WQIO Ohio's Super Station
From sea to shining sea―and from Cincinnati to Toledo ― AAA is projecting strong travel volume for the upcoming 4th of July holiday. A record-breaking 72.2 million travelers across the US, including 3.45 million Ohioans, are expected to travel 50 miles or more for the July 4 holiday.
“Travelers are revving up for a busy Fourth of July travel period across the Buckeye state,” says AAA Public Affairs Manager, Kara Hitchens. “With a wide majority of travelers going by car, AAA is reminding Ohioans to follow the rules of the road, always stay sober behind the wheel, be courteous to other road users and remember to buckle up―everyone, every time, every trip―before heading down the road.”
AAA is also reminding drivers not to be distracted. “Phones should be set to ‘do not disturb,’” reminds Hitchens. “Set the navigation, climate control and infotainment controls before leaving the driveway. Instead of going through a fast-food drive-through, take a break from the road and go inside the restaurant to eat. Not only will that cut down on driving fatigue, but it will also keep food and beverage from becoming a distraction.”
During the 2024 Fourth of July travel period, AAA came to the rescue of more than 18,000 stranded Ohio motorists. Drivers are reminded to be sure their vehicle is up-to-date on regular maintenance or bring it to a AAA-approved car care center before hitting the road.
Get the battery checked by a qualified technician and check tire pressure and tread. “Tires and batteries are some of the most common problems that interrupt summer travel,” Hitchens adds.
Travel Snapshot:
Total Travel (new record)
- 72.2 million people expected to travel between June 28-July 6 (9 days)
- Holiday travel window includes 2 weekends
- New record surpasses last year’s record of 70.5 million
- In Ohio, 3.45 million people are expected to travel for the holiday weekends
By car (new record)
- 61.6 million people will travel by car
- That’s 85% of July 4th travelers
- 1.3 million more travelers by car this holiday compared to last
- In Ohio 3.1 million are projected to travel by car.
- That is 82,975 more than last year.
- AAA responded to nearly 700,000 emergency roadside assistance calls across the country last July 4th holiday
By air
- 5.84 million travelers are expected to fly to their destinations
- That’s 8% of all July 4th travelers.
- AAA booking data: round-trip domestic flight averaging $810, 4% higher than last year
- In Ohio, 120,289 are expected to fly to their destination, less than the 121,449 reported last year. A 1% decrease from last year.
By bus, train and cruise
- 4.78 million people expected to travel by bus, train, or cruise
- Just shy of the 2019 record of 4.79 million
- In Ohio, 207,694 people are projected to travel by other means. That breaks a previous record set in 2019
- Cruising is driving the popularity of this category
Columbus Metro Area Travel
| Total Population | 2025 Travelers | Percent change vs. 2024 | |
| Columbus Metro Area TOTAL(Franklin, Delaware, Licking, Madison, Pickaway, Fairfield)Auto, Air & Other | 2,054,618* | 554,750 | +2.7% |
| Columbus Metro Area Auto | 90.0% of people travel by car | 499,272 | +2.5% |
| Columbus Metro Area Air | 3.7% of people travel by air | 20,546 | -1.2% |
| Columbus Metro Other(train, bus, cruise, etc.) | 6.3% of people travel by other modes | 34,926 | +7.3% |
Travel Cost Trends
- 4% – Increase in the average cost, $810, of domestic flights over the Independence Day travel period compared to 2024.
- 4% – Decrease in the cost of international flights over the Fourth of July holiday compared to 2024, now averaging $1,365.
- 11% – Decrease in price of domestic hotels this Independence Day compared to last year, at an average cost of $590.
- 8% – Increase in the price of international hotels this Independence Day compared to last year, at an average booking cost of $785 for a few night’s stay.
- 2% – Decrease in the cost of a domestic car rental, with an average booking cost (typically several days) of $670 total.
- 40% – Increase in the cost of cruises departing from domestic cities compared to Independence Day 2024, with an average cost of $2,065.
Gas Prices (CHECK NATIONAL AVERAGE EVERY DAY)
- Lowest summer gas prices since 2021
- Drivers are paying about 40 cents less than this time last year
- Watching the tropics for possible storms that could disrupt refineries and distribution
- NATIONAL AVERAGE $3.22; OHIO AVERAGE $3.05
*as of June 26, 2025
Best/Worst Times to Drive
- Wednesday, July 2 and Sunday, July 6 expected to be busiest days on roads
- If you wait until after lunch to leave, you will sit in traffic
- Morning departures before 11am are ideal
Top Destinations
- Alaska cruises are in peak season
- Florida and Hawaii are in high demand for their resorts and attractions
- New York and Boston host two of the most popular fireworks shows
- Vancouver tops international list followed by Europe (Rome, Paris, London, Barcelona)
Other helpful resources
- OhGo.com – Ohio Department of Transportation website for details on road construction, detours and road conditions.
- AAA Mobile App – Available for free on Google Play and the Apple App store, this app allows motorists to find the cheapest gas price near their location, request AAA emergency roadside assistance, tap in to discounts and rewards, book travel and more.
