Fourth of July travel 2023: What Arizonans need to know about driving, flying
Chances are you have a trip planned to celebrate the anniversary of our nation's independence.
Millions of Americans will be doing the same. Expect nothing short of a mad rush on July 4 weekend.
AAA predicted its busiest Fourth of July travel period ever, forecasting 50.7 million Americans will travel from June 29 to July 5. That would best the previous high in 2019 by more than 2 million people.
"What this tells us is that despite inventory being limited and some prices 50% higher, consumers are not cutting back on travel this summer," Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel, said in a statement.
While most people will drive to their weekend getaways, the skies will be busy, too. The Federal Aviation Administration forecasted more than 347,000 flights from U.S. airports from June 28 to July 5. It expects the busiest day will be June 29 with 52,564 flights.
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Road closures around Arizona on July 4 weekend
The Arizona Department of Transportation has no road closures planned between June 30 and July 5, spokesman Doug Nintzel told The Arizona Republic.
However, people going to Flagstaff and northern Arizona should be aware that parts of Interstate 17 on a 30-mile stretch south of Interstate 40 are reduced to one lane because of pavement improvement work, he said.
Best and worst times to start driving for Fourth of July weekend
If you're driving, be patient. Of the 50.7 million Americans AAA expects will travel for the Fourth of July, 43.2 million plan to travel by car.
Generally, the best time to drive to avoid traffic is early in the morning or after 6 p.m., according to the transportation data company INRIX. The worst time is the late afternoon, when travelers mix with rush hour commuters.
Nationwide and in metro Phoenix, Friday, June 30, and Tuesday, July 4, will be the busiest days to travel. On June 30, INRIX expects traveling between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. will expose motorists to unusually heavy traffic.
"With record-breaking travelers expected on the road this holiday weekend, drivers should prepare for above-average delays to their favorite destinations," INRIX transportation analyst Bob Pishue said in a forecast. "Using traffic apps, local DOT notifications and 511 services are key to minimizing holiday travel traffic frustrations this Independence Day."
Motorists should prepare for hazards along the way, such as stormy weather or crashes that close the highway, and not drive while drowsy or impaired.
Having an emergency kit with supplies such as bottled water, snacks and medical or hygiene necessities may be important in case of an unscheduled traffic stop or getting stranded on the roadway, Nintzel said.
Gas prices in Phoenix are down for Fourth of July 2023
Last summer, road trippers nationwide felt the pinch of high gas prices. The cost per gallon for regular unleaded gas in Maricopa County was around $5.54 in the days leading up to the Fourth of July weekend, not long after prices here topped out at $5.69.
Fortunately, drivers will find lower gas prices this year.
As of Monday, the average cost per gallon of regular unleaded gas was $3.99 in Arizona and $4.14 in Maricopa County, above the national average of $3.57 per gallon, according to AAA.
"We may be in a bit of a demand lull heading into the July Fourth holiday," AAA spokesman Andrew Gross said in a forecast. "Drivers are benefitting financially, with 20 gallons of gas costing nearly $30 less than last year. And with the cost for oil low, drivers will find pump prices that are flat or drifting slightly lower for now."
Gas prices in metro Phoenix are higher than other parts of the state and country because stations are required to sell a specially formulated blend called cleaner burning gasoline to reduce smog, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Arizona Department of Agriculture.
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Tips for flying from the Phoenix airport on Fourth of July weekend
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport does not forecast holiday travel traffic, but airport spokesman Greg Roybal said he expects "a robust summer travel passenger volume."
Roybal offered these tips for people flying out of Sky Harbor during the Fourth of July weekend:
Plan ahead for parking: High demand is expected for the July 4 weekend. Reserve parking in advance by booking at skyharbor.com/parking. Arrive early even if you have a reservation. See up-to-the-minute parking availability on skyharbor.com.
Know what’s in your bags: Know what can and cannot go in a carry-on bag. Download the free myTSA app to see the “What can I bring?” feature that allows you to search and see if an item can fly, or visit tsa.gov.
Give yourself extra time: Arrive early and check security wait times online at skyharbor.com or on the interactive directories in each terminal. If you are traveling domestically, arrive two hours before your flight, three hours if you are traveling internationally.
Try PHX RESERVE: This virtual queuing program allows you to save your space and reduce the wait. Make a reservation up to six days before your flight departs. Go to skyharbor.com/phxreserve for more info.
Use Sky Train stations to pick up and drop off passengers: Avoid congestion on airport roads. The 44th Street PHX Sky Train Station is easily accessible by major roads and Valley Metro Rail from the east while the new 24th Street PHX Sky Train Station can easily be reached from the west. Drop or meet your passengers there and they can ride the Sky Train to their terminal.
Use the cellphone lots to wait for passengers: The lots are east of Terminal 4, west of the West Economy Garage and at the 44th Street PHX Sky Train Station. Read our guide on how to use them.
Don't get a ticket: The Phoenix airport is cracking down on illegal parking
Reach the reporter at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @salerno_phx.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 4th of July 2023 travel: What to know if you're driving or flying
