The best and worst times to drive this July 4 weekend are here—and millions will get it wrong

The Fourth of July 2026 travel period is now in full swing. On this extended holiday weekend, tens of millions of Americans will be traveling for fireworks, family, and fun. The majority of those travelers will go by car. If you’re one of them—or just plan to be on the road this weekend for any reason—you can expect heavier-than-usual traffic, especially at certain times. But there are also certain times this weekend when you have your best chance of hitting the road, with traffic congestion at a minimum. Here’s what you need to know. More than 72 million Americans will travel over the Fourth of July holiday period According to data from the American Automobile Association (AAA), 72.2 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from their homes during the 2026 Fourth of July holiday period. While AAA defines the July 4, 2026 holiday period as 9 days, from Saturday, June 27 to Sunday, July 5, its transportation data and insights partner INRIX says that, in most areas, this weekend will be the busiest travel period of the holiday. Unsurprisingly, the majority of that travel will be undertaken by car. Automobiles are expected to ferry 61.4 million people during the period, up slightly from last year’s 61.3 million. Additionally, 5.85 million people are expected to travel by plane, and 4.93 million Americans are expected to travel by bus, train, or cruise. Best times to travel by car this July 4 holiday weekend If you’re one of the tens of millions of Americans traveling by car, there is some good news: INRIX data shows that there are specific times of the day when holiday traffic over the 3-day weekend should be at a minimum. Those best times to travel are: Friday, July 3: Before 11:00 AM Saturday, July 4: After 3:00 PM Sunday, July 5: Before 11:00 AM Worst times to travel by car this July 4 holiday weekend Unfortunately, INRIX data also show there will be less-than-optimal times to be on the road due to traffic congestion this holiday weekend. These are the worst times to travel: Friday, July 3: 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM Saturday, July 4: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Sunday, July 5: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM Safety first And of course, if you are hitting the road this weekend, no matter the time, the most critical thing you can do is put safety first. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that there were 2,719 people killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes over the July 4 holiday periods from 2020 to 2024. The NHTSA says that 38 of the drivers who were killed were drunk. The agency’s tips for celebrating safely this weekend include planning ahead to have a sober ride home if you intend to drink, ensure that there are non-alcoholic drinks at your celebration for designated sober drivers, and always wear your seatbelt.