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Independence Day falls on a Wednesday this year, eliminating the ability for Americans to take advantage of the traditional long holiday weekend. AAA, however, estimates that a record 41.1 million Americans will leave home this holiday week (June 29 to July 8), 0.8 percent more than the 40.8 million who traveled last year. This year’s increase is lower than last year’s increase, in part, because July 4, 2006 fell on a Tuesday and many Americans could not pass up an opportunity to leave town for a four day weekend. Nearly 1.5 million Virginians are expected to be among those traveling, an increase of 1.3 percent from last year.
According to a AAA survey, Fourth of July travelers intend to spend the entire week on their holiday trip this year. In fact, the largest share of Fourth of July travelers are planning to leave Friday, June 29 or before (37.9 percent). Approximately 34.7 million travelers (84 percent of all holiday travelers) expect to go by motor vehicle, a 0.7 percent increase from the 34.5 million who drove a year ago. This includes over 909,000 Virginians, up 1.6 percent from last year. Another 4.7 million (11 percent of holiday travelers) plan to travel by airplane, up 3.5 percent from the 4.5 million that flew last Fourth of July, including over 84,000 Virginians (up 2.5 percent from last year). A projected 1.7 million vacationers (4 percent) will go by train, bus, or other mode of transportation, including 51,000 Virginians. “This Fourth of July holiday is somewhat unique, in that it falls in the middle of the work week,” said Windy VanCuren, spokesperson for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Interestingly, we’re finding that Americans aren’t willing to give up their traditional Fourth of July celebrations with friends and family, and many are choosing to take a few more days off of work to do so. Although prices for gasoline are higher this holiday than last year, Americans have felt a bit of relief in fuel prices over the last few weeks, which may influence their decision to travel.” Holiday auto travelers will find gas prices nationwide currently averaging $2.98 for a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline - down 23 cents from a month ago and about 12 cents higher than a year ago. In the Commonwealth, gas prices currently average $2.84 per gallon - down 21 cents from a month ago and about 5 cents higher than a year ago. Gas Prices as of June 27, 2007, for a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline:
Price Today Price Last Month Price Last Year
National $2.98 $3.21 $2.86
Virginia $2.84 $3.05 $2.79
Charlottesville $2.85 $3.07 $2.77
Norfolk $2.83 $3.04 $2.86
Richmond $2.82 $3.05 $2.83
Roanoke $2.78 $3.00 $2.61 AAA’s Leisure Travel Index shows some other vacation costs up from Fourth of July 2006, while others have dropped somewhat significantly. Hotel rates are up a bit, averaging 5 percent higher for AAA-rated Three Diamond hotels than last year. Car rental rates will be similar to last year, which are up 3 percent. Airfares however are a welcome 12 percent lower than Fourth of July 2006. Fourth of July is the busiest travel period of the summer since schools are not in session and many families take the opportunity to go on vacation with their kids. In fact, of households with children, 66 percent say they plan on bringing their kids along on their Fourth of July vacation.
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