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July 4 Holiday Travel To Hit 13-Year High, AAA Says

24 June 1999

July 4 Holiday Travel To Hit 13-Year High, AAA Says

    ORLANDO, Fla., June 23 -- This Fourth of July weekend, an
estimated 37.4 million Americans will travel 100 miles or more from home  --
the highest volume of travel for that holiday in 13 years, says AAA.
    That figure represents a 5 percent increase over the same period last
year.  The record for July 4 travel is 38 million in 1986.
    Of those taking a trip this holiday, 32.4 million are expected to go by
auto, light truck or recreational vehicle, a 5 percent increase over last
year.  Another 5 million will travel by airplane, train or bus, up 9 percent
over the previous year.
    The greatest number of motorists will come from the Southeast and the West
with 8 million each, followed by the Midwest, 6 million; the Northeast, 5.3
million; and the Great Lakes, 5.1 million.
    The most popular holiday destinations will be cities with 32 percent of
the total travel volume, followed by oceans and beaches at 21 percent, and
towns and rural areas, 19 percent.  Other popular destinations include lake
areas, 7 percent; mountain areas, 6 percent; state and national parks,
6 percent; theme/amusement parks, 4 percent; other, 2 percent; and don't
know/no response, 3 percent.
    Of those spending at least one night at their destination, 46 percent will
stay at a hotel or motel and 37 percent plan to visit a friend's or relative's
home.  Other overnight accommodations include: camper/RV, 6 percent;
cabin/condo, 6 percent; boat/ship, 2 percent; other, 2 percent; and undecided,
1 percent.
    AAA is a not-for-profit federation of 90 clubs providing 42 million
members in the United States and Canada with travel, financial, insurance and
auto-related services.

                 Projected Number of July 4th, 1999 Travelers
                            By Automobile/Truck/RV
                        By Census Region of Residence

                        Population       Percent    Number of Auto
                        (Millions)     Traveling    Travelers
                                         by Auto   (Millions)

    Total United States      273.0           12%         32.4
    Northeast                 51.9           10%          5.3
    Southeast                 66.2           12%          8.0
    Great Lakes               44.4           11%          5.1
    Midwest                   49.3           12%          6.0
    West                      61.2           13%          8.0

    *NORTHEAST:  New England:  Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont; Middle Atlantic:  New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania; SOUTHEAST:  South Atlantic:  Delaware, District of Columbia,
Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West
Virginia; East South Central:  Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee;
GREAT LAKES:  East North Central:  Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio,
Wisconsin; MIDWEST:  West North Central:  Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri,
Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota; West South Central:  Arkansas,
Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas; WEST:  Mountain:  Arizona, Colorado, Idaho,
Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Wyoming, Utah; Pacific:  Washington, Oregon,
California.

Source:  Travel Industry Association, AAA