Traveling for the Fourth of July? Here are the best and worst times to drive.

Fourth of July travel could set records. News 12’s Lauren Due has information on what drivers can expect when traveling for the Fourth of July week.

Lauren Due and Lanette Espy

Jul 2, 2024, 9:26 AM

Updated yesterday

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Travelers could set a record this Fourth of July. The Transportation Security Administration says it's expecting to screen 32 million people in the U.S. through July 8 — this is up more than 5% from 2023.
Meanwhile, AAA projects 70.9 million Americans will travel by car 50 miles or more for the holiday week. It's the first time the agency looked at the entire Fourth of July week, plus the Saturday before and the Sunday after.
Planning on driving somewhere for the holiday? Here are suggested times to plan around, according to AAA:

Today

The worst travel time is from 2 to 6 p.m.
The best time is after 7 p.m.

Wednesday and Thursday (Fourth of July)

The worst time is between 2 and 7 p.m. Drivers should try to get on the road before noon.

Friday

The worst time is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Try to leave before 10 a.m.

Saturday

The worst time is from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Try to leave before 10 a.m.

Sunday

If you’re heading home from the Jersey Shore on Sunday, AAA says to expect extra traffic around 2 p.m.


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