Tue, June 30, 2026 at 2:20 PM UTC A record 72.2 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles this week for the Fourth of July, according to AAA's projections — up about 300,000 from last year’s Independence Day. The vast majority of people, approximately 61 million, or 85%, will travel by car. That's about the same amount as 2025 — a figure that held steady despite a 20% increase in gas prices driven by the war in Iran.