Vacation Travelers Hit the Highways in Record Numbers for Fourth of July
Smith Travel Research reports that this year, the 50th Anniversary of the Interstate Highway System will kick off a record Fourth of July holiday weekend. The article quotes AAA estimates that 40.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday, a 1.2 percent increase from the 40.2 million who traveled last year. Of those travelers, about 85 percent will travel by car on our national interstate and local road way system this weekend.
This weekend approximately 34.3 million travelers expect to go by motor vehicle, a 1.3 percent increase from the 33.8 million who drove a year ago. Another 4.6 million plan to travel by airplane, the same number flying last Fourth of July.
The article says that ocean and beach vacations top the list of preferred destinations this holiday with 22 percent of travelers saying they will be taking a water-based vacation. Small towns and rural areas was the next popular destination, with 21 percent and cities were third at 19 percent. Ten percent of travelers will head to the lake areas, and 5 percent to the mountains.
In addition to higher gas prices, AAA's Leisure Travel Index shows other vacation costs up somewhat from Fourth of July 2005. Hotel rates are up slightly, averaging 10 percent higher for AAA-Rated Three Diamond hotels for the 20 top destinations used in the comparison. Two Diamond properties will show a 6 percent increase in prices. Airfares are up 7 percent and car rental rates are up 5 percent.
Research for holiday travel is based on a survey of 1,500 adults by the Travel Industry Association, which conducts special research for AAA. The survey was conducted in May 2006.
AAA’s findings for the Fourth of July are good news for owners of vacation rentals, whether they are beach houses, lakefront vacation homes, or mountain cabins. In spite of dire predictions that were in the press, there has not yet been a slow down of business this year for luxury vacation rentals in desirable locations. This has been borne in our own experience, where we have had an increase in occupancy, as well as our knowledge of other vacation rentals.
