Summer Travel Rush: July 5Th Airport Congestion

The Friday before July 4th is typically the busiest day for airports, according to TSA data. In 2023, the Friday before July 4th was the busiest travel day before the long weekend. However, in 2019, when July 4th fell on a Thursday, July 5th was a quiet day for airports. This was unusual, as Fridays are usually the busiest travel day of the week.

Airports are likely to be busy all week long, with Friday being the busiest day

Airports braced for busy week ahead

Airports are likely to be busy all week long, with Friday expected to be the busiest day. This year's Fourth of July celebrations fall on a Thursday, which means many people are likely to take the following Friday off work and make it a long weekend.

Friday set to be busiest day

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects to screen over 32 million individuals in airports from Thursday through to July 8, a 5.4% increase on last year. The TSA predicts it will screen more than 3 million people on Friday alone, which would surpass its current record for the most people screened on a single day.

Other busy days

The days before and after the Fourth of July are also likely to be busy, especially closer to the weekend. In 2023, more than 2 million people were screened on the Fourth, which fell on a Tuesday, down from 2.88 million the Friday before.

Tips for travellers

• Leave early: There will be more people everywhere during the holiday week, so lines will be longer and roads will be busier. Give yourself more time to get to your destination or to make your way through airport security.
• Keep an eye on the weather: Look at the weather for your entire travel path. Even if it's sunny where you are, storms elsewhere could impact your journey.
• Be kind: A trip delay or cancellation can be frustrating, but if you're running into disruptions, chances are others are too. Customer service agents will be busy at this time of year, so be patient and respectful.

July 4th is likely to be the lightest day for air travel

With millions of Americans expected to travel for the July 4th weekend, it is helpful to know when the busiest and quietest days for travel are. This year, July 4th falls on a Thursday, which may impact the number of people travelling on the days before and after the holiday.

The Friday before July 4th is usually the busiest day for travel

The Friday before July 4th is typically the busiest travel day before the Independence Day weekend. In 2023, the TSA screened nearly 3 million passengers on the Friday before July 4th, which was the busiest day of the year for air travel. This year, the TSA expects to screen more than 3 million individuals on the Friday before July 4th, which would surpass the record set in 2023.

July 4th is likely to be the quietest day for air travel

On July 4th last year, airport crowds averaged just 70% of the busiest travel day, which was the Friday before. In 2019, when July 4th also fell on a Thursday, it was the least busy day to fly.

Tuesdays are also good days to fly

If you'd rather spend July 4th celebrating, then travelling on the Tuesday before or after the holiday is a good option. Tuesdays are, on average, the least busy days to fly.

Other tips for avoiding crowds

• Fly early in the day. Flights that depart between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. are less likely to be delayed.
• Embrace Saturday travel. Shift your trip by one day and travel on the Saturday before or after July 4th.
• Fly home on Friday, July 5th. You'll still have the full weekend at home before returning to work on Monday.

The Sunday after July 4th is the busiest day to fly back

2024's July 4th travel rush

This year, millions of Americans are preparing to travel out of town for the Independence Day holiday. Motor club AAA projects that around 70.9 million travellers will head 50 miles or more from home over a nine-day period, from Saturday, June 29 to Sunday, July 7. This is a 5% increase from 2023 and an 8% increase from 2019.

Airports will be packed

Airports will likely be packed all week, but the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects the most travellers to take to the skies on Friday, July 5. The TSA anticipates screening more than 3 million individuals on Friday, which would surpass the agency's current record for the most people screened on a single day.

Historically, the Sunday after July 4th has been the busiest day to fly back. In 2019, the peak Independence Day holiday travel day was Sunday, July 7, when the TSA screened 2.79 million passengers. In 2023, the Sunday after July 4th was also the busiest day for post-holiday travel.

How to avoid the crowds

If you want to avoid the crowds, it's best to fly on July 4th itself. On this day in 2023, airport crowds averaged just 70% of what they were on the busiest travel day. Alternatively, Tuesdays are, on average, the least busy days to fly.

Tips for travelling during the holiday period

• Leave early: There will be more people everywhere during the holiday week, so give yourself more time to get to your destination or to make your way through airport security.
• Keep an eye on the weather: Check the weather for your entire travel path, not just your destination. You may need to reroute if there are storms in between.
• Be kind: A trip delay or cancellation can be frustrating, but remember that customer service agents have a lot on their plate at this time of year.

The busiest days to pick up a rental car are Friday, Saturday, and Wednesday before July 4th

The days before a holiday are usually busy for airports and rental car services, and the same is true for the days before July 4th. According to AAA, the busiest days to pick up a rental car before July 4th are Friday, Saturday, and the Wednesday before the holiday.

In 2023, the Friday before July 4th was the busiest travel day before the long weekend. This trend is expected to continue in 2024, with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) anticipating that Friday will be the peak travel day. The TSA expects to screen over 3 million individuals on that day, surpassing its current record for the most people screened in a single day.

The Sunday after July 4th is also expected to be a busy day for travel, with many people returning home from their vacations. The roads will likely be congested as well, with the worst times for driving on or around the holiday being between 2 pm and 7 pm.

If you're looking to avoid the crowds, consider travelling on July 4th itself, as it tends to be the least busy day for air travel. Tuesday is also a good option, as the Tuesdays before and after the holiday are usually among the least crowded days to fly.

For those renting a car, it's worth noting that rental car prices have decreased compared to previous years. In 2024, the average cost of a rental car is $47 per day, a 25% decrease from 2023.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects to screen over 32 million individuals in airports from Thursday through July 8th

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects to screen over 32 million individuals in airports between Thursday and July 8th. This is a 5.4% increase from 2023 and is expected to be the busiest summer ever for the TSA.

The busiest days for airports are usually Fridays, and the least busy are Tuesdays. In 2023, the busiest day for Fourth of July travel was Friday, June 30th, and the least busy was July 4th. This trend is expected to continue in 2024, with the TSA anticipating that Friday, July 5th, will be the busiest day.

To avoid the crowds, it is best to fly on the holiday itself, or on the Tuesday before or after. If you can, it is also a good idea to fly early in the morning, as flights departing between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. are half as likely to be delayed as those departing after 9 a.m.

If you are driving, it is best to hit the road in the morning, as peak traffic congestion usually occurs between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

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