GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – The Fourth of July is tomorrow, and millions of Americans are getting ready to hit the road or catch a flight, and his year’s holiday travel is shaping up to be one of the busiest ever.
Whether you’re heading to the beach, the mountains, or just a family BBQ, expect company.
AAA says this Fourth of July weekend could break travel records. But locally? It might look a little different.
If you’re hitting the road or the runway this Fourth of July, you’re not alone.
Bill Hopper, Pitt-Greenville Airport Director, says, “Just expect air travel to be very busy. They’re talking about maybe some of the busiest travel of all time. We’re a small airport; we operate on a smaller level, so we don’t expect things to be busy here. However, when you get to the other end, you’ve got to anticipate it. Plan ahead and make sure you give yourself plenty of time.”
PGV isn’t expecting chaos, but Hopper says, crowds are showing up in other ways. “Our flights are already plenty full at any time of year, so we don’t really see anything more than normal, but we do see more people dressed for the beach who arrive here. We’re always ready and we just want to make sure that people have the best vacation possible and enjoy themselves, and of course — stay safe.”
It’s not just airports feeling the surge. AAA expects over 72 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles from home this weekend. Nearly 62 million of them will be on the road.
AAA Public Affairs Director, Tiffany Wright, says, “We expect that we’re going to have over 2 million people driving to their destinations, and that’s about 100,000 more drivers on the road than this time last year.”
While everything from food to hotels might cost more, there’s one small silver lining.
“Prices have settled down, and right now we’re saving anywhere from 20-30 cents per gallon vs this time last year,” Wright told WITN.
AAA suggests packing smart, avoiding idling in drive-thru lines, and staying patient on the road.
Wright says, “Be tolerant of other drivers, give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination.”
If you haven’t hit the road yet, AAA says the best times to leave are before noon on Thursday or Friday morning on the 4th.
The worst times to travel? Between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday evening.
Remember—extra cars on the road also mean a higher chance of accidents. AAA says it’s important to be careful out there and always watch for emergency vehicles.
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