Travel experts share tips for the July Fourth weekend

Published: Jul. 3, 2025 at 3:01 AM CDT
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LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - 72 million people across the country will travel for the Fourth of July weekend, according to AAA.

Travel experts said the trend increases each year, but in 2025, more people, especially in the Midwest, are opting not to travel by plane.

According to AAA, air travel is down .6 percent in our region compared to last year.

It may not seem like much, but its growth in other modes suggests a change in trends.

Other forms of travel have grown nearly 10 percent in the Midwest region during the holiday.

That includes road trips, buses, trains, and many larger groups opting for cruises.

“They’re all inclusive, they are three-four-day itineraries, accommodate a large group of people,” said Brian Ortner with AAA. “You pack, show up, and enjoy yourself, so that has continued to grow in our area of those other modes of transportation on the holidays.”

Lincoln travel agent and founder of Nova Vacations, Moani Baumfalk, added that this year, it’s all about the experience for travelers.

“What we’re finding with our travelers is those off-the-beaten-path experiences, like food tours, UTV tours, somewhere where they want cultural immersion,” said Baumfalk.

She said when booking those experiences, if you’re not using a travel agent, be careful.

She says scams occur when people are not familiar with booking processes or sites.

“Suppliers do not offer travel insurance,” she added. “So thats another thing to protect yourself that I would highly recommend.”

For those who are taking the scenic routes for the holiday weekend, AAA recommends hitting the road early.

Adding that Thursday and Sunday are going to be the busiest days for travel.

And though gas prices rose during the u-s involvement in the Israel and Iranian conflict, AAA says prices are lower than they were this time last year.

“But since then, prices have adjusted in favor of the consumer,” Ortner explained. “The main driver of the pumps is the cost of crude oil—the markets this week have been staying in the low 60s, and that should be beneficial to the consumer.”

AAA said the most common roadside issues they respond to for the holiday weekend are flat tires, low fuel, and dead batteries. Ortner encourages road-trippers to check their cars before hitting the road.

And of course--- drive responsibly.

“You can slow down, with increased traffic numbers, buckle up, put the phone down, and don’t drive impaired.”

If you do plan on flying to your destination this holiday, AAA recommends downloading your airline’s app.

That way, you can get updates on changes made to your flights as they happen.

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