JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – More than 72 million people are expected to hit the road or take to the skies for the Independence Day holiday travel period, according to AAA. That’s 7 million more travelers than before the pandemic.
This nine-day period lasts from June 28 through July 6.
Jacksonville International Airport is predicting heavy traffic, expecting nearly 13,000 travelers just on Thursday alone, and advising passengers to arrive at least two hours before their flight to allow time for parking, checking bags and security screening.
AAA predicts record-breaking numbers for both air and car travel, forecasting more than 6 million people flying this holiday.
JoAnn Jaxson and Michael Johnson are among those flying out of Jacksonville to Baltimore. They plan to spend the weekend on a friend’s boat watching fireworks and visiting Little Italy for Italian food.
“It brings back memories,” JoAnn said about returning to Baltimore, where they lived before moving to Jacksonville in 2018.
Junior Gay, traveling to Des Moines, Iowa, said the airport feels less busy compared to Miami, where he recently visited.
“Miami was crazy busy,” he said. “Jacksonville’s airport is not busy, maybe because of the time.”
AAA also reports nearly 62 million people will travel by car this holiday, another record. Drivers are encouraged to have their vehicles checked and pack emergency kits.
Last year, AAA responded to nearly 700,000 roadside calls for issues like dead batteries and flat tires.
They added that gas prices are slightly higher than last year but remain the lowest since 2021.
Travelers are encouraged to plan car trips before noon to avoid heavy traffic the day before the holiday. The worst travel times are between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursday.
Top travel destinations include Florida, Hawaii, New York, Boston, and the top international spot, Vancouver, British Columbia.
