As Independence Day approaches, more and more Americans are choosing to celebrate the holiday by traveling. This year, it is expected that over 72.2 million people will be traveling simultaneously, once again breaking historical records. With airports and roadways expected to be extremely busy, having some travel tips in advance can save a significant amount of time.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) states that self-driving is the most popular way to travel, with approximately 61.6 million people planning to drive at least 50 miles away from home during the Independence Day holiday. Before setting off, it is advisable to undergo routine vehicle maintenance, understand your car’s condition, and be prepared for common issues such as dead batteries, flat tires, or running out of gas.
This year’s Independence Day holiday travel period will also last 9 days, starting from June 28 (Saturday) and ending on July 6 (Sunday), during which the United States will be bustling with activity. In addition to self-driving, the number of people traveling by plane is also expected to reach new highs.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has deployed additional staff at security checkpoints in airports across the United States to handle the influx of millions of passengers.
To save time and reduce hassle, TSA encourages all travelers to check the latest official list of prohibited items before packing their bags.
Starting from May 7, Americans wishing to use a driver’s license or ID to board domestic flights must present a REAL ID-compliant version. Failure to meet the ID requirements and lack of acceptable alternative documents (such as a passport) may result in delays, additional screening, or even refusal to enter security checkpoints.
In the past, Los Angeles has always been one of the popular tourist destinations during holiday periods, but this year, the situation has changed.
According to AAA’s statistics, Los Angeles is no longer among the top 10 popular tourist destinations in the United States. More and more people are choosing to visit places like Orlando and Miami in Florida, Seattle, Alaska, Honolulu in Hawaii, Denver, and Boston.
However, the number of people traveling from Southern California is still significant. The Automobile Club of Southern California predicts that approximately 5.5 million people will go on vacation, with nearly 4.3 million people driving, indicating congested road conditions.
Many Southern Californians will still head to popular destinations like San Diego, Las Vegas, the Central Coast, and national parks.
Traffic analysis company INRIX analysts predict that July 2 (Wednesday) and July 6 (Sunday) will be the busiest days for road traffic in the United States, especially during the afternoon hours.
The company has identified the worst and best times for driving during the Independence Day holiday period:
– On July 2, the most crowded hours are from noon to 9 pm; the best travel time is before noon.
– On July 3, the most crowded hours are from 2 pm to 6 pm; the best travel time is before noon.
– On July 4, the most crowded hours are from noon to 7 pm; the best travel time is before noon.
– On July 5, the most crowded hours are from 11 am to 5 pm; the best travel time is before 11 am.
– On July 6, the most crowded hours are from noon to 6 pm; the best travel time is before 11 am.
In Southern California, the most severe traffic congestion is expected to occur on the afternoon of July 2, especially on the northbound I-15 highway from San Diego to Palm Springs; the return journey’s peak congestion is anticipated around 5 pm on July 6, especially on the southbound I-15 highway from Las Vegas to Los Angeles.