The 4th of July was already a holiday that many people traveled for, but now, after two years of travel restrictions, many Americans are eager to hit the road.

Fourth of July photo op in 2021

More people traveling towards the end of this month and beginning of next month will lead to larger crowds at many major tourist attractions, including the Disney parks. So what can you expect if you’re traveling over 4th of July weekend?

According to AAA, a record number of Americans are planning to hit the road this 4th of July weekend with an estimated 42 million people planning to take road trips of 50 miles or farther, reported Yahoo News.

Cars waiting to get into Animal Kingdom

In Florida, AAA is predicting that 2.6 million Florida residents will travel over 50 miles for 4th of July, with over 2.3 million of those residents traveling by car, despite record-high gas prices, according to Click Orlando. Gas prices may be high, but the price for airplane tickets have also increased and many Americans are choosing to drive this summer instead of fly.

Magic Kingdom Parking Lot

In addition to the increase in flights, many Americans are choosing to avoid flying altogether because of the ongoing cancellations and delays. Because fewer Americans are flying, some individuals and families who choose to take road trips are staying closer to home to help minimize the cost of their vacation. But after two years of fewer vacations, Americans are ready to get out, and many are saying that the higher prices aren’t stopping them from traveling this summer, they’re instead just modifying their plans to reduce the cost.

More people plan to drive this summer than fly

Even though driving may be cheaper than flying for some Americans, gas prices are still very high. As of Sunday, June 19th, gas prices were averaging at about $4.82 per gallon in the state of Florida, which is down from the all-time high of $4.89 that the state had reached the previous week. The national average is also now below $5 per gallon, but prices are still relatively high.

Cars heading into the Magic Kingdom

If you’re planning to hit the road over the holiday weekend, AAA says to expect the worst delays on Thursday, June 30th and Friday, July 1st.

If you’re heading to Disney World for 4th of July, be prepared to encounter big crowds and high wait times. There will be special fireworks for the holiday in the Magic Kingdom on July 3rd and July 4th and in EPCOT on July 4th.

Patriotic Pluto Photo Op on Independence Day in 2021

And if you haven’t gotten your park pass reservations for the 4th of July yet, the Magic Kingdom is already full for that day, so you’ll either need to visit a different park that day or try to park hop after 2PM.

As always, make sure to stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news and information!

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Are you traveling over the 4th of July this year? Let us know in the comments!

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