Record travel expected for Independence Day in South Dakota, nation

SIOUX FALLS – With the peak travel season approaching over the Fourth of July week, a record number of South Dakotans and people nationwide are expected to hit the roadways and airways.

Shawn Steward, spokesman for AAA South Dakota, said about 213,000 travelers are expected in the state to travel over 50 miles over a nine-day holiday period, while nationwide the number is estimated to be about 71 million.

That’s a 4.3 percent increase in the state over last year and 5 percent nationally as well as 8 percent boost over 2019 before the Covid pandemic hit.

“With summer vacations in full swing and the flexibility of remote work, more Americans are taking extended trips around Independence Day,” said Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel nationwide.

She agrees with the estimates that the July 4th week will be the “busiest ever.”

Most of the South Dakotans traveling or about 85 percent will be driving over the holiday period measured by AAA, and there is good news as gas prices are down here about 18 cents a gallon from last year to an average of $3.24 a gallon..

Nationwide, gas prices are about 13 cents lower than last year with an average of $3.44 a gallon

Steward said the state has the 16th lowest gas prices in the country, with the lowest prices found from Nebraska and heading southward to Texas while the southeastern U.S also offers lower prices, some states currently averaging below $3 a gallon.

In Minnehaha County, the average price this past week was $3 a gallon, well below the statewide average with the western part of the state having the higher prices.

“It’s likely because of transportation costs to those many rural areas as well as it being the peak tourist season in that area,” Steward said.

AAA estimates pump prices could drop even more before Independence Day, at which point the cost could stabilize until after Labor Day, similar to last year.

An important caveat, AAA said, is that hurricane season is here and that could affect Gulf Coast oil production and refining.

The number of air travelers is also expected to set a record during the nine days from Saturday, June 29 to Sunday, July 7.

That’s no surprise to Sioux Falls Regional Airport Executive Director Dan Letellier, who said they continue to set records at the terminal here.

Last year, boardings were up 9 percent, while so far from January to May there were about 60,000 boardings, up 3 percent. If arrivals are counted, he said that number can double.

With the peak travel season approaching, he said the number at the airport will likely break records again this year.

“Since school has been out, we’ve been seeing about 2,200 boardings on some days and that’s a lot for us,” Letellier said.

He said a busy day is about 1,900 in most months.

With expanded flights offered by Allegiant as well as Frontier in the summer months, it has helped to boost numbers.

Allegiant has about nine destinations during the summer, he said, while Frontier with its 170-passenger planes is now flying about six days a week compared to about 2 to 3 days in other months.

As for prices, Letellier said they are “kind of all over the place” as people have to watch for added costs, too, such as baggage and seat picking options.

“People are still flying so they must be competitive as they are filling up the planes,” he said.

AAA said domestic airfares are down 2 percent compared to last year, while international flights are up 7 percent.

Steward said if air travelers can be flexible they can find better prices as well as by shopping around.

It’s estimated air travel will be up 7 percent nationwide this year and 12 percent over 2019.

AAA recommends arriving two hours ahead of time as terminals will be packed.

As evidence of the increasing numbers, Steward said in May and June, the Transportation Safety Administration nationwide has had seven of its top 10 daily screening numbers in history.

Besides arriving early at airports, Steward said those driving can avoid some peak traveling times to make their trip easier

AAA said before noon and after 7 p.m. are the best times to avoid heavy traffic.

Although many travel prices are down, AAA said hotel prices, which Steward said have been increasing ever since Covid, are estimated at about 17 percent higher.

To take the sting out of those prices, AAA added car rentals are 16 percent cheaper this July 4th week and cruises departing from the U.S. are 24 percent less than last year.

The top five domestic destinations, according to AAA, this year are the big cities of Seattle, Orlando, Anchorage, Honolulu and Miami.

Internationally, with a lot of people selecting European trips, said Steward, the top destinations are Vancouver, London, Rome, Dublin and Paris.