Operation Dry Water planned for Independence weekend

AAA

AAA: 2.2 Million North Carolinians will Travel during July 4th Week

This year’s Independence Day forecast will set new records

CHARLOTTE, NC., (June 24, 2024) – AAA projects Independence Day travelers will set new records both nationwide and in North Carolina. More than 70.9 million people around the U.S. are expected to travel 50 miles or more away from home. 2.2 million of those will be North Carolinians.

“The summer travel season is off to a hot start, and we expect to set new travel records on the road and in the sky during the week of Independence Day,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “There will be 3.5 million more travelers than last year. That means even more people at airports and popular attractions like beaches, lakes, and theme parks.”

Independence Day Holiday Travel Period

AAA’s Independence Day travel forecast measures domestic trips of 50 miles or more during a 9-day period from Saturday, June 29 to Sunday, July 7.

Economic trends influencing the travel forecast

Despite concerns about inflation, total travel is increasing on growth in consumer confidence, wages, and continued strength in consumer spending.

• Consumers are expected to increase spending by 5.5% compared to a year ago.

• Real GDP growth will remain modest, rising by 2.5% from last year.

• After falling steadily since January, consumer confidence moved up in May.

• Gas prices for May averaged $3.34, $0.08 higher than a year ago.

National Independence Day Travel Figures

Total

Auto

Air

Other

2024 (Forecast)

70.9 million

60.6 million

5.7 million

4.6 million

2023

67.4 million

57.8 million

5.4 million

4.2 million

2019

65.2 million

55.3 million

5.1 million

4.8 million

North Carolina Independence Day Travel Volumes

Total

Auto

Air

Other

2024 (Forecast)

2.2 million

1.98 million

156,988

95,879

2023

2.1 million

1.87 million

147,832

87,849

2022

1.8 million

1.6 million

129,176

69,117

Road Travel

AAA projects a record 60.6 million people will travel by car over Independence Day week – that’s an additional 2.8 million travelers compared to last year. This year’s number also surpasses 2019 when 55.3 million people traveled by car over July 4th week.

Meanwhile, road travel in North Carolina will set a record for the second consecutive year. More than 1.9 million North Carolinians are expected to take a road trip. That’s 100,399 more than last year.

“Road travelers should prepare for congestion in the afternoon and evening hours, particularly near larger metro areas, theme parks and popular attractions,” said Tiffany Wright, spokesperson, AAA – The Auto Club Group in the Carolinas. “With so many people on the road it’s important to be patient, minimize distractions while driving, and move over for people on the roadside.”

Gas Prices

North Carolina drivers are currently paying less on gasoline than they did last Independence Day, when the state average was $3.32. Gas prices have been moving lower as of late. However, that downward trend could reverse course if oil prices rise because of geopolitical tensions or a hurricane that threatens oil rigs and refineries along the Gulf of Mexico.

Air Travel

The number of domestic air travelers is also expected to set a record. Nationally, AAA projects 5.74 million people will fly to their July 4th destinations. That’s an increase of nearly 7% compared to last year and a 12% increase over 2019.

AAA booking data shows domestic airfare is 2% cheaper this Independence Day week compared to last year, and the average price for a domestic roundtrip ticket is $800. Airports will be packed throughout the week. AAA recommends arriving 2 hours early, reserving parking ahead of time, and traveling with carry-on luggage versus checked bags to save time and money.

Other Modes of Transportation

More than 4.6 million people are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, including buses, cruises, and trains. This category is seeing an increase of 9% compared to last year, but this year’s number is shy of 2019’s figure of 4.79 million.

“Cruising continues experiencing remarkable growth,” Haas said. “This time of year, Alaska cruises are in high demand, making Seattle and Anchorage top domestic destinations. Cruise travelers are also finding deals this summer. With new ships coming onto the market – and going for a premium – working with a Travel Advisor is a great way to ensure you’re getting the best value for your vacation. Travel Advisors are also able to help you choose a travel insurance policy that protects you and your investment for the impact of unexpected events before and during your trip.”

Best and Worst Times to Drive and Peak Congestion by Metro

INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, says the worst times to travel by car before and on July 4th are between 2pm and 7pm. Drivers should hit the road in the morning, and travelers returning on Monday, July 8th should avoid rush hour traffic in the morning and afternoon.

“Drivers in large metro areas can expect the worst traffic delays on Wednesday, July 3rd, as they leave town, and Sunday, July 7th, as they return,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. “Road trips over the holiday week could take up to 67% longer than normal. Travelers should monitor 511 services, local news stations, and traffic apps for up-to-the-minute road conditions.”

Please note that the times listed below are for the time zone in which the metro is located.

For example, Atlanta routes = ET and Los Angeles routes = PT.

Best and Worst Times to Travel by Car

Date

Worst Travel Time

Best Travel Time

Monday, Jul 1

Minimal Traffic Impact Expected

Tuesday, Jul 2

2:00 - 6:00 PM

After 7:00 PM

Wednesday, Jul 3

2:00 - 7:00 PM

Before Noon

Thursday, Jul 4

2:00 - 7:00 PM

Before Noon

Friday, Jul 5

11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Before 10:00 AM

Saturday, Jul 6

10:30 AM - 2:30 PM

Before 10:00 AM

Sunday, Jul 7

2:00 - 8:00 PM

Before 11:00 AM

Monday, Jul 8

1:00 - 5:00 PM

After 7:00 PM

Source: INRIX

Peak Congestion by Metro

Metro

Route

Peak Congestion Period

Est. Travel Time

Increase

Compared to Typical

Atlanta

Birmingham to Atlanta via I-20 E

Sunday 7th

6:30 PM

3 hours 36 minutes

42%

Boston

Boston to Hyannis via Pilgrim Hwy S

Thursday 4th

1:45 PM

1 hour 51 minutes

31%

Chicago

Chicago to Indianapolis via I-65 S

Wednesday 3rd 2:45 PM

4 hours 59 minutes

61%

Denver

Fort Collins to Denver via I-25 S

Monday 8th

7:30 AM

1 hour 37 minutes

56%

Detroit

Toronto to Detroit via I-94 W

Monday 8th

3:30 PM

5 hours 35 minutes

29%

Houston

San Antonio to Houston via I-10 E

Saturday 6th

1:30 PM

3 hours 48 minutes

41%

Los Angeles

Bakersfield to Los Angeles via I-5 S

Monday 8th

2:15 PM

1 hour 47 minutes

29%

Minneapolis

Eau Claire to Minneapolis via I-94 W

Monday 8th

4:45 PM

1 hour 43 minutes

31%

New York

Jersey Shore to New York via Garden State Pkwy N

Sunday 7th

2:15 PM

1 hour 25 minutes

40%

Philadelphia

Poconos to Philadelphia via PA Turnpike

Monday 8th

8:30 AM

3 hours 17 minutes

50%

Portland

Portland to Eugene via I-5 S

Wednesday 3rd 5:00 PM

2 hours 20 minutes

35%

San Diego

San Diego to Palm Springs via I-15 N

Thursday 4th

6:00 PM

2 hours 55 minutes

16%

San Francisco

San Francisco to Monterey via Santa Cruz Hwy S

Tuesday 2nd

5:45 PM

2 hours 31 minutes

19%

Seattle

Ellensburg to Seattle via I-90 E

Sunday 7th

4:30 PM

2 hours 19 minutes

35%

Tampa

Tampa to Orlando via I-4 E

Wednesday 3rd 10:15 AM

1 hour 54 minutes

58%

Washington DC

Baltimore to Washington DC via Balt/Wash Pkwy S

Monday 8th

3:15 PM

1 hour 1 minute

67%

Source: INRIX

Top Destinations

This July 4th week, travelers are cooling off in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska – and by the ocean! Seattle, Vancouver, and Anchorage are top destinations because of the popularity of Alaska cruises this time of year. Beaches in South Florida, Honolulu, Punta Cana, and Barcelona are in high demand. Historical sites in European cities like London, Rome, Dublin, Paris, and Athens are also popular. The top 10 domestic and international destinations below are based on AAA booking data.

DOMESTIC

INTERNATIONAL

Seattle, WA

Vancouver, BC, Canada

Orlando, FL

London, England

Anchorage, AK

Rome, Italy

Honolulu, HI

Dublin, Ireland

Miami, FL

Paris, France

New York, NY

Calgary, AB, Canada

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Las Vegas, NV

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Denver, CO

Athens, Greece

Anaheim/Los Angeles, CA

Barcelona, Spain

Family Road Trip Checklist

With road trips expected to set a new record this July 4th week, AAA teamed up with Chicco to share safety tips for families with small children.

• Check car seat fit. Before you hit the road, check your child’s weight and height to ensure they’re in the right seat and mode of use – especially when it comes to transitioning from rear to forward-facing. Children should remain rear-facing as long as possible for better protection of their head, neck, and spine in the event of a crash. If you are unsure which car seat is best for your child, Chicco offers a car seat comparison guide.

• Double check car seat installation. Even if your car seat is already installed in the car, it’s worth checking everything is safe and secure. An easy at-home way to do this is with the “inch test.” Simply grab the seat at the car seat belt path and pull side to side and front to back. If it moves more than one inch in any direction, uninstall and start over until a secure fit is achieved. For any questions, utilize the car seat manual, QR codes, or online resources like those offered by Chicco.

• Secure loose items in the car. Take time to organize and clean up your car before hitting the road. Storage organizers that secure to the back of the driver and passenger seats are simple solutions to make sure everything has a spot, especially loose items that can become projectiles in case of a sudden stop.

• Be prepared for the unexpected. Pack an emergency kit with first-aid supplies, water, snacks, blankets, jumper cables, and flares. Make sure your phone is fully charged - and keep a charger in the car – to call AAA or request roadside assistance digitally if your battery dies, you lock yourself out, or you need a tow.

• Map your route. Families with young children should plan for frequent and longer stops along the way. Map out your route ahead of time with AAA TripTik and browse hotels, restaurants, and other activities along the way on AAA Trip Canvas.

• Bring entertainment. Make sure to place toys and books within reach to keep children entertained. If your kids use tablets or other electronics, make sure the devices are fully charged and pre-downloaded before leaving home. Another fun way to get the whole family excited for the road trip is to create a family playlist of everyone’s favorite songs!

Holiday Forecast Methodology

Travel Forecast

In cooperation with AAA, S&P Global Market Intelligence (SPGMI) developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes. The economic variables used to forecast travel for the current holiday are leveraged from SPGMI’s proprietary databases. These data include macroeconomic drivers such as employment, output, household net worth, asset prices, including stock indices, interest rates, housing market indicators, and variables related to travel and tourism, including gasoline prices, airline travel, and hotel stays. AAA and SPGMI have quantified holiday travel volumes going back to 2000.

Historical travel volume estimates come from DK SHIFFLET’s TRAVEL PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM. The PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM is a comprehensive study measuring the travel behavior of U.S. residents. DK SHIFFLET contacts over 50,000 U.S. households each month to obtain detailed travel data, resulting in the unique ability to estimate visitor volume and spending, identify trends, and forecast U.S. travel behavior, all after the trips have been taken.

The travel forecast is reported in person-trips. In particular, AAA and SPGMI forecast the total U.S. holiday travel volume and expected mode of transportation. The travel forecast presented in this report was prepared the week of May 27, 2024.

Because AAA forecasts focus on domestic leisure travel only, comparisons to TSA passenger screening numbers should not be made. TSA data includes all passengers traveling on both domestic and international routes. Additionally, TSA screens passengers each time they enter secured areas of the airport, therefore each one-way trip is counted as a passenger tally. AAA focuses on person-trips, which include the full round-trip travel itinerary. As a result, direct comparisons of AAA forecast volumes and daily TSA screenings represent different factors.

*Independence Day Holiday Travel Period

For this forecast, the Independence Day holiday travel period is defined as the nine-day period from Saturday, June 29 to Sunday, July 7. Historically, the Independence Day holiday period included only one weekend. This is the first year the Independence Day holiday travel period is a longer timeframe with two weekends included.

About AAA - The Auto Club Group

The Auto Club Group (ACG) is the second largest AAA club in North America with more than 13 million members across 14 U.S. states and two U.S. territories. ACG and its affiliates provide members with roadside assistance, insurance products, banking and financial services, travel offerings and more. ACG belongs to the national AAA federation with more than 64 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA’s mission is to protect and advance freedom of mobility and improve traffic safety. For more information, get the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

About S&P Global

S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses, and individuals with the right data, expertise, and connected technology so that they can make decisions with conviction. From helping our customers assess new investments to guiding them through ESG and energy transition across supply chains, we unlock new opportunities, solve challenges, and accelerate progress for the world. We are widely sought after by many of the world’s leading organizations to provide credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics, and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity, and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help the world’s leading organizations plan for tomorrow today. For more information, visit www.spglobal.com.

About DKSA

DK SHIFFLET boasts the industry’s most complete database on U.S. resident travel both in the U.S. and worldwide. Data is collected monthly from a U.S. representative sample, adding over 60,000 traveling households annually, and is used daily by leading travel organizations and their strategic planning groups. DK SHIFFLET is an MMGY Global company.

About INRIX

Founded in 2004, INRIX pioneered intelligent mobility solutions by transforming big data from connected devices and vehicles into mobility insights. This revolutionary approach enabled INRIX to become one of the leading providers of data and analytics into how people move. By empowering cities, businesses, and people with valuable insights, INRIX is helping to make the world smarter, safer, and greener. With partners and solutions spanning across the entire mobility ecosystem, INRIX is uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology and transportation – whether it’s keeping road users safe, improving traffic signal timing to reduce delay and greenhouse gasses, optimizing last mile delivery, or helping uncover market insights. Learn more at INRIX.com.

​FIRE CRACKER

RALEIGH – Show your patriotic spirit and keep America safe and be aware of the dangers of drinking and driving.

The annual ‘Booze it and Lose it’ campaign, which begins today and ends on July 7, uses public outreach and stepped-up law enforcement to discourage drunk driving. Statewide, law enforcement will be patrolling and doing more checkpoints to promote safety and remove impaired drivers from the roads.

“Celebrating this time of year often involves alcohol, which can lead to additional impaired driving crashes,” said Mark Ezzell, director of North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program. “Last year, 388 people died in crashes involving drivers who were under the influence of alcohol. That’s unacceptable. Our law enforcement partners from Murphy to Manteo will be working this campaign to catch impaired drivers.”

​

A total of 162 alcohol-related crashes and four fatalities occurred on North Carolina roads during the Fourth of July weekend in 2023, according to crash data from the N.C. Department of Transportation. The “Booze It & Lose It” campaign serves as a reminder that there are severe consequences for reckless behavior.

“Finding a sober ride home is one of the simplest things you can do to prevent summer fun from turning into a tragedy,” said Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead. “All too often we see impaired drivers injure themselves and others when they choose to drive under the influence. That’s why my deputies will be joining with law enforcement from across the state during Operation Firecracker to do our part to stop people from driving impaired and doing harm to others out on the road.”

There are plenty of safe ways to arrive safely to a destination, including designating a sober driver or calling a taxi or rideshare service. It is always good to plan ahead and work towards making a safer environment and a safer holiday for everyone. Please visit NCDOT’s website to learn more about the campaign and consequences of impaired driving.

DRY WATER

In efforts to ensure a safer July 4 holiday experience on the water, wildlife law enforcement officers with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) will participate in Operation Dry Water, a national campaign being observed July 4-6, developed through the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA).

The focus of the campaign is to heighten enforcement and awareness about the dangers of boating while impaired. Wildlife officers will be increasing water patrols, providing boaters with information on the dangers of impaired boating and enforcing state laws.

“This is one of the busiest weekends for boaters every year. The presence of law enforcement officers in North Carolina is a key factor in preventing incidents from occurring or escalating,” said Lt. Forrest Orr, of the NCWRC's Law Enforcement Division. “The Operation Dry Water campaign is an effective resource in providing safer boating opportunities, keeping boating safety at the forefront of holiday activities.”

It is unlawful to operate a recreational vessel with an alcohol concentration of .08 or higher, or while being appreciably impaired by alcohol, drugs or other impairing substances. During last year’s campaign, NCWRC wildlife law enforcement officers deployed 159 officers and removed 40 people from the water who were boating while impaired.

Officials also stress the importance of other boating safety practices while on the water. So far this year, 37 boating incidents have occurred in North Carolina; seven were fatal.

Wildlife law enforcement officers urge boaters to boat responsibly. Last year in North Carolina, boating incidents resulted in 19 fatalities. Of those, 17 were not wearing a life jacket.

Additional support for Operation Dry Water and The Governor’s Highway Safety Program’s Operation Firecracker Booze It & Lose It campaign includes North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement and the North Carolina Forensic Tests for Alcohol Branch.

Read more information about Operation Dry Water by visiting NCWRC’s boating safety campaigns webpage.