Holiday traffic is expected to increase across Gordon County as a record number of Georgians prepare to travel for the Independence Day holiday.
AAA projects more than 2.4 million Georgians will travel at least 50 miles from home during the holiday travel period, which runs from Saturday, June 27, through Sunday, July 5. The forecast marks a one percent increase over last year and sets a new record for Fourth of July travel in the state.
More than 2.1 million of those travelers are expected to drive, making road travel by far the most popular option. For Gordon County residents, that means busier highways, particularly along Interstate 75 and U.S. Highway 41, as families head to beaches, lakes, the mountains and other holiday destinations across the Southeast.
“For many families, traveling for Independence Day isn’t just a trip, it’s a tradition,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Vacations are one category where consumers are still willing to spend, even if that means cutting back on something else.”
In addition to the more than 2.14 million Georgians expected to travel by car, nearly 164,000 are projected to fly during the holiday period.
AAA encourages motorists to prepare for heavier traffic by allowing extra travel time, checking their vehicles before leaving home, avoiding distracted driving, buckling up, and never driving impaired.
With record holiday travel expected statewide, drivers passing through Gordon County should anticipate increased traffic throughout the Independence Day week, especially along Interstate 75, one of Georgia’s busiest travel corridors.