AAA: Florida’s Independence Day Travel to Grow 4.9 Percent

Travel for Independence Day is expected to jump 4.9 percent from a year ago in Florida, with people extending holiday plans for the midweek celebration combined with the drop in gas prices, according to AAA.

The majority of the holiday travelers in the Sunshine State will be hitting the road for trips of more than 50 miles between July 3 and July 8. The 1.8 million motorists represent a 4.1 percent increase from 2011.

Air travel is projected to increase 9.9 percent from a year ago, with 163,000 flying to their holiday destination.

Another 141,000 will be traveling by bus, train or ship, up 10 percent from a year ago.

Nationally, 42.3 million Americans are projected to travel at least 50 miles from home during the holiday period, a number that hasnt been hit since 2007, and a mark that represents a 4.9 percent increase from 2011.

While economic growth remains weak across the globe, Americans are still determined to travel and that is evident by the rebound in Independence Day travel reaching the past decades peak in 2007, Brent Hubele, vice president of AAA Travel, stated in a release.

Economizing is still a major factor in summer vacations which is why we expect a continued increase in other modes of travel such as cruise, tour, rail and bus. AAA has seen an increase in travelers searching for value vacations like cruises which offer all-inclusive travel opportunities.