Fourth of July Travel: What You Need to Know

Here's what to expect on your way to the barbecue.

ByABC News
July 1, 2016, 7:59 AM

— -- If you’re like most Americans, you’re headed for a weekend full of barbecues and fireworks.

But prior to the fun in the sun kicks off, inevitably, comes the hassle of travel.

Millions of Americans will be taking to the sky this weekend.

Airlines have nearly 11 million seats for the four-day Independence Day weekend travel period (Friday - Monday), according to analysts at Hopper, an airfare prediction app. The most popular destinations are New York, Las Vegas, DC, Chicago, and LA Hopper says.

With so many people, that means those pesky TSA lines could be a bit longer than usual -– and according to Hopper, travelers should brace for especially long lines around 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., usually some of the busiest times at the checkpoint.

If you’re driving to your destination, steer clear of Friday afternoon. According to crowdsourcing navigation app Waze, drivers will see a 17 percent increase in traffic between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Friday. Predictably, traffic will also increase by as much as 65 percent or more around 10 p.m. Friday, as tired revelers drive home from fireworks viewings, says Waze.

Your best bet? Waze suggests hitting the road Saturday before 11 a.m. or after 3 p.m.

And of course, don’t drink and drive!