July 4th is one of the most anticipated days of the summer, filled with barbecues, beaches, fireworks and friends. The holiday also presents the perfect opportunity to get away and celebrate America’s birthday by visiting one of its incredible travel destinations. At Wanderu, we were curious about where everyone was planning to spend their long weekend, so we looked at our booking data to find this year’s top 10 most popular destinations for Independence Day.
“The fourth of July weekend is usually one of the busiest and most expensive times to travel in the United States,” said Polina Raygorodskaya, CEO of Wanderu. “That’s why, over the past couple of years, traveling by bus or train has become a sought-after alternative to other popular forms of transportation like flying or driving because it allows you to get out and explore a new place or visit family and friends without putting a strain on your wallet. In fact, buses and train provide unbeatable deals on ticket prices, especially compared to flights.”
Top 10 Destinations for July 4th
| Destination | Average Ticket Price | Top 3 Points of Origin |
|---|---|---|
| 1. New York, NY | $19.03 | Pittsburgh, PA, Boston, MA, Toronto, ON |
| 2. Washington, DC | $18.41 | New York, NY, Boston, MA, Cleveland, OH |
| 3. Boston, MA | $19.13 | New York, NY, Montreal, QC, Washington, DC |
| 4. Philadelphia, PA | $19.71 | New York, NY, Washington, DC, Boston, MA |
| 5. Chicago, IL | $31.05 | New York, NY, Madison, WI, Kansas City, MO |
| 6. Orlando, FL | $30.26 | Miami, FL, Ft Lauderdale, FL, Atlanta, GA |
| 7. Los Angeles, CA | $49.75 | San Jose, CA, San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA |
| 8. Montreal, QC | $29.75 | Boston, MA, Burlington, VT, Toronto, ON |
| 9. Portland, OR | $18.15 | Seattle, WA, Vancouver, BC, Sacramento, CA |
| 10. Dallas, TX | $36.87 | Houston, TX, Austin, TX, Sacramento, CA |
Wanderu’s booking data shows that New York is the most popular travel destination for July 4th. With tickets averaging at less than $20 for ground transportation. The Big Apple is followed closely by Washington D.C., Boston, and Philadelphia, all of which have had important roles in some of the richest parts of American history and offer countless celebrations for Independence Day.
Travelers are also hitting up Los Angeles, which boasts gorgeous beaches along with exceptional restaurants and bars for celebrating the holiday. Montreal is another top destination with the average bus ticket at less than $30, as many Americans choose to visit areas outside of the U.S. during the long weekend. Also, with Canada Day taking place on July 1, it is safe to assume that many Canadian-born travelers will be heading up north to spend the weekend with their friends and family.
Traveling during a holiday can be stressful but, as the findings above indicate, it doesn’t have to be expensive. For more tips and advice how to make the best of your summer travels, check out the Wanderu blog.
