Record-setting travel expected on July 4th weekend

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – Nearly 700,000 Kansans will travel 50 miles or more during the Independence Day weekend. That number is up more than 4 percent from last year.

Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. is the worst time to travel. Expect heavy traffic no matter where you’re headed. The best time to leave is before noon Wednesday or on July 4.

In terms of heading home, the worst time is Sunday, July 7, between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. A lot of travelers are making it a four-day weekend since July 4 falls on a Thursday this year.

The best time to head home is July 5 before 10 a.m.

Shawn Steward of Triple-A explains why we’re seeing record travel numbers this week.

“Really since we’ve come out of the pandemic we’ve seen a general increase in travel,” Steward said. “July 4 is usually the biggest summer travel week. With Memorial Day and Labor Day, you have school and other influences, but July 4 is usually the middle of summer travel and the peak of summer travel.”

Gas prices are down 20 cents compared to last year. Wichita has the sixth-lowest gas prices in the U.S.

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