MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — AAA expects Americans to be on the go for the Fourth of July.
The agency is predicting 72.2 million people will travel at least 50 miles between Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, July 5. That is outside foreign fans crisscrossing the continent for the World Cup at the same time.
If the estimate holds up, it would be a record for Independence Day. The previous mark was set just last year at 71.8 million. AAA South Dakota Public Affairs Manager Shawn Steward says, “For many Americans, July 4th travel is a longstanding tradition, and that tradition remains strong this year even as prices rise for most modes of transportation.”
He adds, “Whether people are hitting the road, boarding a flight, or taking a cruise, travelers continue to make summer holiday getaways a priority.”
Most of the holiday traffic will be on the roads. AAA projects 61.4 million people to be traveling by car. For those intent on making a trip during that week, there are still ways to slip by the worst congestion. Most analysts expect July 2nd to July 5th to be the busiest travel days of the period.
AAA has a top ten list for popular destinations for the holiday. None of them are particularly close to South Dakota. Denver, Colorado is ninth and Chicago, Illinois is sixth. Alaska has two cities on the list, so not all rural states will be spared. Landmarks like Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands, or other national parks will likely still be high on the list of Americans.