WASHINGTON, D. C. (Wednesday, June 28, 2017) –– Defying gravity, the travel volume for the Fourth of July will soar to its highest level in history in the Greater Washington metropolitan area, as more than a million residents vacate the premises. This marks the largest number of Fourth of July travelers on record for the Washington metro area, as it does across the United States. AAA began tracking the number of holiday travelers sixteen years ago in 2001. The Fourth of July holiday travel volume for the residents of the Washington metro area has increased by nearly one third, 30 percent, since then, notes AAA Mid-Atlantic. 

All in all, it is the most on record as 1,109,000 residents of the Greater Washington metropolitan area travel 50 miles or more from home during the upcoming holiday weekend. What is more, nearly nine out of 10 local travelers (967,600 persons) will do so with a road trip. An additional 80,600 area residents will fly to their holiday destinations, AAA Mid-Atlantic is forecasting. During the nation’s 241^st birthday, Washington area workers plan to use some of the 17.3 million earned vacation days they have left unused in the kitty.

“The center-of-gravity is shifting upward in the Fourth of July travel forecast, as 1.1 million Washington area residents head outward and outermost for the holiday. Putting this into perspective, the 2017 Fourth of July travel volume for holiday travelers hailing from the metro area is nearly 62 percent higher than the post-recession nadir witnessed in 2009. Back then, only 686,000 local residents opted to travel for the Fourth of July,” said John B. Townsend II, AAA Mid-Atlantic's Manager of Public Affairs. “This time around, 423,000 more residents are traveling during the Independent Day travel season than eight years earlier in the same time frame.  During the upcoming holiday period, nearly one out of five persons, 18.1 percent of the area’s populace, will travel a distance greater than 50 miles from home.”

2017 AAA Mid-Atlantic July Fourth Travel Projections

 “If you live in the Washington Metro area, chances are you will have to drive through parts of Maryland or Virginia to reach your holiday destinations, and the total numbers of travelers and the travel volumes across the three neighboring jurisdictions are absolutely mind-boggling,” said Townsend.  “All told, 3.2 million persons from the Washington, D.C. metro area, Maryland and Virginia combined will travel for the Fourth of July. Of that number, 2.8 million persons from the three areas will travel by automobile to their Fourth of July holiday destinations.”

It’s historic. For perspective, back in 2001, just over 832,000 Washington area residents traveled during the Fourth of July holiday travel period. It is history making. The 2017 Fourth of July represents an increase of a quarter of a million residents, 277,000 persons, departing the national capital area for the holiday period since then. Although Washington, D.C. residents lead the nation in the list of cities with the most unused vacation days, they will burn a lot of leave during the five-day Fourth of July holiday travel period this year.

Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Tampa are home to some of the most under-vacationed employees in America, according to the Project: Time Off’s new report, Under-Vacationed America: An Analysis of the States and Cities That Need to Take a Day. Washington, D.C. is the most vacation day-challenged city in the USA. With 17.3 million unused vacation days, federal workers in the living and working in the Washington metro area still left a lot of time off on the table in 2016.  Fifty-four percent of Americans did not use all their vacation time in 2016, leaving a collective 662 million vacation days on the table.

Equally impressive and historic, this Independence Day, the 2017 travel volume nationwide is almost 50 percent higher than the post-recession low back in 2009. As proof, a record-breaking 44.2 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more away from home in the USA, taking to the nation’s roads, skies, rails and waterways to honor the red, white and blue. With 1.25 million more travelers than last year, 2017 will be marked as the most traveled Independence Day holiday weekend ever. The Independence Day holiday travel period is defined as Friday, June 30 to Tuesday, July 4.

By the Numbers: Independence Day Travel Forecast

• Overall, 44.2 million travelers are expected to travel this Independence Day, a 2.9 percent increase over 2016.
• 37.5 million Americans will drive to their destinations, an increase of 2.9 percent over last year.
• 3.44 million people are taking to the skies this Independence Day, increasing air travel by 4.6 percent over last year.
• 3.27 million Travelers, an increase of 1.4 percent from 2016, will look to other modes of transportation, including cruises, trains and buses.

Gas prices cheaper than one year ago
The national average gas price as of Tuesday is six cents cheaper than this same time last year and a contributing factor to the increase in travelers on the roads this Independence Day. “With Tuesday’s national average price for a gallon of gas at $2.25, prices remain historically low for the summer travel season,” said Tom Calcagni, Director, Public and Government Affairs, AAA Mid-Atlantic. “However, consumers may see prices increase, albeit by pennies, closer to the holiday weekend, similar to the Memorial Day gas price trend.”

In Washington, D.C., Tuesday’s average was $2.45, which is 10 cents cheaper than one year ago and in the Washington metro area Monday’s average was $2.23, which is eight cheaper than one year ago. AAA expects most U.S. drivers will pay the lowest Independence Day gas prices since 2005. Historically, the Washington, D.C. average for unleaded gas on Independence Day was $2.94 in 2015, $3.93 in 2014, $3.70 in 2013, $3.48 in 2012 and $3.86 in 2011. Nationally, the average for unleaded gas on Independence Day was $2.27 in 2016, $2.77 in 2015, $3.66 in 2014, $3.48 in 2013, $3.34 in 2012 and $3.57 in 2011.

More people will drive, fly and use other modes of travel
The vast majority of travelers—37.5 million Americans—will drive to their Independence Day destinations, an increase of 2.9 percent over last year. Air travel is expected to increase 4.6 percent over last year, with 3.44 million Americans taking to the skies this Independence Day. Travel by other modes of transportation, including cruises, trains and buses, will increase 1.4 percent, to 3.27 million travelers.

Airfares, hotel and car rental rates lower this Independence Day
In the Washington metro area, hotel rates for AAA Three Diamond lodgings are expected to increase 36 percent from one year ago with travelers spending an average of $239 per night compared to $175 last year. The average hotel rate for AAA Two Diamond hotels has increased 24 percent with an average cost of $153 per night as compared to $124 in 2016. Weekend daily car rental rates in the Washington metro area will average $48, a 38 percent decrease over the average of $78 in 2016.

Of the top 40 U.S. routes departing from Washington, D.C., 2017 rates have decreased four percent from Washington, D.C. to Las Vegas costing $250. Rates from Atlanta to Washington, D.C. cost $145 (down 24 percent), New York to Washington, D.C. costing $141 (down by 48 percent) and from St. Louis to Washington, D.C. costing $213 (down by 30 percent). Rates from Boston to Washington, D.C. are up by 16 percent costing $153.

Nationally, travelers can expect lower prices for airfares, car rentals and hotels this Independence Day weekend. According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, average airfares for the top 40 domestic flight routes will be 10 percent lower this year, with an average round trip ticket landing at $186. Daily car rental rates will average $65, which is 14 percent less than last Independence Day. Hotel costs are the same as last year, with the average AAA Three Diamond Rated hotel costing $185 per night.

AAA Mid-Atlantic expects to rescue 32,000 motorists this Independence Day
AAA Mid-Atlantic expects to rescue 32,000 motorists during the Independence Day holiday travel period, with the primary reasons being towing, dead batteries, lockouts and flat tires. AAA came to the rescue of 1,250 motorists in Washington, D.C., 8,283 in Maryland and 6,286 in Virginia during the 2016 holiday travel period. Nationally, AAA expects to rescue more than 338,000 motorists this Independence Day weekend.

AAA recommends motorists take their vehicle to a trusted repair facility to perform any needed maintenance before heading out. Oil changes, fluid level checks, battery tests and tire inspections go a long way toward reducing the chances of a breakdown. AAA recommends motorists have their vehicles inspected by a trusted repair shop, such as one of the more than 7,000 AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities across North America or the more than 20 AAA Car Care Centers throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Members can download the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com or call 1-800-AAA-HELP to request roadside assistance. 

Download the AAA Mobile app before an Independence Day getaway
Before setting out for Independence Day, download the free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. Travelers can use the app to map a route, find lowest gas prices, access exclusive member discounts, make travel arrangements, request AAA roadside assistance, find AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities and more. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile.

About the travel forecast:
AAA’s projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Markit. The London-based business information provider teamed with AAA in 2009 to jointly analyze travel trends during major holidays. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades. The complete AAA/IHS Markit 2017 Independence Day holiday travel forecast is available here.

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AAA provides automotive, travel and insurance services to 57 million members nationwide and nearly 78,000 members in the District of Columbia.  AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years.  The not-for-profit, fully tax-paying member organization works on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. For more information, visit  https://aaa.com