Fourth Of July Could See Record Breaking Travel

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Independence Day is one week away. And that means this coming weekend is going to be a busy one on the roads, potentially even record-breaking.

If you plan to head out of town later this week, you are certainly not alone.

A record 43-million Americans are expected to travel for the Fourth of July weekend, which would be the highest since AAA started tracking this in 2001. Last year, just over 42 million people traveled.

The overwhelming majority plan to drive, according to AAA.

Lower gas prices and a generally healthy domestic economy have led more families to take trips this summer.

AAA estimates that drivers in the U.S. have saved $20 billion on gasoline so far this year compared to the same period last year.

The average price in Minnesota as of Monday is $2.22 a gallon, down from $2.65 this time a year ago.