Over 2 million Virginians expected to travel for July 4th as cookout costs climb

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Whether you’re planning to hit the road or fire up the grill at home, experts say it’s a good idea to plan ahead, as both travel volume and holiday costs are on the rise this Fourth of July.

AAA predicts that about 72.2 million Americans will travel for the holiday, with 2.1 million of them in Virginia.

The majority of those local travelers are expected to drive, which is why AAA recommends avoiding peak travel days if possible.

“What we expect is that Wednesday, July 2, is going to be the getaway day, with Sunday, July 6, being the return,” said Jim Lardear, spokesperson for AAA. “So those times are going to be the busiest, so you want to be as flexible as you can with your travel around those dates and times.”

There’s some good news for drivers, gas prices are lower than they were this time last year.

“We’re going to see about a 20 cent decrease from last year for gas prices,” Lardear said, “So there is a little bit of a break for motorists as they fill up the tanks and head out.”

However, those prices at the pump will not extend to the grocery store. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, 2024 marks the second most expensive Independence Day cookout since it began tracking prices in 2013. Items like ground beef, potato salad and canned pork and beans are all up in cost compared to last year.

Despite higher costs, AAA says Americans are still prioritizing travel. “There’s been a lot of economic uncertainty, a lot of geopolitical news,” Lardear said. “But what we typically see is that Americans just want to travel. And if there’s concern about costs, they’re going to try and scrimp in other ways.”

While on the road, AAA recommends keeping an emergency kit in your car. VDOT also offers free roadside assistance for drivers traveling on Virginia interstates.