AAA projects 72.2 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Independence Day holiday travel period, from Saturday, June 28 to Sunday, July 6. The majority of travelers will take road trips—AAA projects a record 61.6 million people will travel by car over Independence Day week—the highest volume on record and an additional 1.3 million travelers compared to last year.

Drivers have gas prices on their side this year. Pump prices are lower than last year. As of July 2, the national average is now $3.17 compared to $3.50 one year ago. The New York state average is $3.20, compared to $3.60 one year ago.
AAA encourages drivers to have their vehicles checked over by a certified mechanic before a road trip to avoid a breakdown. Last year, AAA responded to nearly 700,000 road service calls nationwide over the holiday period. In New York state, there were more than 27,000 calls over the holiday period with these top requests:

1. Tow
2. Flat Tires
3. Battery Replacement
4. Jump Start
5. Lockout

While millions of travelers are flying around the globe this summer, here are the top destinations for road trips based on requests to AAA Western and Central New York from local travelers:

• Myrtle Beach, SC
• Outer Banks, SC
• Orlando theme parks, notably Universal Orlando Resort’s new park “Epic Universe”
• Camping trips within NY
• Adirondacks and the Thousand Islands
• Finger Lakes region with wine tour requests
• Letchworth/Allegany camping information
• Catskill Region

AAA reminds drivers to map routes in advance, avoid peak traffic times like rush hour, and use cruise control for the best gas mileage. Drivers should also make sure tire pressure is at the vehicle’s recommended level. Motorists can place a road service request and compare pump prices before filling up with the AAA Mobile App for iPhone, iPad, and Android.