Travel Tips
America Prepares for Fourth of July Travel
June 26, 2025
As Americans get ready to celebrate our country’s 249th birthday on July 4th, U.S. airlines are preparing to welcome millions of travelers every day.
Summer is always a very busy time for travel, and this summer season is already seeing new records. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened nearly 3.1 million travelers on Sunday, June 22, making it the busiest single day in the agency’s history. Additionally, TSA recorded four of its busiest days in history this year—June 22, May 23, June 19 and May 22—with each day seeing more than 2.9 million passengers screened.
Over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, TSA is expecting to screen more than 18.5 million travelers at the nation’s airport security checkpoints, with the peak travel day predicted to be Sunday, July 6. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released its 4th of July flight forecast with July 3 expected to peak with more than 51,000 flights.
For our part, U.S. airlines will be operating 4 percent more flights than last year, totaling roughly 27,000 daily scheduled flights.
Summer travel tips:
Don’t forget your REAL ID: Make sure you have a REA ID-compliant license or another TSA-approved form of identification before heading to the airport. You can find the full list of accepted IDs on TSA’s website.
Watch the weather: Your safety always comes first. U.S. airlines closely monitor weather conditions and will delay operations if conditions are not safe. Be sure to check your airline’s website or app for real-time updates if the weather may impact your plans. More information is available here.
Download your airline’s mobile app: As soon as you book your flight, download your airline’s mobile app. You will get instant alerts about boarding times, gate changes and any schedule updates—all in one place.
Build in extra time: Whether you are catching a ride or driving yourself, plan for extra time to get to the airport. Ride apps may be in high demand, especially over holiday weekends. Check your airport’s website for parking updates or construction notices before you go.
Look into parking reservations: Many airports offer the ability to reserve a parking space in advance—saving time and stress when you arrive. Check online to see if your airport provides this option.
Confirm your Trusted Traveler Program information: If you are enrolled in TSA PreCheck or CBP’s Global Entry Program, confirm your Known Traveler Number (KTN) is linked to your reservation. Your boarding pass should display the TSA PreCheck logo for an expedited security screening experience. If you do not have PreCheck or Global Entry, you can apply today.