Record number of Arizonans expected to travel during 4th of July weekend

PHOENIX – If you’re planning to travel over the Fourth of July weekend, you’ve got company.

AAA said a record 940,000 Arizonans are expected to hit the road or skies for a trip of more than 50 miles between Wednesday and Sunday, a 4% increase from last year’s all-time high of 903,000.

The high projection for Arizona mirrors national expectations, with AAA expecting a record of nearly 49 million U.S. travelers during the holiday.

Most of Arizona’s travelers, nearly 90 percent, will be driving, according to AAA.

Summer is beckoning your family to hit the road! #ViaSmartTip: Prepare #roadtrip activities and snacks ahead of time to ensure the drive is just as enjoyable as the destination.

For more tips on how to make your next family car trip the best one yet: https://t.co/h1X4hl89GG

— AAA Arizona (@AAA_Arizona) June 8, 2019

And while that means crowded highways, there’s also good news for road trippers: Arizona gas prices are trending lower.

“We’ve seen prices have dropped over 20 cents in the last month, and so we’re now paying well below $3 per gallon — $2.92,” AAA Arizona spokeswoman Michelle Donati told KTAR News 92.3 FM last week. She said that’s about 13 cents lower than this time in 2018.

Donati said AAA expects an increase in calls for roadside assistance, so it’s important to make sure you vehicle is in good condition before hitting the road during the hottest time of the year.

“One thing to keep in mind is that with the extreme temperatures that Arizona experiences, that does really wear and tear on your vehicle,” she said.

“And if there’s any component of your vehicle that is on the brink of failure [or] at the end of its lifespan, the fact that we’re now entering the second or third consecutive week with triple digits could be enough to send it over its limits.”

While it’s cheaper to fill up this year, airfare costs have risen by about 10%, according to AAA. But that isn’t keeping travelers from lining up at airports and rental counters across the nation.

“We know that there are busier locations than others pick up rental cars,” Donati said. “So Orlando, Los Angeles, Denver, Las Vegas, San Francisco, those are going to be the busiest airport pickup locations for rentals cars.

“And we expect that the busiest day for rental car pickups will be Wednesday, July 3.”

Donati said that means you should budget extra time when making plans for after your arrival.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Mitchell Zimmermann contributed to this report.

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