4th Of July Travel Rush: Best And Worst Times To Leave Metro Atlanta

Millions of Americans are expected to hit the road for the Fourth of July holiday, and travelers leaving metro Atlanta may want to plan around the worst traffic windows.

AAA projects 72.2 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home during the nine-day Independence Day travel period, which runs from Saturday, June 27, through Sunday, July 5. The estimate tops last year’s record of 71.8 million travelers.

This year’s Independence Day celebration is special. It’s the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

How High Gas Affects Travel

Most Americans plan to travel by car. AAA expects 61.4 million people to take road trips, about 85 percent of all July Fourth travelers.

They’ll be paying more for gas, which is at a four-year high. Last year, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.15 during the Independence Day holiday; this year, prices are higher, though still below the $4.80 national average recorded on Independence Day 2022. Even with higher pump prices, AAA said filling up the tank is still cheaper than buying plane tickets for many travelers, especially families with children.

A gallon of regular gasoline was $3.64 a gallon in Georgia on Monday. That compares with a national average of $3.93 a gallon.

Worst And Best Times To Leave

For drivers in Atlanta, the heaviest traffic is expected around 2 p.m. Thursday, July 2.

Travel forecasters expect a 58 percent increase from Atlanta to Augusta via I-20 eastbound. The estimated travel time will be 3 hours and 1 minute.

AAA and transportation analytics firm INRIX said the second weekend of the holiday period is expected to be the busiest on U.S. roads, beginning Thursday, July 2. Drivers hoping to avoid the worst backups should leave early in the day or consider traveling on Monday or Tuesday, AAA said.

Below are the worst and best times to travel during the 10-day period.

• Saturday, June 27: worst, noon-5 p.m.; best before 10 a.m.
• Sunday, June 28: worst, 2-4 p.m.; best, before 11 a.m.
• Monday, June 29: worst, 2-6 p.m.; best, before noon
• Tuesday, June 30: worst, 3-6 p.m.; best, before 2 p.m.
• Wednesday, July 1: worst, noon-9 p.m.; best, before noon
• Thursday, July 2: worst, 2-6 p.m.; best, before noon
• Friday, July 3: noon-7 p.m.; best, before noon
• Saturday, July 4: worst, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; best, after 3 p.m.
• Sunday, July 5: worst, noon-6 p.m.; best, before 11 a.m.

Where Delays Are Likely

Travelers taking longer road trips from metro Atlanta should expect delays on major interstates and routes connecting cities with beaches, lakes, mountains and holiday destinations.

AAA and INRIX identified several major corridors where peak congestion could bring significant slowdowns. In the Atlanta area, drivers traveling from Atlanta to Augusta on I-20 East should avoid Thursday, July 2, around 2 p.m., when the trip is expected to take about 3 hours and 1 minute, or 58 percent longer than usual.

In Florida, drivers traveling from Tampa to Orlando on I-4 East should avoid Wednesday, July 1, around 2:15 p.m., when the trip could take about 2 hours and 43 minutes, or 80 percent longer than usual.

In the Washington, D.C., region, drivers traveling from Washington, D.C., to Annapolis on Route 50 East should avoid Friday, July 3, around 12:45 p.m. That trip could take about 1 hour and 1 minute, or twice as long as usual.

Other Travel Also Up

AAA also expects 5.85 million people to take domestic flights during the July Fourth travel period, a slight increase from last year. Domestic round-trip flights to top destinations such as Chicago and Denver are averaging about $830, according to AAA booking data.

Travel by bus, train and cruise is expected to see the largest year-over-year increase, with 4.93 million Americans traveling by those modes, up 5.3 percent from last year.

AAA said top domestic destinations include Seattle, Orlando, Anchorage, Miami, New York, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Fairbanks, Denver and Boston.