AAA Predicts Increased Travel in NJ on July 4

With gas prices falling in New Jersey, AAA has predicted that the amount of travel during the Independence Day holiday will increase this year.  AAA projects that nearly 1.3 million New Jerseyans will travel 50 or more miles this weekend, which would be an increase of 4.1% over 2011.  The Independence Day holiday travel period is defined as Tuesday, July 3 to Sunday, July 8. 

According to AAA, with July 4 falling on a Wednesday, many travelers are taking advantage of the midweek holiday by expanding the amount of days that they will travel.  When asked about the day of departure, 54% of people intended to begin their trip prior to the start of the work-week that includes July 4.

With the extra travel time, Americans are expected to travel an average distance of 723 miles during the Independence Day holiday, up 150 miles from than last year’s average 573 miles.

“The extra time, coupled with falling gas prices have helped encourage travelers to hit the roadways in force,” Cathleen Lewis, Director of Public Affairs for AAA New Jersey Automobile Club, said in a statement.  “While travelers continue to seek ways to economize, the longer holiday period allows for longer trips.”

The price of gasoline is also expected to play a role in the increased travel.  The current national average price of regular gasoline is $3.36 per gallon, 58 cents lower than this year’s peak of $3.94 on April 6.  It is also 15 cents less than this time last year.

Travel by the numbers:

Automobile

• New Jersey – 1,075,608 (84% of travelers), a 3.2% increase from last year
• Nationally – 35.5 million (84% of travelers), a 4% increase from 2011.

Air

• New Jersey – 93,470 (7% of travelers), an increase of 8.9% from those who flew in 2011.
• Nationally – 3.018 million (8% of travelers), an increase of 9.7% from last Fourth of July.

Train, Bus, Watercraft or Other Mode

• New Jersey – 112,409 (9% of travelers), an increase of 9.1% over those who traveled last year
• Nationally – 3.589 million (8% of travelers), an increase of 9.9% from 2011

Fourth of July gas prices, average per gallon, in New Jersey for the past five years

2012: $3.30

2011: $3.59

2010: $2.60

2009: $2.52

2008: $3.98

2007: $2.81