Seasonal & Holidays
Fourth of July in North Carolina: Crowded Roadways Ahead
Travel will reach historic levels this Fourth of July in N.C., according to AAA. Here's what you need to know before taking your next trip.
CHARLOTTE, NC — If you're planning to hit the road this Fourth of July, you'd best plan on having plenty of company.
During the holiday weekend of Friday, June 30 to Tuesday, July 4, about 1.25 million North Carolinians are expected to take to the roads, skies, rails and waterways this Independence Day, according to AAA.
"Higher confidence has led to more consumer spending, and many Carolinians are choosing to allocate their extra money on travel this Independence Day weekend," said Dave Parsons, President and CEO of AAA Carolinas. "The historic number of travelers adds to what is already shaping up to be a busy summer travel season."
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Drivers in the Carolinas are not alone. In all, a record-breaking 44.2 million Americans are likely to travel this year, the motor club predicts. AAA says July 4th is the most-traveled summer holiday, besting Memorial Day and Labor Day, because it falls in the middle of the summer, when school is out.
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Of those 1.25 million North Carolina travelers, the vast majority — 1.1 million — are expected to drive, about 94,000 will fly and about 37,000 will take other modes of transportation, AAA says.
Where do most North Carolina drivers like to go on July 4th weekend? According to AAA, the most popular destinations are Myrtle Beach, Charlotte, Wilmington, Charleston, Greenville, S.C., and Washington, D.C.
While motorists may have to deal with some headache-inducing traffic jams on the way to their holiday gatherings this year, there is some good news. Gas prices shouldn't be all that bad.
Overall AAA says current gas prices are slightly below last year's levels — another reason folks may be deciding to climb behind the wheel. In North Carolina, the average price for a gallon of gas on June 29 was $2.09. That's down from $2.21 a month ago and $2.18 this time last year.
The national average on Wednesday was $2.24, down from last year's $2.30.
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