If you're planning on leaving town on July 4, expect long delays on the roads and at airport security checkpoints during this record-breaking holiday week.
Independence Day falls just as a week-long heat wave is hitting California, and drivers are being warned to organize for temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit when heading to the coast, mountains or some other location within the state.
Bay Area CHP Officer Andrew Barclay said holiday traffic has already increased across the region and he expects roads to turn out to be even busier because the long weekend begins.
“Anyone travelling into the city over the next few days should expect longer travel times,” said Barclay. “Please be patient and understand that there will be congestion.”
By Tuesday afternoon, traffic was already backed up on Interstate 80 toward Tahoe, on 580 eastbound over Altamont Pass, and on Highway 1 through Santa Cruz, in response to Caltrans' Live traffic map.
According to AAA, 60.6 million people nationwide will drive through the week of July 4. That's a rise of 5% from 2023 and 9.5% from 2019.
“With summer vacations in full swing and the flexibility of remote work allowing, more Americans are taking longer trips around Independence Day,” Paula Twidale, senior vp of AAA Travel, said in an announcement. “We expect this week around July 4 to be the busiest.”
Travelers within the Bay Area must also expect to need to pay on the gas pump.
According to AAA, gasoline prices in San Jose averaged $4.81 per gallon of standard gasoline on Tuesday, up from $4.77 a yr ago but down from $5.14 a month ago. In Oakland, prices rose to $4.86, barely greater than a yr ago ($4.84).
Across the state, the typical price was $4.79 per gallon, in comparison with $4.84 the previous yr.
“It’s more expensive here than in Nevada,” says Joao Prebilli of San Francisco, who plans to drive through the state this weekend together with his mother and girlfriend to go to Arizona’s national parks.
“We will leave early, around six in the morning,” he said, to avoid traffic.
The worst time to hit the road? According to INRIX, a transportation data analytics company, it's between 2 p.m. and seven p.m. on Wednesday. Sunday afternoon and evening can even be tough as travelers return home.
“Car trips could take up to 67% longer than normal during the holiday week,” said Bob Pishue, traffic analyst at INRIX, in an announcement. “Travelers should monitor 511 services, local news stations and traffic apps for up-to-date information on road conditions.”
Barclay of the CHP advised drivers to organize for the warmth by carrying loads of water and adding coolant to vehicles. Caltrans, the state transportation agency, also recommends checking air-con systems, cabin air filters, tire pressure and oil levels.
Anyone who drives an electrical vehicle should concentrate to their batteries. A recent study by Recurrent, an organization specializing in electric vehicle battery data, found that electric vehicles can lose as much as 30% of their total range in temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius.
“Make sure your vehicle has everything it needs to not only drive, but also to get stuck in traffic and sit idle,” Barclay said. The CHP plans to deploy additional officers on highways to assist stranded drivers.
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for much of the state, warning that temperatures could reach 110 degrees in some inland areas. Officials said there was a serious risk of heat-related illness and urged travelers not to go away people or pets in vehicles.
“We are currently experiencing a potentially deadly heat wave,” said weather service meteorologist Nicole Sarment.
The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen greater than 32 million people at airports from Thursday, June 27, to Monday, July 8, up 5.4% from 2023. On Sunday, June 23, the TSA broke the record for most individuals screened in a single day, with nearly 3 million people screened.
“We expect this summer to be our busiest summer ever, and summer travel typically peaks during the Independence Day holiday,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in an announcement.
San Francisco International Airport is forecasting around 156,500 arriving and departing passengers on July 3. That would still be below the summer travel peak of 167,180 passengers on June 13.
“We still recommend that travelers allow more time and arrive at the airport two hours before departure for domestic flights and three hours before departure for international flights,” said airport spokesman Doug Yakel.
Between Thursday, June 27 and Friday, July 5, as much as 350,252 passengers are expected at San Jose Mineta International. June 27 and 28 are considered peak travel days.
With this week's heat wave expected to spread across much of the country and storms forecast across the Midwest and East Coast, flight delays and cancellations threaten to disrupt vacation plans.
Still, TSA's Pekoske said airport officials are prepared for the expected influx of travelers.
“Together with our airline and airport partners, we are ready to handle this increase in passenger volume,” he said.
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