AAA Forecasts Fourth of July to Be Busiest Holiday Travel Weekend Ever.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- More Americans will travel this Fourth of July holiday than have ever traveled for a holiday weekend, according to AAA's holiday travel forecast. AAA estimates that 40.3 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday, a 2.8 percent increase from the 39.2 million who traveled last year.

Approximately 33.9 million travelers (84 percent of all holiday travelers) expect to go by motor vehicle, a 2.6 percent increase from the 33.1 million who drove a year ago.

Another 4.6 million (11 percent of holiday travelers) plan to travel by airplane, up 4.2 percent from the 4.4 million that flew last Fourth of July. A projected 1.8 million vacationers (5 percent) will go by train, bus, or other mode of transportation, up from about 1.7 million a year ago.

"This will not only be the most heavily-traveled Fourth of July ever, but this long weekend will actually put more American vacationers on the road than even the granddaddy of holiday travel weekends - Thanksgiving," said AAA Travel Vice President Sandra Hughes. "Higher prices for gasoline and increased competition for hotel rooms this holiday will do little to reduce Americans' desire to travel. Look for busy beaches, packed parks and crowded campgrounds."

Holiday auto travelers will find gas prices nationwide currently averaging $2.17 for a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline -- up four cents from a month ago and about 24 cents higher than a year ago.

AAA's Leisure Travel Index shows other vacation costs up somewhat from Fourth of July 2004. Hotel rates are up slightly, averaging 0.7 percent higher for AAA-rated Three Diamond hotels for the 20 top destinations used in the comparison. Airfares are down negligibly - down .4 percent. The one marked increase is in car rental rates, which are up 12.8 percent.

"Travelers will see that hotel rooms are more expensive and in short supply this holiday weekend. Last-minute deals might be hard to come by. If you wait too long, there might not even be rooms left in some destinations," said Hughes.

The greatest number of Fourth of July auto travelers will originate in the Southeast with 8.6 million, followed by the West with 8.4 million; Midwest, 6.5 million; Northeast, 5.7 million; and Great Lakes, 4.7 million.

The West is expected to produce the largest number of air travelers with 1.7 million, followed by the Midwest and Southeast at 800,000 each; Northeast, 700,000; and Great Lakes, 600,000.

Cities tied with towns/rural areas atop the list of preferred destinations this holiday with 23 percent of travel volume for each. Watery fun came in next, with ocean/beach at 18 percent and lake areas at 14 percent. Mountain areas, 7 percent came next, followed by theme/amusement parks, 5 percent, and state/national parks, 4 percent. Another 4 percent responded with other, and 3 percent said they didn't know.

AAA suggests that you book a hotel room now, as 37 percent of the total July Fourth travelers expect to stay at a hotel/motel and 31 percent of travelers expect to stay with friends or relatives. Camper/trailer/RV/tent, 14 percent, placed next, followed by own cabin/condo, 9 percent, and rented cabin/condo 7 percent. Another 2 percent responded with other; no overnight stay, 1 percent; and didn't know, 2 percent.

Research for holiday travel is based on a national telephone survey of 1,300 adults by the Travel Industry Association of America, which conducts special research for AAA.

As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 48 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services, as well as member-exclusive savings. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.

AAA news releases are available from http://www.aaa.com/news