NEW YORK (PIX11) — As the Fourth of July weekend comes to an end, millions of Americans are making their way home, many with fond memories and a bit of travel stress.
AAA estimates a 1.7 million increase in domestic travelers compared to this time last year, with a total of nearly 71 million Americans hitting the road or taking to the skies.
This year’s Independence Day travel boom is being fueled in part by the rare timing of the holiday falling on a Friday for the first time in over a decade.
Whether it was fireworks or family time, travelers like Kayla Sarcona say the trip was worth it.
“I saw a great firework, had a great time with family, ate hot dogs,” Sarcona shared as she returned home to LaGuardia from California.
According to the TSA, close to 6 million passengers were expected to fly during the holiday period, with Sunday being the busiest day, seeing nearly 3 million air travelers. While many airports ran smoothly, minor delays weren’t uncommon.
“I had one small delay at a layover in Atlanta, but other than that, it was smooth flying,” Sarcona said.
While some flew, others faced the nation’s highways. AAA projected that 61.6 million people would travel by car this year, opting for road trips of at least 50 miles.
“We are trying to make it back so I can get home tonight for work,” said Tyreik Lewis, who was driving back to Virginia from New York City with his family.
The drive along I-95 South was busy.
“It’s very busy on the highway right now. You can see the traffic is congested, but we’re just enjoying some family time on the road.”
Gas prices are slightly lower than last year. In New Jersey, the average is $3.15 per gallon, and in New York, it’s around $3.20.
For travelers like Ari Orlando and Kyra Prince, who are driving 12 hours back to North Carolina after visiting family on Long Island, every cent counts.
“It definitely helps,” said Orlando. “We listen to music and play road games to pass the time.”
One favorite? A game where each person names a U.S. state that begins with the last letter of the previous state.
“Arkansas, Alabama—no wait,” laughed Prince. “You’ll have a lot of time to figure it out.”
Despite the delays and traffic, many travelers say the memories made were well worth the journey, with Independence Day falling on a Friday for the first time in over 10 years.
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