CHARLOTTE — AAA Carolinas projects a record 1,183,000 million North Carolinians will travel 50 miles or more from home this Independence Day holiday, which will mark the highest number of travelers based on surveys since 2001. Most will be driving to their destinations, with nearly 1,065,000 million North Carolinians expected to hit the road.

“This holiday weekend North Carolinians will be celebrating our nation’s freedom with family and friends,” said David E. Parsons, president and CEO of AAA Carolinas. “With students home from school, Independence Day is typically the busiest summer travel holiday. It’s the perfect time for a family vacation.”

Rising income, driven by a strong employment market is fueling the Independence Day holiday travel. Despite recent seasonal increases, gas prices remain well below last year’s levels, which has helped fuel disposable income for North Carolinians.

On average, motorists will be paying 91 cents less at the pump than they did a year ago with the current average gasoline price in North Carolina at $2.65. The highest average price is in Asheville at $2.71 and the lowest in High Point at $2.53.

Traveling south, motorists will find the cheapest gas in the nation in South Carolina, with an average price of $2.44 a gallon. Further south, the averages are higher at $2.66 in Georgia and $2.68 in Florida. Heading north, Virginia’s at $2.57 and going west Tennessee is at $2.53. Kentucky is North Carolina’s highest priced neighbor with an average price of $2.70.

Top driving destinations this holiday are Orlando, New Bern, Williamsburg, Virginia, Branson, Missouri, and Fort Bragg, according to AAA Vacations, the largest leisure travel agency in the Carolinas, which tracks personalized drive trip routes.

Traffic deaths were cut in half during last year’s Independence Day, dropping from 18 in 2013 to nine last year. In three of those fatalities, alcohol was involved.

“Any time traffic deaths are reduced, it’s a positive,” said Parsons. “However, one fatality is still one too many. This holiday weekend is the perfect time to stress the importance of not drinking and driving, avoiding speeding and eliminating distractions behind the wheel, such as texting. Life has no redial, stay off the phone.”

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol began its “Booze It & Lose It” campaign targeting drunk drivers last Friday and will continue the program through July 7.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation will postpone construction projects along interstate, N.C. and U.S. routes from 4 p.m. on Thursday until 9 a.m. on Monday, with these exceptions:

  • U.S. 158 (Elizabeth Street) in Elizabeth City is reduced to one lane in each direction from Road Street to the Pasquotank River Bridge for rehabilitation of the old bridge;
  • U.S. 264 in Dare County will be reduced to one of two lanes controlled by temporary traffic signals in five locations for the replacement of five bridges. Lane closures are located between Stumpy Point and the Hyde County line;
  • Two bridges in Brunswick County on N.C. 211 over the Honey Island Swamp will have intermittent lane closures in order for crews to realign the roadway and replace both bridges and approaches;
  • Third Street in New Hanover County is closed for a bridge replacement with a signed detour;
  • I-85 southbound from the Virginia state line to Dabney Drive (Exit 213) will be in a one-lane pattern along sections of the route with speed limit reductions in those closures; and
  • I-73 in Guilford County is reduced to two lanes in each direction between Wendover Avenue and I-85.

While most North Carolinians will be driving to their destinations, an estimated 91,700 will travel by air, an increase of 1.5 percent from last year. Approximately 70,400 will use other modes of travel, including buses, trains and cruises – an increase of 0.5 percent from 2014.

All travelers will find average hotel rates slightly higher this Independence Day holiday compared to last year’s. The average nightly stay in a Two Diamond hotel is 6 percent higher this year at $145, while Three Diamond hotels will cost 9 percent more, averaging $195. Average airfares for the top 40 domestic flight routes are 6 percent higher this Independence Day, climbing to $227.

The Independence Day holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday, July 1 through Sunday, July 5 as part of the survey data taken from AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, AAA/HIS Global Insight holiday travel forecast and AAA Carolinas data. Records date back to 2001.

To estimate fuel costs, travelers can go to www.fuelcostcalculator.com to input starting city, destination and the make and model of their car.

Motorists traveling through Charlotte can now use one of AAA’s new mobile battery charging stations located at the WT Harris Superstore. South End location to open later this summer.

The free AAA Mobile app for iPhone and Android devices uses GPS navigation to help travelers map a route, find updated gas prices, view nearby member discounts and access AAA Roadside Assistance.