July 4th travel projected to hit record volume despite higher gas prices

A record number of people in the U.S. will travel by car this Fourth of July, despite historically high gas prices, the American Automobile Association projects.

AAA’s Independence Day forecast projects over 43 million will travel 50 miles or more –  with an additional 4.17 million to fly and 3.36 million to travel other ways. That brings the predicted travel for July 4th to 50.7 million, up 2 million from last year's forecast. 

Despite the price of gas falling by 4 cents a gallon compared to last week, and almost $1.28 from a year ago, AAA spokesman Andrew Gross said the cost remains high “compared to historical averages."

The previous record-average-high price for gas was on July Fourth 2008, at $4.10. The low was $1.39 in 2001.

“Yet despite currently elevated prices, drivers are not cutting back on travel this summer," Gross said.

The record for the highest gas prices so far during the Biden administration occurred last year – an average $5.02 a gallon, also according to AAA.. 

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