A record number of Americans are expected to travel for the Fourth of July holiday this week.

AAA is predicting more than 72 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home. More than 2 million New Jersey residents are expected to travel – 1.7 million of them by car.

However, News 12 spoke to some Garden State residents who say they are avoiding the highways this holiday.

“Avoid the road entirely. I do enough of that during the week,” says Jason Kaplan, of Matawan.

"You know what, Fourth of July is to celebrate the country's birthday. Barbecues, staying at home, down the shore. Stay away from the traffic, because you know it's coming,” says J.R. Rizzo, of Belmar.

AAA says that the worst time to travel this week is Tuesday between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., Wednesday between noon and 9 p.m., Thursday between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Friday between noon and 7 p.m. Wednesday and Sunday are expected to be the busiest days on the roads, according to AAA.

Summer gas prices are the lowest they have been since 2021. The average price of gas in New Jersey is currently at $3.18 per gallon.