WICHITA, Kan. – AAA predicts 47.9 million people nationwide, including more than 387,000 Kansans will travel 50 miles or more from home over the holiday weekend (June 30 – July 4).
Overall travel will increase 3.7% nationwide over 2021, bringing travel volumes just shy of those seen in 2019. Travel by Kansans will increase 4.5% over last year among all modes of travel.
Nationally, car travel will set a new record despite historically high gas prices, with 42 million people hitting the road, up 0.4% from 2021. In Kansas the number of travelers driving to their destination will be down slightly, about 0.8%, with nearly 326,000 Kansans taking to the highways.
Recent issues with air travel and ongoing concerns of cancelations and delays may be driving the share of people traveling by air to the lowest level since 2011. Air travel by Kansans is projected to be down about 3% this year compared to last.
Drivers should expect the longest travel delays heading into the holiday weekend, particularly during the afternoons on Thursday, June 30 and Friday, July 1 as commuters leave work early and mix with holiday travelers. Drivers in major U.S. metros could experience double the travel times compared to a normal trip.