A Record Of Nearly 50 Million Americans Will Go On Vacation This Week, Exercising A Type Of Independence The Founding Fathers Likely Never Foresaw

               Nearly 49 million Americans – 15% of us – will venture out on to the roadways, airways, waterways and railways this week to take celebrate the very concept that gives Americans the right to take such trips whenever they wish.

               More of us than ever will exercise our independence, declared (officially, anyway) 243 years ago this Thursday, on July 4, 1776, by venturing more than 50 miles from home during the five-day holiday period. That statistics-counting period begins Wednesday the 3rd and concludes Sunday night, the 7^th.

That would be a 4.1% jump from the nearly 47 million people who traveled during the Fourth of July holiday period last year (which actually lasted one day longer because the holiday itself fell on a Wednesday last year, vs. Thursday this year. Thus, to those out driving, flying, visiting popular destinations like the beaches, amusement parks, national parks and historical sites and the mountains, and to those trying to rent hotel rooms or other overnight accommodations the crowds will seem even larger than the 4.1% year-over-year increase in holiday travelers would indicate because all those extra travelers will be squeezed in a five- rather than a six-day window.

               But that travel will seem cheaper, at least to the expected 41.4 million who will travel by car this week in celebration of the holiday. That’s because nationwide average gasoline prices will be down an expected 19 cents per gallon from a year ago. AAA says the average price per gallon currently is around $2.66, down nearly 7% from this week in 2018. It’s also down 17 cents a gallon from the average price just over a month ago during the Memorial Day holiday travel period.

               Still, gas prices are up, on a national average basis, nearly 30 cents a gallon from the Independence Day holiday travel period in 2017.

               In addition to lower fuel prices, the nation’s economic fundamentals are at or near record performance levels. Low unemployment, slightly higher average wages, robust consumer spending and rising disposable income totals are all strong indicators pointing to the big jump in holiday traveler numbers this week.

               AAA says that midrange overnight accommodations this year should cost between $153 a night from AAA Two Diamond properties and $189 for AAA Three Diamond properties, at least in terms of national averages.

               As usual, the most popular means of holiday travel this week will be, by far, the automobile. AAA expcts there to 41.4 million Americans traveling on the roads this week in relation to the holiday. Just under 4 million more Americans will travel by air this week, up an expected 5.3% from a year ago even though average fare prices and total air travel spending are up about 10%, and car rental rates are up about 5% from the same period in 2018.

Total passenger traffic this holiday period aboard trains, busses and cruise ships is expected to be up by a more modest 0.6% to 3.55 million people. Still the expected total number of travelers in all of those categories would be records, at least since AAA began tracking Independence Day holiday traveler numbers in 2000.

               Also following the long-established trend, the most popular destinations for Independence Day holiday travelers will be what AAA calls “Fun and Sun” destinations like beaches and major amusement parks. Not surprisingly, Orlando, FL, home of Disney World, the Universal Studios theme parks and lots of other attractions, is listed as the top destination based on bookings for air travel and overnight accommodations, and on requests for travel planning help through AAA’s travel agency operations. Number two on that list is no surprise either; Honolulu, Hawaii, gateway to the island paradise that is the nation’s 50^th state.

Those destinations are expected to be followed in popularity this week by Seattle, Las Vegas, Anaheim, CA, New York, Boston, Maui, HA, Anchorage, AK and Chicago. Europe will be the top general destination for American’s going overseas for the Fourth this year, Rome, London, Dublin and Paris expected to be the most popular specific destinations. Vancouver, Canada, is another very popular destination for Americans leaving the country this week. Vancouver, like Seattle, is a major departure point for increasingly popular cruises up to scenic southeast Alaska. Similarly, a large number of travelers who fly to Anchorage actually go there to catch a train or bus to the southern Alaska coast, where they board cruise ships to get the popular Alaskan cruise experience in the opposite direction.