Record 4th Of July Travel Predicted: When To Get Out Of Town In MD

MARYLAND — Independence Day celebrants in Maryland are expected to join a record 70.9 million Americans who plan to travel 50 miles or more from home over the extended 4th of July holiday period, AAA projects.

Nearly 1.5 million Marylanders are expected to travel for the nine-day period surrounding the Fourth of July holiday, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic.

For the first time, the travel group looked at the entire 4th of July week, bookended by the Saturday before the holiday and the Sunday after. Travel is expected to be 5 percent higher this year than last, and 8 percent higher than in 2019.

The 2024 Independence Day travel period is expected to be the busiest ever, with 5.7 million more people traveling than in 2019, the last year before the pandemic, Paula Twidale, AAA Travel’s senior vice president, said in a news release.

The group projects a record 60.6 million people will travel by car during Independence Day week, 2.8 million more than last year. Air travel is also expected to set a new record, with 5.74 million people flying to their destinations, a 12 percent increase over 2019.

This year’s projected number of Maryland travelers for the entire July 4 holiday period is a 4 percent increase compared to 2023 and a 7.5 percent increase over 2019.

“With school out across the country, summer vacations are in full swing, and the 4th of July holiday seems like the perfect time for a getaway,” said Ragina Cooper Ali, spokeswoman for AAA in Maryland and Washington, D.C. “We are seeing that a residual impact of COVID has been greater work flexibility, affording many the opportunity to work remotely and extend weekend and holiday trips.”

When To Cross the Bay Bridge

State transportation officials urge drivers using the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to travel at off-peak times when crossing from shore to shore. The best times to cross the Bay Bridge for the July 4 holiday weekend includes:

• Eastbound:
  • Wednesday, July 3 – before 9 a.m. and after 10 p.m.
  • Thursday, July 4 – before 6 a.m. and after 2 p.m.
  • Friday, July 5 – before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m.
  • Saturday, July 6 – before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m.
  • Sunday, July 7 – before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.
  • Monday, July 8 – before 12 p.m. and after 7 p.m.
• Westbound:
  • Wednesday, July 3 – before 10 a.m. and after 7 p.m.
  • Thursday, July 4 – before 10 am. and after 2 p.m.
  • Friday, July 5 – before 10 a.m. and after 6 pm
  • Saturday, July 6 – before 8 a.m. and after 9 p.m.
  • Sunday, July 7 – before 9 a.m. and after 10 p.m.
  • Monday, July 8 – before 6 a.m. and after 4 p.m.

AAA projects more than 1.3 million Marylanders — nearly 90% of travelers will hit the road this upcoming holiday week — that’s an increase of nearly 4% compared to last year. This year’s number also surpasses 2019 by more than 8%.

“Nationally, gas prices are trending about 11 cents lower than last year, however here in Maryland prices are slightly higher than a year ago,” said Ali.

Thursday’s statewide average of $3.50 is five cents higher than last year. Pump prices will likely level off and remain relatively stable until after Labor Day, similar to last year. However, with the hurricane season underway now, there is always the possibility that gas prices could be affected should a storm negatively impact Gulf Coast oil production and refining centers.

Fourth of July travelers whose route takes them through the Baltimore-Washington, D.C., metro should avoid peak congestion times on major highways, according to transportation data provider Inrix.

Driving from Baltimore to Washington DC via the Baltimore/Washington Parkway will find it the most congested at 3:15 p.m. on Monday, July 8. The trek may take an hour hour that afternoon, Inrix said, a 67 percent increase from normal drive times.

Domestic airfare is about 2 percent lower than last year, and the average price for a roundtrip ticket is $800. Airports are expected to be packed throughout the travel period. AAA recommends reserving airport parking ahead of time, getting there two hours early, and traveling only with carry-on luggage to save both time and money.

Here are the worst and best times to travel by car (all times local), according to Inrix:

• Tuesday, July 2: 2-6 p.m. (worst time); after 7 pm. (best time)
• Wednesday, July 3: 2-7 p.m. (worst time); before noon (best time)
• Thursday, July 4: 2-7 p.m. (worst time); before noon (best time)
• Friday, July 5: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (worst time); before 10 a.m. (best time)
• Saturday, July 6: 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (worst time); before 10 a.m. (best time)
• Sunday, July 7: 2-8 p.m. (worst time); before 11 a.m. (best time)
• Monday, July 8: 1-5 p.m. (worst time); after 7 p.m. (best time)