AAA Hawaiʻi: Record 11 million Pacific Region residents expected to travel for July 4th holiday

A record number of travelers from the West Coast, Hawaiʻi and Alaska are expected to hit the skies and roads during the upcoming Independence Day holiday period, according to AAA.

AAA Hawaiʻi projects that a record 11 million residents across the Pacific Region—including Hawaiʻi, Alaska, California, Oregon and Washington—will travel at least 50 miles from home during the Independence Day holiday period, which spans from Saturday, June 28 to Sunday, July 6. This marks a 2.3% increase from 2024 and a 9.1% jump compared to 2019.

“Summer is one of the busiest travel seasons, and Independence Day consistently ranks among the most popular times for a getaway,” said Jena Miller, AAA Hawaiʻi vice president of travel products and services. “With the holiday falling on a Friday, many travelers are turning it into a long weekend or a full-week vacation.”

AAA’s Independence Day forecast includes two weekends instead of one to better reflect the flow of holiday travelers.

Air and road travel reach new highs

AAA expects 5.84 million people to travel by air—an all-time high for the holiday. That’s 8% of all Independence Day travelers and a 1.4% increase over last year’s record.

Road travel is also expected to surge. Last year, AAA responded to nearly 700,000 roadside assistance calls during the holiday week, primarily for issues like flat tires, dead batteries, lockouts and empty gas tanks. AAA urges travelers to conduct vehicle checks and pack emergency kits before hitting the road.

Gas and rental car outlook

In Hawaiʻi, gas prices remain stable—roughly 20 to 30 cents lower than last year and the lowest for this holiday since 2021. While crude oil prices have helped keep costs down, global tensions could lead to price volatility.

For car renters, July 3 is expected to be the busiest pickup day, according to Hertz. The company says top rentals are SUVs and midsize sedans. Popular travel destinations include Orlando, Denver, Boston, Oʻahu and Seattle.

Cruise, train and bus travel grow

Travel by cruise, train or bus is expected to increase by 7.4% over 2024, nearing pre-pandemic levels. AAA projects 4.78 million people will choose these alternative modes. Alaska cruise season is in full swing and is a major contributor to this trend.

Top destinations for July 4th travel

AAA booking data shows that top domestic destinations include:

• Orlando, Fla.
• Seattle
• New York
• Anchorage, Alaska
• Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Internationally, the most-booked destinations are:

• Vancouver, Canada
• Rome, Italy
• Paris, France
• London, England
• Barcelona, Spain

The Independence Day holiday travel period is defined as the nine-day period from Saturday, June 28 to Sunday, July 6. Historically, this holiday period included only one weekend. The expanded travel window was instituted starting in 2024 with historical results calculated back to 2019 using the new nine-day period. For more information, visit AAA.com/travel.