $20 billion on gasoline so far this year compared with the same time frame a year ago, which has made travel more affordable than in recent years. The national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.31 – 47 cents less than one year ago.

“We are well on our way for 2016 to be a record-breaking year for summertime travel,” Albert added. “This trend is welcome news for the travel industry and a sign that Americans are taking to our nation’s highways and skies like never before.”
Most travelers will hit the road, with 86 percent in New England (84.6 percent nationally) driving to their Independence Day destinations, representing a 1.5 percent increase since last year. Air travel is expected to climb 2.3 percent this year in New England.
Nationally, travel by other modes of transportation, including cruises, trains and buses, will increase 2 percent to 3.3 million travelers. Most of those travelers are expected to fill cruise cabins, and AAA’s holiday cruise bookings are 35 percent higher than last Independence Day.

According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, average airfares for the top 40 domestic flight routes will be 9 percent less this Independence Day, with an average roundtrip ticket costing $207. However, daily car rental rates will average $75, 6 percent more than last year.
AAA said it expects more than 370,000 motorists will request roadside assistance during the Independence Day holiday travel period, with the primary reasons being dead batteries, lockouts and flat tires. It suggests that drivers download the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android before an Independence Day getaway.

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The app can be used to map a route, find low gas prices, access member discounts, make travel arrangements, request AAA roadside assistance, find AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities and more.

AAA’s projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Global Insight.

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