Michigan expects record travel numbers on Independence Day

AAA projects that about 80 million people will travel across the country this coming holiday weekend, and about 2.6 million of them will be from Michigan.

“There will be 3.5 million more travelers than last year,” Debbie Haas, vice president of travel at AAA, said in a statement. “That means even more people at airports and popular attractions like beaches, lakes and theme parks.”

The expected numbers come amid ongoing concerns about the economy, inflation and gas prices. Even though people are thinking about money, they will still travel, according to AAA.

“Holiday travel doesn’t really vary from holiday to holiday. Usually people have the day off. Inflationary pressures aren’t stopping people from traveling this year, and they didn’t stop people from traveling last year,” said Adrienne Woodland, a spokeswoman for AAA.

The average price of gasoline in Michigan is $3.64, about ten cents more than last year.

Woodland expects the price to rise over the weekend not only due to demand but also because of Hurricane Beryl.

If the hurricane makes landfall in the Gulf of Mexico, there is a chance it could hit drilling rigs and refineries and disrupt the gas supply chain. If the chain is broken, gas prices could skyrocket, Woodland said.

Woodland recommends paying close attention to traffic and avoiding distractions while driving.