Check your car for the following before your road trip:
Drivers may want to consider performing some maintenance steps before hitting the highway this spring.
- A record 72 million Americans are expected to travel during the Fourth of July holiday week, most of them by car.
- The national average gas price as of June 30 was $3.84 per gallon, down from $4.35 the previous month.
- Analysts expect gasoline prices to continue falling, but they remain unpredictable due to geopolitical tensions.
According to the AAA Auto Club, 72 million people are expected to travel more than 80 miles from home during Independence Day week, and more than 61 million of those people are expected to drive for that trip.
According to AAA, the expected number of auto travelers is similar to the 61 million people who traveled by car for the Fourth of July holiday in 2025, even though gas prices remain high.
“For many Americans, traveling during the week of July 4th is a tradition,” Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in a statement. “The nine-day travel forecast includes travelers who vacation all week and those who only travel for the long holiday weekend. Although overall Fourth of July travel numbers appear to have plateaued, record travel numbers are still expected this year.”
The holiday travel forecast comes as the national average price for a gallon of gas was $3.83 as of July 2, according to AAA. USA TODAY Cars looked at what drivers are paying when they head out for the holiday weekend.
How much do you expect gas prices to rise over the July 4th weekend?
The national average gasoline price fell from $4.35 a month ago on May 30 to $3.84 on June 30.
Analysts expect prices to continue falling heading into the Fourth of July weekend, but are unlikely to return to pre-Iran war levels anytime soon.
“Last week, average gasoline prices fell in 46 states and diesel prices fell in 49 states, bringing the national average to its lowest level since mid-March,” Patrick de Haan, GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis, said in a blog post. “The decline comes despite a tumultuous week, with fresh strikes exchanged between the US and Iran before the two sides reached a last-minute cessation of hostilities on Sunday that prevented oil prices from skyrocketing.”
De Haan added: “For now, Gasbuddy expects the national average to continue to decline this week, but the situation remains unpredictable.”
“Some cyclical states may see a spike in prices ahead of the July 4th holiday, but prices should rebound in many states that were already trending up last week,” he said. “Motorists in no-bike states will likely continue to receive relief, but the fragile situation in the U.S. and Iran means the outlook could change quickly.”
Which state has the cheapest gas for the holidays?
Indiana has the lowest gas prices in the nation, with Indiana drivers paying an average of $3.18 as of June 30, according to AAA. This is down from Indiana’s average price of $3.32 per gallon as of June 23.
Here are the top five states with the highest gas prices in the nation:
1. Indiana
- Average gas price on June 30: $3.18
- Average gas price on June 23: $3.32
- Price difference: -14 cents
2. Texas
- Average gas price on June 30: $3.29
- Average gas price on June 23: $3.38
- Price difference: -9 cents
3. Oklahoma
- Average gas price on June 30: $3.37
- Average gas price on June 23: $3.43
- Price difference: -6 cents
4. Tennessee
- Average gas price on June 30: $3.41
- Average gas price on June 23: $3.48
- Price difference: -7 cents
5. Kentucky
- Average gas price on June 30: $3.44
- Average gas price on June 23: $3.55
- Price difference: -11 cents
