Record-Breaking July 4th Travel - Is the Summer Peak Season a Sure Thing?

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) set a record number of fliers passing through on June 30, with 2,883,595 people going through security across the country that day. That exceeded the previous record, set on Dec. 1, 2019, by 600 people.

People driving toward holiday fun are setting records, too, with AAA projecting 43l.2 million drivers, an increase of 2.4% over 2022 and 4% higher than 2019, to drive at least 50 miles for the Fourth of July.

However, can the following summer travel season expect to replicate the record-breaking July 4th Weekend?

The national average for a gallon of regular unleaded gas stood at $3.49 on Saturday, according to GasBuddy data, $1.34 lower than a year earlier and about 30% below the record of $5.03 set in mid-June of last year. Prices have fallen below the national average in about 30 states.

Analysts attribute the decline to a drop in oil prices driven by concerns over a potential global recession that may impact demand. Since this time last year, U.S. crude has dropped by approximately one-third

Prices rallied after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year threatened to drag down oil supplies. But a continued flow of oil from Russia, increased output from other countries and China’s bumpy recovery after three years of pandemic lockdowns have suppressed prices. Gains from production cuts by Saudi Arabia and other members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries have faded quickly.

Destinations that were once ideal for summer travel are now on the decline because of extreme heat and other effects of climate change.

Challenging climate conditions prompt travelers to reassess destination choices and timing, avoiding former hot spots and opting for early-season visits.

Climate change emerges as a major disruptor for the summer travel industry;

Extreme heat and smoke from wildfires grounds planes and heatwaves are plaguing Southern U.S. New Jersey and Florida which are typically popular in the summer are also becoming unpleasant and unsafe as they're hit with "sunny-day floods," which is flooding that occurs due to rising seas as opposed to storms.