High gas prices, flight delays won't stop 48M Americans from traveling over Fourth of July

By Athena Ankrah
Published: Tuesday, June 21, 2022 - 2:56pm
Updated: Tuesday, June 21, 2022 - 3:26pm

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$100 gas total
Tim Agne/KJZZ
The price of gas at a Phoenix QuikTrip on June 20, 2022.

Some 48 million Americans will travel this Fourth of July weekend, according to predictions from AAA. Those projected numbers are about 98% of pre-pandemic levels. High gas prices don’t seem to be standing in the way.

Aldo Vazquez is a spokesperson for AAA Arizona. Though about 88% of holiday travelers are making the trip by car, he says those looking to get a head start on the weekend should book an early flight.

“If you can book a flight early in the morning, it’s probably your best option to make sure that you get your flight, because as the day goes on, and if there’s weather moving in or mechanical issues, that’s going to cause a snowball effect with cancellations and delays,” Vazquez said.

Vazquez says historically, trends have shown that summertime travel persists regardless of gas prices.

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