Skip to main content

Nothing ruins a road trip like sitting in traffic for hours. All of a sudden, your kids start complaining as their tablets run of out charge and have to pee. They ask you if you’re there yet like a billion times and you start to hate your car. Make sure your trip goes smoothly by avoiding the busiest 4th of July travel times. 

Here are the busiest 4th of July travel times 

The busiest travel day before the 4th of July is today. The Friday before the holiday, so stop reading this and go beat the traffic. The other busiest days are expected to be on Wednesday the 3rd and Sunday, July 7th.

Also, the Saturday and Wednesday before the holiday have the highest rates of rental car pick-up. Dallas, Los Angeles, Denver, and San Fransico have the highest rental car demand. 

Road trips could take up to 67% longer than normal, so practice patience. Road rage and tickets will only make things longer. 

The roads are expected to have the most congestion between 2 to 7 p.m. However, things like accidents, speed traps, and stormy weather can strike at any time, causing traffic to back up for miles. 

A traffic jam on the highway
Traffic jam | iStock

Before hitting the road, check the traffic along popular routes to see if you can get around any pile-ups. Check the weather to see if you need to do any rerouting. Also, wake your family up. 

The earlier you leave, the better. Give yourself extra time to get snacks or gas, because lines will be much longer than usual. 

Roughly 70.9 million travelers will head about 50 miles or more away to celebrate Independence Day over a nine-day period. It could be the busiest traveling day in history. There is a 7% increase from 2023. 

About 32 million people are expected to be screened but the Transportation Security Administration as well. So, if you’re flying out get to the airport extra early. 

Also, most airport parking lots are already full, so consider getting a ride or taking an Uber instead of being turned away in your car. 

The most popular destinations this year include Seatle, Orlando, Anchorage, Honolulu, and Miami. But I have a feeling beaches will be busy as well. Good luck out there! Remember to pack snacks, water, and juices.

Best in Tips, Tricks & Trends
Avatar photo
Staff Writer

Allison Barfield

Allison Barfield joined MotorBiscuit in 2020 and covers all things trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Having grown up on a farm in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she’s no stranger to the “Best in Class” truck and SUV debates; people in her hometown were always gathering to help work on vehicles together, and deliberation would naturally arise.

Allison graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts. She has helped bring awareness to issues Women In Trucking face and has promoted Truckers Against Trafficking, an anti-trafficking NGO.

A fan of creatively dark literature, Allison appreciates the works of Shirley Jackson and Emily Dickenson. She lives in a mountainous area of the country and enjoys off-roading and camping. Her dog, Bruce, often joins her in testing trucks and SUVs for our site.