About 5.5 million Southern Californians are predicted to hit the road for the holiday, according to the Southern California Automobile Club.
Drivers are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home over the holiday period, which lasts from Saturday, June 28 to Sunday, July 6.
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Nationally, 61.6 million Americans are expected to travel by car, and 5.84 million by plane with roundtrips averaging $810, according to AAA data.
“Following a record-setting Memorial Day forecast, the Auto Club is seeing continued strong demand for both road trips and air travel during the July Fourth holiday period,” said Jena Miller, Auto Club’s vice president of travel products and services.“ With the holiday falling on a Friday this year, many travelers are planning extended weekends or full-week vacations to spend quality time with family and friends.”
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Across the county, roads are expected to see an additional 1.3 million travelers compared to last year, according to AAA.
This weekend, drivers will likely experience the most traffic on Sunday, as many travelers return home from extended weekends or week-long vacations.
Drivers should leave in the morning to avoid the worst traffic. Construction, crashes and severe weather could prolong travel times.
The most congested holiday routes will likely be on the 15 Freeway, AAA predicts.
On Saturday, drivers from Palm Springs to San Diego should expect the most traffic at 3 p.m.
On Sunday, the traffic will be heaviest for drivers returning to Los Angeles from Las Vegas at about 5 p.m.
Most Southern Californians are expected to travel to driving-distance locations, the Auto Club said.
Top spots include San Diego, the Central Coast, Las Vegas and national parks.
Nationally, most travelers’ are traveling for beaches, cruises and fireworks. The most popular sites, according to AAA, are Orlando, FL, Seattle, WA, New York, NY and Anchorage, AK.
Record 72.2 million Americans expected to travel domestically around the Fourth of July. The holiday rush begins next Saturday, June 28. Most travelers will take road trips, but airports will be packed as well! https://t.co/2ObeP7obul pic.twitter.com/FTfW9SZICe
Gas prices in Southern California are the lowest for this time of year since 2021, AAA said, as drivers are paying about 20 to 40 cents less per gallon.
Prices across the state were raised by about 2 cents on Tuesday as part of an annual inflation adjustment to fund statewide road repairs.
Drivers could see an increase in prices if national and international events escalate, according to AAA. Weather could also be a factor, as storms can affect oil refineries and fuel deliveries.
The busiest day to pick up rental cars will be Thursday, July 3, Hertz Car rental said.
The most popular vehicles drivers are looking to rent are SUVs and midsize sedans, according to Hertz.
The California Highway Patrol is launching a statewide holiday enforcement period from July 3 to July 6, the agency announced Wednesday.
Officers will be “out in full force” to support safe driving during the holiday weekend, focusing on impaired, aggressive drivers, the CHP said.
Last year, the agency made over 1,300 DUI arrests and issued over 17,700 speeding citations during its maximum enforcement period.
