Millions of Michiganders are packing their bags for the Fourth of July weekend, and drivers should be ready for delays, hazards and traffic.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Millions of Michiganders are packing their bags for the Fourth of July weekend, and drivers should be ready for delays, hazards and traffic. But there are some measures you can take to ease your holiday travel headaches.Â
AAA estimates 2.6 million Michiganders will travel for the Fourth of July. Adrienne Woodland, spokesperson for AAA, said this is a record-breaking year, with over 72 million people traveling nationally.
“Independence Day is one of the most popular times for travel. This year is absolutely no different,” Woodland said. “We’re seeing strong demand for road trips, flights and cruises and again, like I mentioned earlier, especially with the holiday falling on a Friday, this is allowing travelers to extend their getaways and their road trips and their vacations, and it’s allowing them to make lasting memories with their loved ones.”
To bypass the busiest roadways, you should avoid driving on Wednesday, July 2 and Sunday, July 6. If you can’t avoid it, leaving during the early morning hours or into the evening can help you dodge congestion.
Good news for your wallet, though—gas prices are expected to be well below last year’s Fourth of July prices.
“Last year, on the Fourth of July, the Michigan state average was about $3.60 a gallon for regular unleaded. As of today, the state average is about $3.23, so you’ll definitely be seeing cheaper prices at the pump this year compared to last year,” Woodland said.
You should also take steps to avoid any travel mishaps before you head out by getting a pre-trip inspection of your vehicle. Last year, AAA responded to over 700,000 stranded drivers nationally, mostly due to flat tires, dead batteries and being locked out of their vehicles.
Woodland is reminding Michiganders to make a plan to get home safely if they plan to drink at their Fourth of July celebration. To help with this, AAA will launch their Tow-to-Go program, which provides a free ride and tow within a 10-mile radius for drivers who are impaired and do not have a safe alternative.
The Tow-to-Go program begins at 6 p.m. Friday. AAA usually implements the program on holidays to reduce impaired driving.
For more Fourth of July travel tips, click here.
