Record travel numbers expected for Fourth of July

APPLETON, Wis. — The day before the Fourth of July holiday is one the busiest travel days of the week. It’s predicted that 71 million people will travel during the Independence Day holiday week, according to AAA. That number is up from last year’s 67 million travelers.

An estimated 1.6 million Wisconsinites are taking to the air or road to get away.

Lori Wegner took a nonstop flight from Appleton back home to Punta Gorda, Florida on Wednesday. She was joined by her daughter, Azaria Dijkhuis, and their terrier, Lucy.

“We drove my car up for my mom, to give my mom my car, and then we’re flying home,” Wegner said.

Dijkhuis said YouTube videos helped pass the days-long journey to Wisconsin, but she’s looking forward to enjoying the holiday in Florida.

“For the Fourth, I’m thinking we can do fireworks, and then we can camp out in our house and make marshmallows,” Dijkhuis said.

Wegner said this trip has probably been more stressful on Lucy than on her pocketbook.

“Our one-way price trip was not that expensive. So it probably cost us more when we drove up from Florida to Wisconsin than going back by air,” Wegner said.

AAA reported domestic airfare is 2% cheaper this year compared to last.

The average price of gas on Independence Day is expected to be $3.49 per gallon nationwide.

With favorable airfares, the Appleton International Airport’s travel numbers are up 14% this year compared to last year.

“We’re expecting around 10,000 people just during the holiday week to come through Appleton Airport, which is really big week for us,” Abe Weber, director of the Appleton International Airport said.

TSA has reported sustained travel across the country since spring break. TSA said it expects to see long lines well into September.

“If you’re traveling this weekend, any time up until Labor Day, we’re going to see higher travel volumes at all airports across the country,” Jessica Mayle, a regional spokesperson with TSA, said.