People have already starting hitting the road for the upcoming Fourth of July weekend, which may see a record number of travelers in Illinois, officials with the AAA Auto Club Group said.
In a recent press release, officials with AAA predicted that 4.2 million Illinois residents will travel at least 50 miles during the Fourth of July travel period, which has already begun and will end Sunday, July 5.
More Top Picks Best Tens Units For Sciatica
The release adds that about 3.8 million Illinois residents will travel by car during the holiday period, and that “while this year’s increase is modest compared to recent gains, it still sets a record for Fourth of July travel in Illinois, as strong consumer demand continues to offset higher travel costs.”
A total of 147,000 are expected to fly from the state, along with a 4.7% increase in other modes of transportation like train and bus, at a level of almost 269,000, officials with AAA said.
Molly Hart, spokesperson for the AAA Auto Club Group, said this week “will include a lot of people traveling nationally and also here in Illinois.”
“We are up .5% from the Fourth of July in 2025,” Hart said of predictions for Fourth of July travel. “The good news is that gas prices are down. They are still high, but they are down.”
As of Monday, the average price per gallon in Illinois was $4.13, while a year ago it was $3.48 – still 65 cents a gallon higher than last year, “but below what we’ve been experiencing in the last couple of months” Hart said.
“The Fourth of July is a family holiday and people are still planning to be together. However, because of the high gas prices, people started budgeting differently so they could enjoy this time together,” Hart said. “Some are taking shorter vacations – they might not be going as far as they originally planned to. Some are looking at the cost of flying versus driving. What plays into that is if you have a big family, probably driving is less expensive.”
Hart adds that costs are also being shaved by people “cutting down on fine dining, more casual restaurants, maybe not getting souvenirs, but still, they can all be together to celebrate Independence Day.”
Top travel destinations for the Fourth of July weekend include Seattle, Orlando, and also Anchorage, Alaska, for those taking Alaskan cruises.
Hart encouraged people to “have their car checked before they even hit the road” due to the current heat wave.
“Emergency kits are essential and people should pack extra water, given the current conditions, and extra snacks,” Hart said.
The best time to travel in the days coming up is before noon through July 3, according to Hart.
On July 5, it is best to hit the road before 11 a.m., Hart said.
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.