The peak of summer travel season is upon us as millions of Americans will hit the road this Fourth of July weekend. According to the roadside assistance service AAA, a record 72 million people will travel 50 miles or more over the Independence Day holiday period, a nine-day span between June 28 to July 6. 62 million Americans will travel over the weekend alone, representing an increase of 1.3 million over last year. “The top 10 heaviest travel days in TSA history have all happened within the past year, and we expect to see more heavy volumes this summer,” said Kristie Jordan Smith of the Transportation Security Administration.
AAA claims that Americans often travel for emotional reasons, even if they don’t have much money to spend on vacations. “We’re seeing travel in record numbers because travel isn’t just an economic and practical decision, it’s also an emotional decision,” said AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz. “People don’t have to spend a lot of money when they go on these trips, but people want to get away and not be home.” For travelers who will be flying, streamlined security features like advanced facial recognition and X-ray technology could speed up wait times even as airport crowds grow.
Once they get back on the ground, though, consumers who are inclined to buy fireworks might experience some sticker shock over previous years. The majority of fireworks sold in the U.S. come from China, which has been subject to a debate about tariffs for the last few months. When many stores purchased their fireworks supplies earlier this year, there was talk of 145 percent tariffs on Chinese goods. This created a supply chain problem that raised the price of importing fireworks while also limiting choices. Although many stores plan to absorb the added costs rather than pass it on to the consumer, one major supplier said it plans to raise prices on about 30 percent of their products.
Questions:
- Why do you think Americans plan to travel in record numbers for the upcoming Fourth of July weekend?
- Why are fireworks prices expected to increase this year compared to past Independence Days?
Sources: Kris Van Cleave, “From Las Vegas to Tokyo, a Record 72 Million Americans Are Predicted to Hit the Road and Skies for the Fourth of July,” CBS News, June 20, 2025; Megan Cerullo, “Tariffs Could Mean Fewer — and Pricier — Fireworks Displays This July 4,” CBS News, June 30, 2025.