Metro Atlanta's best and worst times to drive for July Fourth
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If you're planning to hit the road this holiday weekend, consider leaving... now?
Why it matters: This will be the busiest July 4 week for travel since at least 2019, AAA predicts. The right departure time could save you hours stuck in traffic.
The big picture: The worst July 4 holiday traffic is expected to hit starting Thursday, according to INRIX, a transportation data firm that works with AAA to calculate travel times.
Zoom in: The busiest stretch of road will be I-20 east between Atlanta and Augusta on Thursday, July 2 around 3pm ET, according to INRIX.
- Travel will take 3 hours, 1 minute — almost 60% longer than average.
State of play: To avoid the heaviest traffic, leave early in the day or consider driving on Monday or Tuesday, per INRIX.
By the numbers: AAA expects 72.2 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles for Independence Day between Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, July 5.
- That's up from 71.8 million travelers last year but a smaller jump than in recent years.
Zoom in: Most July 4 travelers — 85% — are forecasted to drive this year, despite high gas prices, according to AAA.