AAA Says Upcoming 4th Weekend Busiest for Road Travel

The AAA Motor Club says the upcoming July 4 holiday weekend may be the busiest ever for road travel thanks in part to lower gas prices.

The number of travelers this holiday weekend (officially today through Monday) will be the highest on record, with five million more travelers compared to Memorial Day weekend.

What's the cause for the spike in numbers? Gas prices, AAA says. They're at the lowest they've been since 2005, meaning 84% of holiday travelers (more than 36 million people) will drive to their July 4 destinations, representing a 1.2% increase from last year.

Lower gas prices have also saved US drivers about $20 billion on gas so far this year, compared to the same period in 2015. This decrease in gas prices and increase in savings has made travel more affordable in recent years.