travel on july 4

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The Best Days to Fly Around the Fourth of July in 2024

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The best and worst days to fly July Fourth weekend

How this year’s thursday holiday might impact long weekends, the smarter, cheaper fourth of july travel itinerary in 2024.

For folks planning July Fourth vacations, prepare for crowds. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened a record number of passengers in 2023, and those records are likely to be broken in 2024. In fact, in the first two months of 2024, travel volumes were roughly 6% higher than the same period in 2023, according to the TSA.

With the expected big crowds in mind, are some days better for air travel than others?

In 2024, July Fourth falls on a Thursday, which puts a wrench in predicting travel crowds. Will folks take the Friday after off to enjoy the long weekend? Or will they decide their vacation time is best used for another holiday?

Here’s some guidance around booking July Fourth weekend air travel in 2024, how you might be able to avoid the crowds — and potentially save money on airfare .

Are airports busy on July Fourth? NerdWallet analyzed TSA data showing the number of passengers screened at its U.S. checkpoints over the past three years, homing in on the seven days before and after July Fourth, to find the busiest days to fly.

The worst days to fly: To avoid crowds, don’t fly the Friday before July Fourth. In each of the past three years, the Friday before July Fourth was the busiest travel day before the Fourth of July weekend.

For post-holiday travel, the Sunday after ranks as the busiest day to fly.

The best days to fly: Typically, July Fourth is the least busy day to fly. On July Fourth of last year, airport crowds averaged just 70% of what they were relative to the busiest travel day, which was the Friday before July Fourth (June 30, 2023).

But if you’d rather spend July Fourth celebrating — and not in an airport — turn to Tuesday. The Tuesdays before and after the holiday rank among the least busy days to fly during July Fourth week.

The rankings of best and worst days to fly for July Fourth follow year-round travel patterns. No matter when you’re traveling, Fridays are, on average, the busiest day to fly, and Tuesdays are, on average, the least busy days to fly.

July Fourth falls on a Thursday, so people intending to travel for the holiday will likely take the next day, Friday, off and make it a long weekend. But given how few people are willing to travel on Independence Day, when will people actually fly?

The last time July Fourth fell on a Thursday was in 2019. Here’s a look at travel crowds by day in 2019, ranked from most to least crowded:

Sunday after, July 7 (most crowded).

Monday after, July 8.

Friday before, June 28.

Thursday before, June 27.

Sunday before, June 30.

Thursday after, July 11.

Wednesday before, July 3.

Wednesday after, July 10.

Tuesday after, July 9.

Monday before, July 1.

Saturday before, June 29.

Tuesday before, July 2.

Saturday after, July 6.

Friday after, July 5.

Thursday, July Fourth (least crowded).

In 2019, the July Fourth holiday was the least busy day to fly. Meanwhile, July 5, the day after the holiday, wasn’t busy either. That bucks the usual trend of Friday being the busiest travel day of the week. When it comes to July Fourth weekend travel, most people are already set in their locations by Friday.

But there’s one day that people are definitely crowding airports, and that’s the Sunday after July Fourth. Flying this day will cost you, too. According to travel booking app Hopper’s 2024 Travel Booking Hacks report, Sunday is the most expensive day to fly in the U.S., with airfares averaging 15% more than midweek departures.

Following typical July Fourth holiday travel patterns could mean costs in terms of airfare and time spent waiting in line at the airport. Deviate from that schedule to find lighter crowds and perhaps better July Fourth flight deals, too. Try these travel days instead:

Fly on July Fourth

If you don’t mind traveling on the holiday, you’re looking at the single emptiest air travel day of the period analyzed.

Do one better by flying early on the holiday. Hopper’s spring 2023 Flight Disruption Outlook found that flights that depart from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. are half as likely to be delayed as flights with scheduled departure times after 9 a.m.

Plus, a morning flight improves your odds of catching the fireworks at your final destination.

Embrace Saturday travel

Rather than rush out from work on the Friday afternoon before the holiday to jump on a flight, relax at home that evening and depart Saturday morning before instead. Simply shifting your trip by one day could likely result in going from one of the busiest to lightest travel days of the July Fourth travel period.

The same goes for returning home. While it can be tempting to extend your trip as long as possible before you have to get back to work on Monday, skip the Sunday flight and fly home on Saturday instead. Bonus: You’ll have a day at home to rest and recover before the new workweek. How responsible of you.

Fly on July 5

Though Friday is typically one of the most expensive days to fly year-round, that’s unlikely to be the case this particular week.

So another option is to fly home on July 5. This allows you to still spend the holiday in your destination of choice. By returning on Friday, you’ll still have the full weekend at home to take a vacation from your vacation before Monday.

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7 Festive Places to Visit for a July 4 Weekend Getaway

Because where else would you be.

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New York City’s annual Fourth of July fireworks show lights up the Manhattan skyline.

Photo by Songquan Deng/Shutterstock

No other holiday encapsulates summer quite like Fourth of July, when people revel in outdoor barbecues and parades (and, in the case of New York City’s Coney Island, gorge on hot dogs at breakneck speed). Complete your festivities with a nightly fireworks show, and you’ve got yourself an Independence Day celebration that would make the Founding Fathers proud.

Giving us even more of a reason to celebrate, July 4 lands on a Thursday this year. So if you’re lucky—or plan ahead—and can get your Friday off, you can let the good times roll over a four-day weekend getaway.

Feeling a red, white, and blue kind of summer trip? Here are the best places to be in the United States on July 4 that double as great weekend trip destinations.

1. New York City, New York

You won’t get much shut-eye with all of those fireworks, so why not see them in the city that never sleeps? The country’s biggest fireworks display is conducted by Macy’s , which launches a fireworks show from barges on either the East or Hudson River in New York City ( visit their website for the most up-to-date information for viewing locations ). Considering that more than 3 million live spectators come out to see the fireworks, your best bet to avoid the crowds is to find a restaurant or friend’s rooftop to see the event. Alternatively, you can consider smaller shows like the one on Coney Island , where you can walk down a nearly three-mile boardwalk and spend the day on the beach before the fireworks.

Daytime events abound for Independence Day as well, including Nathan’s annual hot dog–eating contest , which is held in Coney Island every July 4. Come to the Brooklyn neighborhood to see star player Joey Chestnut defend his title in the competition: In 2023, he managed to scarf down 62 of those dogs.

If you come to Bristol for Independence Day, expect a parade that goes all out—Revolutionary attire included.

Photo by James Kirkikis/Shutterstock

2. Bristol, Rhode Island

While the big cities duke it out to determine which place has the splashiest celebration for July 4, this Rhode Island town has gone the longest. The town of about 22,000 people started celebrating the nation’s independence in 1785 with a parade, and it’s become the longest continuing Independence Day celebration in the United States.

It’s a title the town fully embraces, with festivities that make Independence Day a weeks -long event. The festivities start on June 14 with a Flag Day Ceremony —complete with a town crier—and conclude with the town’s famous July 4 parade . In between, celebrate events like a summer concert series and Fourth of July Ball . After Independence Day, take advantage of the prime weather and check out the Ocean State’s many beaches .

3. San Francisco, California

San Francisco ’s Pier 39 hosts several citywide celebrations throughout the year: One of them is a fireworks display every Independence Day. (Pro tip: Avoid the traffic in Fisherman’s Wharf by choosing to come and go using public transportation.) For daytime events, look to smaller locales like Sonoma for parades with a hometown feel. Or take the trip across the Oakland Bay Bridge to the USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum . Every Independence Day, the retired warship hosts a Fourth of July BBQ on its flight deck.

If you can swing a weekend in San Francisco, there’s plenty of sightseeing to do , starting with a visit to the Golden Gate Park and to the Saturday farmers’ market at the Ferry Building. The city was ranked as one of the World’s Best Cities of 2024 because of the car-free street movement that has been rolling out since the COVID-19 pandemic—so definitely take a bike and bring your best walking shoes.

Concerts and fireworks are July 4 staples in Washington, D.C.

Photos by Redswept/Shutterstock and Roberto Galan/Shutterstock

4. Washington, D.C.

Quite the no-brainer when it comes to places to celebrate Independence Day, but if you’re heading to this city for the first week in July, there are quite a few events to put on your calendar. There’s the annual National Independence Day Parade on Constitution Avenue, where drum corps and bands march alongside floats in front of hundreds of thousands of spectators. You can also head to the National Mall and see top musicians perform at A Capitol Fourth , the U.S. national Independence Day celebration; 2023’s lineup included performances from Chicago and Boyz II Men.

The main fireworks show, hosted by the National Parks Service, draws hundreds of thousands of people to the heart of downtown. Want a less-crowded alternative viewpoint? Bring a blanket and go to Gravelly Point Park, a couple of miles north of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. You’ll be able to see the fireworks from across the river, with the added bonus of seeing planes take off from DCA. Afterward, read advice from locals and check out what you can do over four days in Washington, D.C.

5. Nashville, Tennessee

You can count on music being a big part of Nashville’s July 4 celebrations, namely in its Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th event. Last year’s party featured headliner Brad Paisley, along with Ben Rector, The War and Treaty, Langhorne Slim, and Tiera Kennedy. The annual show concludes with fireworks in downtown Nashville. Catch the event from the rooftop of hotels like Bobby Nashville (last year’s tickets included a BBQ cookout), The Pool Club at Virgin Hotels , and W Nashville .

But while July 4 celebrations are great and all, you can’t leave Nashville before digging into its famous hot chicken or checking out a music museum. Take at least 48 hours to explore its distinct neighborhoods and outdoor spaces—including a replica of Athen’s Parthenon —to make the most of your time in Tennessee.

More than 200 years after the Boston Tea Party, the Boston Harbor is a place for Independence Day festivity.

Photo by Keith J Finks/Shutterstock

6. Boston, Massachusetts

Since that whole Boston Tea Party incident hundreds of years ago, Boston has been tied to the country’s independence. The city celebrates its history with Harborfest , a weeklong event that’s one of the country’s largest Fourth of July festivals.

From July 1 to 7, listen to the live music acts in Downtown Crossing and try different renditions of clam chowder at Chowderfest . At night, settle down along the Inner Harbor to see Harborfest’s fireworks launch from a barge at Boston’s Long Wharf. Spend the weekend to check out some of the new developments that have been happening in the historic city , such as the MGM Music Hall at Fenway, opened in 2022.

7. St. Louis, Missouri

Travel to St. Louis for July 4 and celebrate the nation’s independence in Gateway Arch National Park , the smallest national park in the country. The city celebrates with its America’s Birthday Parade , which has been going on since 1878 and was modeled after New Orleans’s Mardi Gras celebration (floats from New Orleans were even shipped to St. Louis during the first few years of the parade). You can watch 2024’s parade along Market Street in Downtown St. Louis and catch the nightly fireworks by the Gateway Arch.

After chowing down on classic Independence Day burgers and hot dogs, take the weekend to discover St. Louis’s iconic eats —gooey butter cake and pork steak, anyone?

The Best and Worst Times to Travel This Fourth of July

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With the Fourth of July falling on a Thursday this year, it is expected to be busier than ever, with travelers taking advantage of the extra long weekend. According to data from the farecasting app Hopper , more than 12 million travelers are scheduled to fly this holiday weekend — and that doesn't even include those who are hitting the road. The American Automobile Association (AAA) is expecting some 41.4 million drivers to pile into cars for an Independence Day getaway.

Given the increase in holiday travel both in the air and on the roads, travelers can expect major delays. To help you plan your holiday travels, here are the best and worst times to travel this Fourth of July weekend.

If You're Hitting the Road

AAA is expecting the number of July 4 drivers to increase 4.1% from last year, and cause delays nearly four times longer than usual. Be sure to pack the car with snacks and entertainment for the kids, here are some of our favorites . As for gas, AAA reported that it's gone up 5 cents this week, bringing the average price to $2.71 per gallon. But this is still low, compared to the $3 average gas price over Memorial Day weekend. (Just be sure to keep a credit card that offers a solid return on gas spending in your wallet, like the Citi Premier® Card, which offers 3 points per dollar on both gas and air travel.)

Related: Most Rewarding Credit Cards for Gas Stations

Of course, certain times are better than others to hit the road. AAA says that the afternoon of Wednesday, July 3 is going to be the absolute worst time to travel, as it will be a mix of commuters and travelers. One of the best times to travel is actually going to be in the early morning of July 4. That may seem less than ideal for many drivers because it means less time at your destination — but it also promises less time on the road.

AAA put together a chart with the worst and best times to travel, and expected delays, as it varies by city.

New York City-area drivers should brace for the worst delays, especially during the afternoon of July 3. Boston traffic delays could be nearly three-and-a-half times as bad as normal, but the worst hours for travel will be on Friday, July 5 between 10am and 12pm (so get a super early start or sleep in and wait to leave until after lunch). Seattle will be the third-worst city for traffic delays, with the worst congestion between noon and 2pm on Thursday, July 4.

Google also analyzed data from years prior and came up with a handy tool travelers can use to search for the best and worst times to travel specific to a destination.

If You're Flying

Over the past month, TSA has experienced six of the busiest travel days in the agency's history . And with 12 million travelers scheduled to fly between July 3 and July 7 (July 7 being the expected peak), flyers can expect to experience this madness firsthand, so plan to arrive early.

According to TravelPulse's analysis of last year's holiday traffic patterns, 10 routes were far more popular than others. Flights originating from Los Angeles International (LAX) took four of the 10 spots, and Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) was also a repeat offender. Though East Coast airports did make an appearance, flyers on the West Coast should brace themselves for the longest potential airport security lines.

• Los Angeles International (LAX) to San Francisco International (SFO)
• Los Angeles International to Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS)
• Los Angeles International to New York-JFK
• New York-LGA to Chicago O'Hare (ORD)
• Daniel K. Inouye International (HNL) to Kahului Airport (OGG)
• Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) to Portland International (PDX)
• Los Angeles International to Seattle-Tacoma International
• Ted Stevens Anchorage International (ANC) to Seattle-Tacoma International
• Seattle-Tacoma International to San Francisco International
• Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International (ATL) to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International (FLL)

Historically speaking, Fourth of July weekend has not been one of the busiest travel times for flyers, as most travelers take to the roads for the holiday. However, given the recent trends with TSA, record amount of travelers this summer due to low flight costs and the staggering 12 million people scheduled to fly this week, it's safe to assume you should arrive early and have your lounge access squared away ahead of time.

Related: The Best Credit Cards for Airline Lounge Access

If you can't avoid traveling during peak travel days, be sure to take advantage of expedited screening options. If you have TSA PreCheck , be sure your membership is still active and that you include your Known Traveler Number (KTN) when booking air travel. Another option, consider CLEAR . At participating airports , CLEAR can be used in conjunction with TSA PreCheck or by itself, and it allows travelers to access exclusive screening areas, putting them at the front of the line. You can even sign-up for CLEAR on the spot if the regular line looks intimidating.

For additional Fourth of July travel tips, check out TPG 's guide to surviving the busy holiday weekend. And may the Fourth be with you!

Fourth of July travel forecast: What to know before hitting the road or heading to the airport

About 43.2 million people are expected to hit the road for the July 4 holiday.

Whether you're heading to the beach or a barbecue this Fourth of July holiday weekend, here's what you need to know before hitting the highway or heading to the airport.

About 43.2 million people are expected to hit the road for the July 4 holiday -- up 2.4% from 2022 and up 4% from 2019, according to AAA.

The quietest days to travel by car are anticipated to be Sunday, July 2, and Monday, July 3, according to transportation analytics company INRIX.

MORE: As thousands of flights canceled, feud between United CEO and FAA spills out into public again

If you're heading for the highway on Friday, June 30, the worst traffic is forecast to be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to INRIX.

If you're driving home on Wednesday, July 5, the worst traffic may hit from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Rental cars are averaging $47 per day, down 25% from the same time last year, according to Hopper.

More than 24 million are expected to fly out of U.S. airports from June 29 to July 5, with June 29 and June 30 expected to be the busiest travel days, according to Hopper.

But flight prices are dropping. Hopper said domestic tickets are more than $100 cheaper than they were last year.

MORE: Will summer travel be more expensive this year? It depends on where you go and how you get there

American Airlines said it expects to fly nearly 3 million passengers from June 30 to July 4, with July 2 as its busiest day.

United Airlines said it's planning to carry nearly 5 million passengers from June 30 to July 9, with June 30 as its busiest day.

United said its bookings are up 12% from 2022 and are now "nearly equal" to pre-pandemic levels.

The most popular U.S. destinations for the holiday are New York City, Los Angeles and Orlando, Florida, according to Expedia.

The most crowded airports are anticipated to be Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport, according to Hopper.

The Transportation Security Administration said it was prepared for a "record" number of travelers over the holiday weekend and is expecting to screen about 17.7 million people from June 29 to July 5.

The agency "is staffed and ready for the increasing travel volumes during this holiday travel period with the technologies and resources for improved security effectiveness, efficiency and passenger experience," TSA Administrator David Pekoske said.

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The Best Time to Book July 4th Travel

By Jordi Lippe-McGraw

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

There may be more theories on finding the best airfares than whether or not there’s life on another planet, and travelers often book a flight thinking they scored a great deal—only to see prices drop just a day later. But don't give up hope just yet. There actually is a “magic day” when it comes to booking your summer holiday travel .

Summer is just starting, but with a record number of travelers expected to take to the skies this year, finding a budget-friendly price can be tough, especially for long holiday weekends like July 4 and Labor Day. Luckily, travel search engine Kayak just released new data revealing that flying in (or out) on the same day as the holiday is the best way to score a deal.

For travel around the July 4 holiday, the airfare comparison site suggests flying into your destination on Sunday, July 2 and flying out on July 5. On those dates, you can expect to pay an average price of around $200 for domestic flights. The same tip holds true for Labor Day weekend, where they recommend booking a flight leaving on Sunday, September 3 and returning Tuesday, September 5, with average fares around $171 for domestic.

If you can’t book that exact time period, just make sure to avoid the Thursday before July 4; Friday, June 30; and Friday, July 7. Those are all the most expensive days to fly during those weekends, with average airfare going upwards of $400. The most expensive departure dates for the whole summer are June 25 for domestic travel and June 30 for international.

In general, the site notes that you should save your vacation days for later this summer. Though the price of domestic flights doesn't change all that much over the summer, prices on international trips tend to take a dip in August and September when the crowds start to disperse. If you do want to plan a U.S. vacation, avoid flying on Sundays. The data shows that some of the most expensive departure dates for domestic travel are on Sunday, but for international travel , it's more expensive to travel during the week.

Now that you know when to book, where you should go?

“It's no secret that there are deals in Europe this summer, but for travelers looking for other ideas, data shows there are deals to be had in Asia," David Solomito, Kayak's vice president of marketing, tells Condé Nast Traveler . "Compared to last summer, flights to Hanoi are down 17 percent, while flights to Phuket and Singapore are both down 11 percent. Canada is another great option—fares are down by more than 10 percent in popular spots including Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, and Victoria, and our northern neighbor is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year , so now is a great time to visit. The U.S. also has some bargain flights: Denver and San Francisco are seeing a 10 percent decrease in flight prices year over year.”

Looking for other ideas? Check out Traveler 's recommendations on the best places to visit this summer .

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clock This article was published more than  1 year ago

July 4 looks like summer’s peak travel nightmare. Here’s how to prepare.

The holiday weekend for the Fourth of July is supposed to be the busiest and most expensive in years

Airports and roads have been packed this summer, mixing with inflation and labor shortages to create a dreadful travel season marked by high prices, maddening delays and cancellations . According to data forecast by experts, the frenzy is expected to peak ahead of Independence Day.

AAA predicts that 42 million people will travel by car over the Fourth of July weekend, which would set a record despite historically high gas prices . Analysts at Hopper say more than 11 million people are scheduled to fly out of American airports between Thursday and Monday, and the average price of domestic fares ($437 round trip) is higher than it has been in five years.

“I think we will see this year’s passenger travel levels rival those of 2019 — despite airlines having less capacity than they did at that time,” said Adam Gordon, managing director and partner on Boston Consulting Group’s travel team. The number of passengers that have been moving through airport security in June backs that up.

Here’s what travelers who are gearing up for the madness need to know.

Flight cancellations stressing weary travelers as July 4 approaches

The best times to drive

To avoid traffic, your best bet is to travel on Thursday before 7 a.m. or after 8 p.m., when the roads have cleared up a bit, AAA spokesperson Ellen Edmonds said.

It’s also safer to travel on Sunday and Monday, days when many travelers are at their destinations and in the thick of their holiday plans.

“Leave during times when traffic will not be as heavy and look for lesser-known routes,” Edmonds suggested, adding that the AAA travel-planning app, TripTik , is a good resource for getting around more-congested areas.

The worst times to drive

Edmonds said you will probably get stuck in traffic alongside other Fourth of July travelers if you leave between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Thursday or between noon and 9 p.m. on Friday. “It is important that travelers are prepared and flexible to minimize stress and enjoy the holiday,” she added.

The most-congested highways

According to AAA data, the top 10 U.S. driving destinations for the Fourth of July weekend are Orlando, Seattle, New York, Anaheim, Calif., Anchorage, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Las Vegas, Honolulu, Denver and Chicago.

Drivers who are traveling around major metro areas — such as New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Seattle — should be prepared for significantly more delays, according to analytics from INRIX. In Atlanta, for example, southbound Interstate 85 from Clairmont Road to MLK Drive is expected to be 134 percent more congested than normal, with peak traffic on Thursday from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Peak congestion in D.C. is expected to hit Thursday from 3:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. for drivers traveling counterclockwise on Interstate 495 from the New Hampshire Avenue exit to Interstate 267.

Avoiding travel on Thursday and Friday afternoon can help travelers stay away from metro-area traffic. Sunday and Monday, however, are expected to have low congestion on the metro-area highways.

A small break on high gas prices

Gas prices have been climbing for months, pushing drivers to be more conscious about the miles they’re putting on their cars. As of Wednesday, the national average was at $4.87 a gallon, down from a record $5.02 in mid June, according to AAA .

One place to find relief? Sheetz. The convenience store announced Monday it would begin running a gas special available through the holiday weekend, dropping the price to $3.99 a gallon for Unleaded 88 and $3.49 a gallon for E85. The Mid-Atlantic chain says it has more than 640 locations across Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and North Carolina.

High gas prices affect each state differently, so try to be strategic about where you fill up if you’re going on a road trip . For example, fill up in Arizona instead of California, or Kentucky instead of Indiana.

How to save money on road trips as gas prices soar

The best times to fly

No matter when you fly, make an effort to get to the airport early.

“Mornings tend to be more reliable times to fly, as there is less of a chance for things like summer weather disruptions across networks,” said Gordan, the travel consultant.

Flying on Saturday of the long weekend and returning on Monday, July 4, is the best bet for the best prices on domestic trips, according to Hopper data. Leaving on Saturday instead of Thursday can save domestic travelers $70 per ticket off the peak prices. For international travelers, Hopper suggests departing on Friday or Saturday to save an average of $160 off peak ticket prices.

The worst times to fly

More than 2 million people have gone through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints every day since June 5, 2022, and the numbers don’t seem to be slowing down any time soon.

Try to avoid the most common and popular times to fly, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. With the increased number of travelers at the airport, flight delays and cancellations are expected to bombard travelers and shake up their plans over the weekend.

“Have a Plan A, B and C,” Edmonds said, especially if you’re flying. She added that travelers should plan for delays or cancellations, and the potential added cost of staying in an unexpected location. To get ahead of issues that may come up, check in 24 hours ahead of your trip and track the status of your flight through the airline’s app.

The completely correct guide to a canceled flight

Where bad weather is expected

Storms aren’t expected to take over the weekend, but there will be a few weather-related obstacles for some travelers.

Moisture from the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico is expected to contribute to some afternoon and evening thunderstorms in the interior Southwest and Southeast states, according to AccuWeather . In addition, the moisture might bring storms to part of the northern Rockies, the Midwest and the Northeast, but those storms are expected to be brief, the weather service reported. Be prepared for potential weather delays at the airport if you are flying into any of these areas.

Coronavirus concerns

The coronavirus is on the rise again in the United States, with the country reporting a 21 percent overall increase in new cases over the past week, according to tracking data from The Washington Post.

While the testing requirement for international travel into the U.S. has officially ended, health experts say you should still test for coronavirus , ideally within three days of your departure date. Health experts also suggest wearing a mask if you want to protect yourself from the virus, especially in crowded indoor spaces like airports.

Your guide to planning a European vacation

If you’re traveling abroad, testing positive for the coronavirus could come with a handful of obstacles, because travel restrictions vary by country. If you test positive, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says you’re not supposed to travel for 10 days.

More travel tips

Vacation planning: Start with a strategy to maximize days off by taking PTO around holidays. Experts recommend taking multiple short trips for peak happiness . Want to take an ambitious trip? Here are 12 destinations to try this year — without crowds.

Cheap flights: Follow our best advice for scoring low airfare , including setting flight price alerts and subscribing to deal newsletters. If you’re set on an expensive getaway, here’s a plan to save up without straining your credit limit.

Airport chaos: We’ve got advice for every scenario , from canceled flights to lost luggage . Stuck at the rental car counter? These tips can speed up the process. And following these 52 rules of flying should make the experience better for everyone.

Expert advice: Our By The Way Concierge solves readers’ dilemmas , including whether it’s okay to ditch a partner at security, or what happens if you get caught flying with weed . Submit your question here . Or you could look to the gurus: Lonely Planet and Rick Steves .

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Traveling over the Fourth of July weekend? So is everyone else

Laurel Wamsley

More than 50 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home over the upcoming July Fourth weekend. Traffic in Austin, Texas, is seen here in April. Brandon Bell/Getty Images hide caption

More than 50 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home over the upcoming July Fourth weekend. Traffic in Austin, Texas, is seen here in April.

It seems perfect — the Fourth of July falls on a Tuesday this year, allowing for a nice long weekend to get away. But it might be a little too perfect: Record-setting numbers of people are predicted to travel in the coming days.

AAA, the auto association, is projecting record-breaking travel volumes for the holiday weekend. The numbers are eye-popping: More than 50 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home this weekend.

Most folks will be driving, with 43.2 million people projected to hit the road. Another 4.17 million will likely fly. And more than 3.3 million are predicted to travel by bus, cruise or train.

"A lot of people are going to be traveling, and that's despite high ticket prices, despite inflation. People still have that desire to get out of town and do something fun," AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz told NPR.

Expect packed roadways

Friday is expected to be the busiest day on the road, with traffic on Sunday and Monday looking considerably lighter. AAA counts the holiday weekend as stretching from Friday, June 30, to Tuesday, July 4.

Many of the routes that AAA predicts to be most congested are between cities and nearby beaches: New York City to the Jersey Shore; Boston to Hyannis, Mass.; Washington, D.C., to Rehoboth Beach, Del.; Houston to Galveston, Texas; Portland to Cannon Beach, Oregon.

U.S. pedestrian deaths reach a 40-year high

One factor encouraging drivers is that gas prices have come down considerably from this time last year, when the national average was $4.85 a gallon . "This year we're looking at a national average of about $3.50-ish ," says Diaz. "That's good news for drivers who are getting out of town."

Why so busy? Pent-up demand

People have been flying with a vengeance as the COVID-19 pandemic moves into the rearview. The 4.17 million Americans projected to fly over the holiday weekend is an 11.2% increase over the same weekend last summer — and 6.6% higher than in 2019, before the pandemic began.

"Demand for travel is very strong. We've seen it rising each year as the pandemic has sort of neared the end, and 2023 has just been huge for travel," says Diaz.

The latest workers calling for a better quality of life: airline pilots

In May, industry group Airlines for America predicted that U.S. airlines would carry an all-time record 257 million passengers this summer, from June through August.

Travel went rather smoothly over the recent Memorial Day weekend. But there are reasons to worry that airports could get snarled in the days ahead.

People queue for rescheduled flights at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on Tuesday. Kena Betancur/Getty Images hide caption

People queue for rescheduled flights at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on Tuesday.

Air travel could get messy

There has been a raft of canceled flights in recent days, particularly on United Airlines. The airline canceled thousands of flights over the past week as bad weather caused problems at New York-area airports. United's CEO blamed air traffic control staffing shortages at the Federal Aviation Administration; the flight attendants' union pointed to the airline's internal problems scheduling crews.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told NPR's Morning Edition on Friday that air traffic control staffing issues were not the main cause of the cancellations.

"They're not even the No. 2 cause of these delays," he said. "By yesterday, the cancellation rate across the system, except for United, was back to 2%, which you'd basically consider to be a normal level. They [United] were about 10 times that."

Another factor affecting air travel could be an aviation deadline related to 5G. Buttigieg sent a letter to airlines last week warning that flights could be disrupted because some planes aren't prepared with the right equipment to handle interference from 5G signals that will see their power boosted on July 1. New radio altimeters are required to protect from interference from wireless company transmissions.

Buttigieg says the airlines have known for the last year and a half that they need to update their technology. "The majority of the fleet has been upgraded, but there are still a lot of planes out there that have not," he told NPR.

But he says the FAA will not allow anything unsafe to happen, "which means some of those aircraft may be restricted from operating at certain airports under low visibility conditions. If that happens, we are instructing the airlines to make sure to deal with that in terms of realistic scheduling," Buttigieg said.

Telecoms delay 5G launch near airports, but some airlines are canceling flights

American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Frontier Airlines told The Associated Press that all their planes have been retrofitted and that they don't expect any problems. United said its "mainline" jets were ready but deferred questions about its United Express planes to its regional carriers.

Delta Air Lines told the AP that some 190 of the more than 900 planes in its fleet won't have the updated equipment by the deadline, meaning there could be restrictions on operating those planes in bad weather. The airline said it would route the planes to minimize disruption.

Airlines for America (A4A), a trade group representing the airlines, said in a statement to NPR that its member carriers "are working diligently to ensure fleets are equipped with compliant radio altimeters, but global supply chains continue to lag behind current demand. Carriers have repeatedly communicated this reality to the government. ... Nevertheless, thanks to careful planning, A4A member carriers are confident in their ability to maintain the integrity of their schedules, despite the impending deadline."

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Protect Your Trip »

Best places to visit in july 2024.

Looking for summer fun beyond your neighborhood cookout? From national parks to quaint towns to scenic beachfront destinations, the following locales are excellent spots for a vacation in July. Travelers can expect warm temperatures, little precipitation and a bevy of things to do, see and experience. We weighed these factors and more to come up with the best places to visit in July. Cast your vote below to help U.S. News compile next year's ranking.

Olympic National Park

Cannon beach, aix-en-provence.

With highs between the low 60s and mid-70s and an abundance of daylight hours, the outdoors call during the summertime in Norway's capital city. Take a ferry or bus to spend a day at the Bygdøy peninsula, which boasts picturesque views of the area's natural landscape, as well as museums, beaches and walking and running trails for travelers to enjoy. Oslo visitors can also lounge on one of the urban beaches found around the city or explore the more than 60 miles of inlet at Oslo Fjord.

July is one of the busiest times of year to visit this popular Washington state national park. With low precipitation and average temperatures sitting comfortably in the 60s and 70s, it is the perfect time to explore must-see sights like Hurricane Ridge and Hoh Rain Forest, which is thought to be one of the quietest destinations in the United States. Just keep in mind, you won't be the only one hiking through the spectacular scenery. Avoid the crowds by visiting outside of the park's peak hours (between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.).

Zanzibar, a Tanzanian archipelago, is an ideal, relaxed vacation spot if you're looking for coral white sands, turquoise waters and abundance of marine life. July, which sits in the dry season, is a perfect time to hit the beach. Beyond the sand, visit the UNESCO–listed Stone Town to see where African, Arabic, Indian and European cultures collide. Music lovers can visit the Freddie Mercury Museum, dedicated to the legendary musician who was born here. And no trip to Zanzibar would be complete without a spice tour to learn more about the rich history of the island.

Situated at the foot of the Swiss Alps and on the shoreline of Lake Geneva, Montreux, Switzerland, is a picturesque musical muse destination in July. The city hosts the Montreux Jazz Festival throughout the month, and close to 250,000 music lovers descend upon the area for endless days of jazz. Montreux was immortalized in the final Queen album, and visitors can snap pictures of Freddie Mercury's statue by the lake. Beyond musical attractions, travelers can cruise the largest lake in the Alps, visit the Lavaux vineyards or swim among the many beaches found in the area.

If you don't mind sharing the view from scenic overlooks like Mount Solaro and the Gardens of Augustus with hordes of other tourists, July is one of the most quintessential times to visit this Italian island in the Bay of Naples. Balmy temperatures in the 80s and minimal rainfall are ideal for posting up on a beach, taking a boat tour of the Blue Grotto and dining alfresco in Marina Grande. Plus, summer nights in Capri are great for enjoying the island's many lively bars and clubs.

Known for its luxurious resorts and striking pink sand beaches (Horseshoe Bay Beach and Warwick Long Bay are two visitor favorites), this British overseas territory beckons to travelers seeking a relaxing summer vacation. Average temperatures in Bermuda hover in the mid-80s in July, making it an ideal time for engaging in water activities like swimming and snorkeling. This is also one of the best times for fishing on the island – July draws anglers from all over the world looking to compete in the Bermuda Triple Crown Billfish Championship.

There are many reasons to visit Juneau in July. Not only is this the warmest month of the year (daytime highs sit in the low 60s), but the days are long and the city's attractions, some of which close in the winter, are open for business. July is also prime whale watching season in Alaska's capital city and one of the best times of year for bear viewing. Although you'll spend more on airfare and accommodations by visiting during Juneau's peak season, you'll also be able to enjoy must-see sights like the Tracy Arm Fjord and Glacier Gardens without the frigid temperatures.

Considered one of the best summer vacation destinations in the U.S., Seattle offers travelers plenty to do in July. With highs around the mid-70s, you'll stay comfortable on a sightseeing boat tour to admire the Emerald City's picturesque skyline. Plus, you can enjoy live entertainment during the three-day Capitol Hill Block Party. Of course, Seattle offers many notable attractions, such as the Space Needle, Pike Place Market and Chihuly Garden and Glass. Once you've seen the sights, get a taste of the city's dynamic dining scene, coffee culture and beer bars.

One of Oregon's top travel destinations also happens to be home to one of the world's most beautiful beaches . Cannon Beach, a small coastal town in northwest Oregon, boasts nearly 4 miles of sandy beach characterized by its spectacular rock formations (including Haystack Rock), tide pools and robust birdwatching opportunities. In July, crowds descend upon the area and hotels book up fast, but this is a small price to pay for the pleasant daytime temperatures in the mid-60s and low chance of rain.

Summer brings warm weather and a full roster of events to this southern California beach town. Although this means longer lines and inflated room rates, July is one of the best times of year to enjoy activities like snorkeling at La Jolla Cove or strolling through Balboa Park, home of the famed San Diego Zoo. Visitors can also take advantage of July's many other offerings, including the annual Over the Line Tournament and the San Diego Comic-Con.

With plenty of street cafes, beer gardens and parks to visit and highs in the upper 70s, July is a perfect time to venture outdoors in Berlin. Tiergarten – the city's largest park and home to the Berlin Zoo – boasts 500-plus acres of green space and is an ideal place to walk, run or grab food and drinks at one of the many eateries found in the area. Visitors can also take a boat tour along the Spree River to see sites in the heart of Berlin. Plus, the city comes to life in July with its annual Berlin Pride celebration.

Popular music and wine festivals and pleasant weather characterize the month of July in Porto, Portugal. With average highs in the mid-70s, travelers can enjoy sightseeing in the Ribeira district, strolling across famous bridges like the Dom Luís I Bridge and wine tasting (Porto's namesake port wine is a must-try) without the stifling heat and humidity that other European cities see in summer. For visitors who need a break from the sunshine, the city offers the ornate Livraria Lello bookstore and the National Museum Soares dos Reis, Portugal's first public art museum.

Travel to this small college town in the south of France if your perfect summer getaway includes meandering down tree-lined boulevards and sipping coffee at charming cafes. July brings an influx of tourists, causing airfare prices and room rates to spike. But if you can swing it, the comfortable temperatures in the 70s and 80s make hiking Mont Sainte-Victoire and exploring popular thoroughfares like Cours Mirabeau a treat. What's more, the region's famed lavender is typically in peak bloom this month, so take a day trip to the surrounding countryside for a glimpse of the fragrant fields of purple.

Known for its inhabitants' longevity and as the birthplace of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, Ikaria is a Greek island located in the Aegean Sea. Its relaxed atmosphere makes it an ideal place to visit in July. The island's most famous beach, Seychelles, whose crystal-clear waters are surrounded by cliffs and rocks, is a picturesque place to spend the day. You can also learn about the island's history at the Archaeological Museum of Agios Kirykos. But July's most unique draws are Ikaria's renowned summer festivals, where visitors can dance, sample Ikarian wine and party with the locals well into the morning.

Sitting about 700 miles east of Madagascar, Mauritius draws sun-seeking travelers in droves. When you're not relaxing on the African island's pristine white sand beaches, go for a ride on the longest zip line in the Indian Ocean or explore Black River Gorges National Park's numerous hiking trails. With so much natural beauty to behold (think: verdant rainforests, stunning lagoons and breathtaking waterfalls) it's easy to see why Mauritius is lauded as one of the world's best island destinations . Plus, thanks to its location near the equator, Mauritius offers sunny skies and temps in the 70s in July.

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Traveling for July Fourth? Here are 5 things to know before flying, driving this weekend.

Flight cancellations , high gas prices and inflation have already soured countless vacations this summer. 

With no quick fixes in sight and nearly 48 million Americans planning to travel at least 50 miles  from home this Independence Day weekend, according to AAA, the holiday weekend could feel extra long in more ways than one. Setting expectations now and planning ahead can help ease the blow of spending more time and money on the trip than planned months ago.

Here are five things travelers should know before heading to the airport or hitting the road for the Fourth of July and beyond.

PATRIOTIC PLACES: Inspiring destinations that touch America's past

COPING STRATEGIES FOR SUMMER 2022 TRAVEL: Take a breath and lower your expectations

Learn more: Best travel insurance

1. Arrive at the airport even earlier than usual

The Transportation Security Administration and airlines recommend passengers  arrive at airports at least two hours early for domestic flights and three hours early for international flights on a regular basis.

Even more time is needed to navigate airports and get through security around holidays, but that's especially true now that " revenge travelers " are finally taking trips they put off during the pandemic. TSA screened 2.45 million travelers last Friday. That's the most for any day since February 2020, before COVID-19 shut leisure travel down. 

CHECK YOUR TRAVEL VOUCHER: Airlines issued billions in credits during the pandemic. Here's why travelers need to use them ASAP.

2. Know rights and benefits when flights are canceled or delayed

Travelers should check their flight status well before leaving for the airport. If their flight is canceled for any reason or "significantly delayed" and they choose not to take a different flight, airline customers are entitled to full refunds  per Department of Transportation guidelines. 

Some airlines may offer travelers who stick with them meal vouchers or hotel stays, depending on the circumstances of the disruption, but they're not required to refund incidental expenses .

Tickets purchased with a credit card may have some trip protection benefits built-in. Travelers should check with their credit card companies instead of assuming they have to eat all the costs out of pocket. 

Travel insurance also covers extra expenses due to cancellations and unexpected delays, but it may be too late to purchase last-minute coverage for this weekend.

PILOT SHORTAGE: Low staffing causing airlines to cancel flights

3. Pack essentials in carry-on luggage

When flights are delayed or luggage gets lost, the last thing travelers need is to be without necessities like medication or even diapers and phone chargers. Pack essentials in carry-on bags in case waits at the airport go longer than planned.

4. Plan to spend more money, especially on gas

The price of gasoline may be ticking down, but it's still high. Thursday's national average was  $4.86 per gallon of regular unleaded , according to AAA. That's less than the $4.94 average a week earlier but significantly more than drivers paid over Memorial Day weekend, when the national average was $4.60 .

Just over 50% of respondents  surveyed by the travel planning site The Vacationer say gas prices will affect their July Fourth travel plans. And gas prices aren't the only thing going up. Inflation is touching just about everything in travel and elsewhere . 

Where to find cheap gas:   Sheetz lowers gas prices to $3.99 a gallon through July 4

Pain at the pump: Federal gas tax holiday aims to ease prices, but how much would drivers save?

5. Hit the road early

Roads will be busiest Thursday and Friday afternoon and evening, as well as Saturday afternoon, according to transportation analysis provider INRIX and AAA. 

Traffic is expected to be light all day Sunday and Monday. Travelers who can't wait until then should aim to drive during off peak hours:

• Thursday: Before 7 a.m. or after 8 p.m.
• Friday: Before 10 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
• Saturday: Before noon or after 7 p.m.

July Fourth travel: The best and worst times to leave for your road trip

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The Best Fourth of July Celebrations Across the U.S.

From sea to shining sea, here's where to find the best Fourth of July fireworks displays and patriotic parades in the U.S.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post / Getty Images

While fireworks, food, and patriotic music are common elements of Fourth of July festivities throughout the United States, observances beyond that differ as much as the locations themselves. From small towns to major cities, citizens have created Independence Day celebrations that reflect their culture as well as the community's place in history. Visiting a new destination during this all-American July holiday is both educational and enjoyable.

We never seem to tire of watching fireworks light up the sky, with "oohs" and "ahhs" of surprise and appreciation. In 1777, on the first anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Philadelphia kicked off the tradition by marking the day with fireworks. John Adams, credited with suggesting "pomp and parade ... bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other" for the event, would undoubtedly be impressed by today's pyrotechnic shows.

From coast to coast, here are some of our favorite places in the U.S. to see epic fireworks displays and patriotic parades on the Fourth of July.

Keith Bedford / The Boston Globe / Getty Images

The city's Revolutionary War history makes it a perfect place to celebrate America's Independence. Boston Harborfest begins July 1 at Downtown Crossing with performances by the Massachusetts 215th Army Band and meet-and-greets with reenactors from the USS Constitution . July 2 brings all-day entertainment in Christopher Columbus Park beginning at 1 p.m., a concert by local artists at 6 p.m., and a fireworks show at 9:15 p.m.

The celebration continues on July 3, with family-friendly fun and the chance to sample the area's best clam chowder for free during Chowderfest. For the grand finale on July 4, watch the USS Constitution sail past Long Wharf in the afternoon, and stick around for the famous Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, which begins at 7 p.m. on the Charles River Esplanade.

Coney Island, Brooklyn

Nothing says the Fourth of July like fireworks and hot dogs, and you can have both on Brooklyn's famous Coney Island Boardwalk.

Speaking of hot dogs, Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest happens every year at noon at its flagship eatery. For one day only, contestants from all over the country compete to knock the leading hot dog eater off their pedestal and go home with a share of the $40,000 purse — and the coveted Mustard Belt. Join the thousands of spectators and watch the event on the elevated boardwalk stage. The atmosphere is electric, with the current champion, Joey Chestnut, holding the record for downing a whopping 62 hot dogs in 10 minutes.

You'll find plenty of ways to spend the afternoon in the iconic NYC summer destination while you wait for the 9:30 p.m. fireworks show, which takes place just off the beach near Pat Auletta Steeplechase Pier. Visit the New York Aquarium , mere steps away, stroll along the boardwalk, or lounge on the beach. Luna Park offers an arcade, go-karts, food stands, and thrill rides, including the famous Coney Island Cyclone roller coaster, which dates from 1927.

Bristol, Rhode Island

Bristol is the place to join America's oldest continuous Fourth of July celebration , dating back to 1785. It just might be the longest too, starting on June 14, Flag Day, and concluding with the 2.5-mile Military, Civic, and Firemen's Parade on July 4. Other popular annual events include a concert series at Independence Park, a Fourth of July Ball on June 21, and, of course, fireworks, with a show over Bristol Harbor on July 3 at 9:30 p.m.

New York City

Kena Betancur / AFP / Getty Images

Spectators flock to New York City to see the always spectacular Macy's 4th of July Fireworks show, which is launched on the East River or the Hudson River, depending on the year (it's the Hudson in 2024). Consider watching from a boat or a hotel's rooftop bar to escape the crowds and get a better view. Wherever you're perched, make sure you tune in to AM radio station 1010 WINS to hear the patriotic musical score to which the fireworks display is choreographed.

Before the pyrotechnics, get into the spirit of Independence Day by visiting some of New York City's Revolutionary War locations. Fort Tryon Park , the site of the Battle of Fort Washington, is located uptown in Washington Heights. If you're heading downtown, stop by St. Paul's Chapel in the Financial District, where George Washington frequently worshipped. Then, head to Fraunces Tavern , now a museum and restaurant, where he bade farewell to his troops at the war's end — a British cannonball hit the building in 1775. If time allows, take a free ride on the Staten Island Ferry for great views of Lower Manhattan and a trip to Fort Wadsworth , which was captured by the British during the war.

Philadelphia

This is where it all began in 1776 with the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and Philadelphia celebrates its important place in American history with 16 days of festivities. From June 19 (in honor of Juneteenth) to July 4, you can enjoy free concerts, complimentary admission to participating area museums, historical reenactments, and dazzling fireworks displays as part of the Wawa Welcome America Festival .

On July 4, the Salute to America Parade sets out from Independence Hall at 11 a.m., while the Historic District Block Party happens all day on the Independence Mall, featuring food trucks from local vendors and musical entertainment. End the day with a concert at 7 p.m. at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and a fireworks show over the Philadelphia Museum of Art beginning at 9:30 p.m.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Visit Myrtle Beach and you'll see why it's one of America's best beach towns for celebrating the Fourth of July . Want to start the day with some exercise? The annual Independence Day 5K , one-mile Fun Run, and kid-friendly 50-yard dash start at 7 a.m. at the Market Common District. Nearby, the annual Fourth of July Parade in Pawleys Island and Surfside Beach Golf Cart Parade are also worth a visit (at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., respectively).

Wherever you are in Myrtle Beach, don't forget to look up. The Salute from the Shore features vintage F-16s from Shaw Air Force Base and other legacy aircraft, like a C-17 from Joint Base Charleston, flying along the coast at 1 p.m. Later, venture south to Murrells Inlet around 6 p.m. to see the annual Boat Parade, where colorful boats compete for the best-decorated prize as they cruise from Garden City Point to the Hot Fish Club.

Starting at 6 p.m. on the Surfside Beach Fishing Pier, you'll find a variety show, inflatable rides, and a fireworks display after dark. Fireworks shows can also be seen at 9:30 p.m. at Cherry Grove Pier in North Myrtle Beach, or from Barefoot Landing or Broadway at the Beach at 10 p.m. on July 4, or after the Myrtle Beach Pelicans baseball game on July 3.

New Orleans

Getty Images / WIN-Initiative RM

The New Orleans Riverfront is the place to be on the Fourth of July — where else can you see two dueling barges put on a fantastic fireworks show, all synchronized to patriotic music? It's part of Go 4th on the River , an annual event on the Mississippi River between the Governor Nicholls Street Wharf and the Canal Street Dock. The Port of New Orleans also brings out the General Roy S. Kelley fireboat with its famed water show featuring red, white, and blue fountains at 6 p.m., before the main fireworks display at 9 p.m.

Popular viewpoints include Woldenberg Park, the Moon Walk promenade, and across the river in Algiers. From 5 p.m. at the waterfront Crescent Park, you can take part in a DJ dance party, purchase snacks from food trucks, and snag a good spot for the fireworks. For the very best views, though, book a cruise on the Creole Queen , Steamboat Natchez , or another NOLA riverboat.

In Chicago, the Fourth of July is all about family-friendly fun, live music, and fireworks. Appease your inner child at Navy Pier , where you can go on iconic amusement park rides like the Centennial Wheel and a historic carousel that dates from the 1920s. Just be aware that the fireworks displays here happen every Wednesday at 9 p.m. and Saturday at 10 p.m. from late May to late August, but not on July 4, which falls on a Thursday in 2024.

About a 10-minute drive from Navy Pier, the Grant Park Music Festival presents a free July 4 concert from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Pritzker Pavilion featuring patriotic favorites and popular Broadway show tunes.

Wilmington, North Carolina

You'll have several opportunities to celebrate the holiday in this underrated North Carolina beach town. For starters, on July 2, the North Carolina Symphony performs patriotic classics at the Wilson Center (tickets from $23 per person). On July 3, the Carolina Beach Boardwalk hosts its annual Boardwalk Blast event, with musical entertainment starting at 6:30 p.m. and a fireworks display at 9 p.m.

Then on July 4, head to the Wilmington Riverwalk in the city's historic district for family-friendly festivities from 5 p.m. onward, including a special performance by the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra at 7 p.m. at Riverfront Park's Live Oak Bank Pavilion and an epic fireworks display at 9:05 p.m.

Getty Images / iStockphoto

This Southern California city is home to thousands of service members, veterans, and their families, representing the Navy, Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Patriotism runs high for the annual Big Bay Boom event, with fireworks launched simultaneously from four barges throughout San Diego Bay at 9 p.m. Watch the spectacle from one of many locations including Shelter Island, Harbor Island, North Embarcadero, the Marina District, and the Coronado Ferry Landing.

Boats are also ideal spots for seeing the fireworks and many options are available, including dinner and cocktail cruises. A favorite — and usually sold-out — viewing location is the USS Midway flight deck, with musical entertainment, an exciting USO review, and all-American concessions.

Nearby, Coronado Island hosts its own Fourth of July celebration with a parade at 10 a.m., free concerts from 3 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., and fireworks over Glorietta Bay beginning at 9 p.m. If you have kids in tow, you may want to drive to Legoland (about 34 miles north of downtown) for its annual Red, White & Boom fireworks show.

Minneapolis

Family fun prevails in Minneapolis, with the triumphant return of the city's Red, White, and Boom event in 2024 for the first time since 2019. On July 4, live music and family activities begin at 6 p.m. leading up to an impressive fireworks show at 10 p.m. It's all happening along the western side of the riverfront at the Stone Arch Bridge parking lot and Water Works Park. That means you'll get the best views from Gold Medal Park, the Guthrie Theater Bridge, and the Mill City Museum, which requires tickets. Rooftop restaurants throughout downtown Minneapolis also make great vantage points.

Washington, D.C.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post / Getty Images

Our nation's capital is a wonderful place to celebrate the Fourth of July. The National Independence Day Parade begins at 11:45 a.m., marching along Constitution Avenue between 7th and 17th Streets downtown. Line up early to see the patriotic floats and fife and drum corps go by — and keep your eyes peeled for politicians and other celebrity guests. On Capitol Hill, the West Lawn hosts the popular A Capitol Fourth concert at 8 p.m. presented by the National Symphony Orchestra and featuring an all-star lineup that has included everyone from Stevie Wonder to Dolly Parton in recent years.

The grand finale of the day is a dramatic fireworks display over the National Mall, which happens shortly after 9 p.m. Arrive early to grab a good spot, as you can expect large crowds anywhere in sight of the monuments and memorials. Other popular viewing points include the streets surrounding the National Mall and just across the water in East Potomac Park. You'll also be able to see them from any rooftop bar downtown or from the Potomac River.

When it comes to the Fourth of July in Nashville, music is center stage and the fireworks are second to none. The "Let Freedom Sing!" concert is free to the public and features a lineup of popular country music artists including Chris Young, YOLA, Blessing Offor, and Girl Named Tom. Afterward, head to the Ascend Amphitheater to see a riveting 30-minute fireworks spectacular accompanied by a performance by the Nashville Symphony — you can also get a good view of the display from Riverfront Park.

Additional events include the Music City July 4th 5K, happening downtown from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., and the premier of a new country music-themed Cirque du Soleil show, " Songblazers ," at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, on view from July 2–28, 2024.

Williamsburg, Virginia

Courtesy of Colonial Williamsburg — Greater Williamsburg Chamber and Tourism Alliance

Celebrate Independence Day in the historically accurate atmosphere of Colonial Williamsburg and you'll feel as if you've done some time traveling. You can listen to a reading of the Declaration of Independence by Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson (well, their reenactors, anyway), observe a special militia muster, and play 18th-century games at the Market House.

Later, watch a cannon salute to the original 13 states, accompanied by fife and drum corps music. Fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m. on the Palace Green, a striking sight as the sky lights up over the Governor's Palace. Get there early to enjoy a sing-along of all your favorite patriotic tunes, listen to the Revolutionary marching band, and hear the Declaration of Independence read aloud (they do that a lot here).

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Each year, Gatlinburg is the first city in the U.S. to celebrate the holiday with its Fourth of July Midnight Parade , which starts promptly at 12:01 a.m. on July 4. Join the roughly 80,000 spectators who attend the late-night event each year.

The annual River Raft Regatta starts at 11 a.m. along the Little Pigeon River, while a race of unmanned floatables follows at 1 p.m. Prizes are awarded for various categories, including the most creative boat. A free concert by the 100th Army Band begins the evening festivities at 9 p.m. at Ripley's Aquarium Plaza, leading to the downtown fireworks display at 11 p.m.

Gatlinburg is located at the base of Great Smoky Mountains National Park . While you're there, take a ride on the Gatlinburg Sky Lift, an open-air chairlift that rises 1,800 feet to the top of Crockett Mountain, providing incredible views of the natural scenery around you.

This historic South Carolina city offers several options for celebrating Independence Day. Across the Cooper River, the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum puts on a Fourth of July bash overlooking the harbor with live music and food vendors from 6 p.m. Keep an eye on the museum's website and you may even be able to snag tickets to watch the 9:20 p.m. fireworks display from the deck of the historic World War II aircraft carrier USS Yorktown . Either way, arrive during the day so you can explore the site.

About a 20-minute drive from downtown in North Charleston, you can enjoy live music, food trucks, craft beer, and what's billed as "low country's largest Fourth of July fireworks show" at Riverfront Park from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. (the display happens at 9 p.m.).

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The 13 best places to travel in July 2024

From ski slopes to beach bliss, these are the very best places to visit in July this year. We'll see you there!

July is  the   month for holidays. July means summer, freedom, rising temperatures and more festivals than you can imagine. And don’t let its obvious-ness put you off; for plenty of great cities and countries, the seventh month is the best possible time you can visit.

Our list of the best places to visit in July touches every corner of the globe (the globe doesn’t have corners, for the record), from  Montreal  and Madagascar to the  Netherlands  and  New Zealand . So bring out your swimsuits or shorts and get ready for the summer of a lifetime. Obviously,  places really start to get busy in July, so make sure you book ahead. See you there!

RECOMMENDED: 🧳  Full guide to the   best places to travel 🏘️ The world's   coolest neighbourhoods 📸 The best   cities for culture   right now

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Best places to travel in July

1.  Amsterdam, Netherlands

July in Amsterdam is all about good food, good weather and good vibes. Lazy summer days are best spent hanging out in Vondelpark, where you can often catch free open-air comedy, dance and musical performances, or at Roest urban beach, which comes complete with an adult-friendly jungle gym. And although the city’s usual festivities are likely to be muted this year, keep an eye out for street food markets and events marking the city’s normally effervescent Pride season.

Discover the best  things to do in Amsterdam

2.  Greenland

Touted by some as ‘the new  Iceland ’, Greenland may be more popular than ever before, but it’s still a long way behind its oversaturated sibling – all the better for those wanting to get off the beaten track. July is technically high season here, and hotels do book up fast, but this is the world’s largest (and arguably wildest) island, and there are plenty of opportunities to find relative solitude. In it for the icebergs? Join a nighttime cruise of Unesco-listed Ilulissat Icefjord (the size of 66,000 football fields), where until around the 24th of the month, the midnight sun sets a cast of creaking bergs aglow in hues of pink, purple and orange.

3.  Cape Town, South Africa

Hoping to see some whales while in Cape Town? July is the beginning of whale season in this part of the world, so best to get ahead of the game and set up camp accordingly, with southern right and humpback whales most likely to show their faces at this early juncture. Elsewhere in the city, winter is at its peak, meaning mild temperatures and a charming atmosphere free of the summer sizzle. You’ll have the sights to yourself in July here.  Obviously, check out the new Time Out Market Cape Town  when you're there. 

4.  Udaipur, India

A popular destination for tourists, this tropical subcontinent has something to offer all year round, but in July temperatures cool down a little following May and June (but it’s still hot, don’t worry). Known as the ‘City of lakes’, Udaipur is a beautiful city in the heart of the state of Rajasthan, with historic palaces, temples, a wildlife sanctuary and a ton of markets for shopping. Be sure to spend your evenings in a rooftop cafe for fantastic food with a view. End the day sitting next to the water and soak up the tranquility. 

Discover the top places to visit in India  

5.  South Island, New Zealand

With sweet ski slopes, luxury hot springs and fantastic whale watching opportunities, New Zealand’s South Island is a no-brainer when it comes to winter escapes. The coldest months also offer the chance to witness the aurora australis (southern lights) dancing along the horizon, best spotted in Dunedin close to a new moon. There are yet more reasons to look skyward in July: the rise of the Pleiades star cluster marks the start of Matariki (Maori New Year), which is celebrated with cultural festivals and feasts. Visit Mt John Observatory in Tekapo, which sits within an international dark sky reserve, for unbeatable stargazing.

Discover the best  things to do in New Zealand

6.  Northwest England

We’ll be the first to admit that the weather in the northwest of England can be, how do we say, a little less than optimum. Drizzle persists for most of the year, but July sees the sun finally break through with all the enthusiasm of an excitable child. The big cities of the northwest follow suit, with Liverpool and Manchester in particular shining brightest when the sun is out. And while you ’ re there, don't miss out on The Beatles exhibition, celebrating 60 years of ‘A Hard Day ’ s Night’ (July 10, 2024). Sure, the north is defined by its drizzle, but you can’t beat an Aigburth beer garden on a Saturday afternoon. Throw in some excellent park festivals, and you’ve got yourself a very special part of the world indeed.

7.  Hoi An, Vietnam

As the monsoon rains fall in  Hanoi  and Ho Chi Minh City, savvy travellers in  Vietnam  head to the central coast, where the weather is dry and warm. Some of the country’s most beautiful beaches are right here, along with Unesco-listed cities and jaw-dropping national parks. Get mesmerised witnessing the Lantern Festival on 19th July in the historic port city of  Hoi An , where lantern-strewn streets reveal Chinese temples and ancient teahouses. Then head out of town to laze on the stretches of white sand around  Da Nang , brave Hai Van Pass on a motorbike tour, and visit Hue’s Imperial citadel before heading inland to see the gargantuan Phong Na Caves.

Discover the best  things to do in Hoi An

8.  Montreal, Canada

Montreal ’s Canada Day celebrations kickstart a whole month of summer fun in a city more often associated with icy winters. The highlights usually include Sainte Catherine Street Fair (the largest in the country) and the world’s biggest international comedy festival, Just for Laughs, while Cirque Festival ensures you won’t have to bend over backwards to find street entertainment – performers from Cirque du Soleil, the National Circus School and others put on tonnes of shows to celebrate one of Quebec ’s most famous art forms. But if festival-hopping isn’t your sort of thing, fear not. July is still a great time to discover this incredible city – and  fuel up courtesy of the city’s best chefs at  Time Out Market Montreal .

Discover the best things to do in Montreal

9.  Madagascar

Home to some of the most diverse wildlife on the planet, Madagascar is a joy to visit in July, when the weather is cooler and drier, making lemur spotting on rainforest treks more comfortable. Humpback whales migrate here to calve their young at this time of year – spot them in Tulear and Nosy Be, or experience the humpback whale festival on Nosy Boraha. In Morondava, the local community celebrates the island’s precious ecology with the Baobab Fosa festival, where you can spot fossa (a relative of the mongoose), and walk the dazzling Avenue of the Baobabs.

10.  Singapore

Singapore is a food lover’s dream year-round, but to taste it at its best, you’ll want to head there in July. That’s when the island city celebrates its multicultural cuisine with the Singapore Food Festival. From cooking masterclasses and fine dining events to a street food extravaganza, this week-long celebration of local flavour is worth skipping breakfast for. Had enough of the heat? Find refuge in the air-conditioned malls on Orchard Road and indulge in a spot of retail therapy – the Great Singapore Sale runs nearly all month, offering great deals and steep discounts. 

Discover the best  things to do in Singapore

11.  West Coast, North America

Sound the road trip klaxon! California and the Pacific Northwest are calling. Apart from July 4, when roads in the US will be rammed with long weekenders on their way to family barbecues and baseball games, this month is a fine time to discover the best of the American and Canadian West Coast. Whether you want to catch some rays in San Diego , forest bathe in Oregon , tour Seattle ’s street art or simply make the most of Vancouver 's least rainy month of the year, this slice of North America is as diverse as its days are long. And make sure to catch Comic Con in California from 25-28 July 2024.

Discover the best stops on a  California road trip

12.  Japan

Following the country’s reopening last year,  Japan ’s capital Tokyo and other key sights have reverted back to the norm, although that still means hot and busy. So if you can, make time earlier in the month to explore the likes of  Kyoto ,  Osaka  and Hiroshima, as well as lesser-known spots such as Shiretoko Peninsula or Hateruma Island. Or, if you’re shorter on time, stick to  day trips from the city  and complete your own athletic feats by  summiting Mount Fuji  or catching some waves in surf town Kamakura.

Discover the best  things to do in Japan

13.  Provence, France

From Avignon and Marseille to Nice , St Tropez and Cannes, Provence is packed with historic cities and stylish towns – but don’t forget the swathes of pastoral bliss in between. Come in July to sample crisp dry rosé at Château Gassier (which usually runs outdoor tastings and a cinema under the stars in the summer months), frolic in the lavender fields around Aix en Provence and Senanque Abbey before the harvest, join the Fête Nationale celebrations in pretty much every single town and village, or catch a glimpse of Tour de France riders along the dizzyingly high trail of Mont Ventoux.

Discover the best  places to visit in France

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The best days to fly around the Fourth of July this year

( NerdWallet ) – For folks planning July Fourth vacations, prepare for crowds. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened a record number of passengers in 2023, and those records are likely to be broken in 2024. In fact, in the first two months of 2024, travel volumes were roughly 6% higher than the same period in 2023, according to the TSA.

With the expected big crowds in mind, are some days better for air travel than others?

In 2024, July Fourth falls on a Thursday, which puts a wrench in predicting travel crowds. Will folks take the Friday after off to enjoy the long weekend? Or will they decide their vacation time is best used for another holiday?

Here’s some guidance around booking July Fourth weekend air travel in 2024, how you might be able to avoid the crowds — and potentially save money on airfare .

The best and worst days to fly July Fourth weekend

Are airports busy on July Fourth? NerdWallet analyzed TSA data showing the number of passengers screened at its U.S. checkpoints over the past three years, homing in on the seven days before and after July Fourth, to find the busiest days to fly.

The worst days to fly: To avoid crowds, don’t fly the Friday before July Fourth. In each of the past three years, the Friday before July Fourth was the busiest travel day before the Fourth of July weekend.

For post-holiday travel, the Sunday after ranks as the busiest day to fly.

The best days to fly: Typically, July Fourth is the least busy day to fly. On July Fourth of last year, airport crowds averaged just 70% of what they were relative to the busiest travel day, which was the Friday before July Fourth (June 30, 2023).

But if you’d rather spend July Fourth celebrating — and not in an airport — turn to Tuesday. The Tuesdays before and after the holiday rank among the least busy days to fly during July Fourth week.

The rankings of best and worst days to fly for July Fourth follow year-round travel patterns. No matter when you’re traveling, Fridays are, on average, the busiest day to fly, and Tuesdays are, on average, the least busy days to fly.

How this year’s Thursday holiday might impact long weekends

July Fourth falls on a Thursday, so people intending to travel for the holiday will likely take the next day, Friday, off and make it a long weekend. But given how few people are willing to travel on Independence Day, when will people actually fly?

The last time July Fourth fell on a Thursday was in 2019. Here’s a look at travel crowds by day in 2019, ranked from most to least crowded:

• Sunday after, July 7 (most crowded).
• Monday after, July 8.
• Friday before, June 28.
• Thursday before, June 27.
• Sunday before, June 30.
• Thursday after, July 11.
• Wednesday before, July 3.
• Wednesday after, July 10.
• Tuesday after, July 9.
• Monday before, July 1.
• Saturday before, June 29.
• Tuesday before, July 2.
• Saturday after, July 6.
• Friday after, July 5.
• Thursday, July Fourth (least crowded).

In 2019, the July Fourth holiday was the least busy day to fly. Meanwhile, July 5, the day after the holiday, wasn’t busy either. That bucks the usual trend of Friday being the busiest travel day of the week. When it comes to July Fourth weekend travel, most people are already set in their locations by Friday.

But there’s one day that people are definitely crowding airports, and that’s the Sunday after July Fourth. Flying this day will cost you, too. According to travel booking app Hopper’s 2024 Travel Booking Hacks report, Sunday is the most expensive day to fly in the U.S., with airfares averaging 15% more than midweek departures.

The smarter, cheaper Fourth of July travel itinerary in 2024

Following typical July Fourth holiday travel patterns could mean costs in terms of airfare and time spent waiting in line at the airport. Deviate from that schedule to find lighter crowds and perhaps better July Fourth flight deals, too. Try these travel days instead:

Fly on July Fourth

If you don’t mind traveling on the holiday, you’re looking at the single emptiest air travel day of the period analyzed.

Do one better by flying early on the holiday. Hopper’s spring 2023 Flight Disruption Outlook found that flights that depart from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. are half as likely to be delayed as flights with scheduled departure times after 9 a.m.

Plus, a morning flight improves your odds of catching the fireworks at your final destination.

Embrace Saturday travel

Rather than rush out from work on the Friday afternoon before the holiday to jump on a flight, relax at home that evening and depart Saturday morning before instead. Simply shifting your trip by one day could likely result in going from one of the busiest to lightest travel days of the July Fourth travel period.

The same goes for returning home. While it can be tempting to extend your trip as long as possible before you have to get back to work on Monday, skip the Sunday flight and fly home on Saturday instead. Bonus: You’ll have a day at home to rest and recover before the new workweek. How responsible of you.

Fly on July 5

Though Friday is typically one of the most expensive days to fly year-round, that’s unlikely to be the case this particular week.

So another option is to fly home on July 5. This allows you to still spend the holiday in your destination of choice. By returning on Friday, you’ll still have the full weekend at home to take a vacation from your vacation before Monday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com.

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Moscow Oblast, Russia

The capital city of Moskovskaya oblast: Moscow .

Moscow Oblast - Overview

Moscow Oblast is a federal subject of Russia located in the Central Federal District. Moscow, the capital city of the country, is the administrative center of Moscow Oblast. At the same time, Moscow is not part of this region, it is a separate federal subject of Russia, a city of federal importance.

The population of Moscow Oblast is about 7,769,000 (2022), the area - 44,379 sq. km.

Moskovskaya oblast flag

Moskovskaya oblast coat of arms.

Moskovskaya oblast map, Russia

Moskovskaya oblast latest news and posts from our blog:.

23 June, 2022 / Natural Spring Gremyachiy Klyuch in Moscow Oblast .

23 March, 2022 / Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces .

31 January, 2022 / Vasilyevsky (Shcherbatovsky) Castle in Moscow Oblast .

1 August, 2021 / Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery near Moscow .

4 August, 2020 / Sights of Moscow Oblast - the heart of Russia .

More posts..

History of Moscow Oblast

The territory of the Moscow region was inhabited more than 20 thousand years ago. In the first millennium AD, this land was inhabited mostly by the Finno-Ugric peoples (Meryane and Meshchera). In the 9th-10th centuries, the Slavs began active development of the region. The population was engaged in hunting, fisheries, agriculture, and cattle breeding.

In the middle of the 12th century, the territory of the present Moscow region became part of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality, the first towns were founded (Volokolamsk in 1135, Moscow in 1147, Zvenigorod in 1152, Dmitrov in 1154). In the first half of the 13th century, the Vladimir-Suzdal principality was conquered by the Mongols.

In the 14th-16th centuries, Moscow principality became the center of unification of Russian lands. The history of the Moscow region is inextricably linked to military events of the Time of Troubles - the siege of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery by the troops of False Dmitry II, the first and second militias.

More historical facts…

In 1708, by decree of Peter the Great, Moskovskaya gubernia (province) was established. It included most of the territory of present Moscow oblast. In 1712, St. Petersburg became the capital of the Russian Empire and the significance of the Moscow region as the country’s economic center began to decrease.

In 1812, the Battle of Borodino took place near Moscow. It was the biggest battle of the Russian-French War of 1812. In the second half of the 19th century, especially after the peasant reform of 1861, the Moscow province experienced economic growth. In 1851, the first railway connected Moscow and St. Petersburg; in 1862 - Nizhny Novgorod.

The population of the Moscow region increased significantly (in 1847 - 1.13 million people, in 1905 - 2.65 million). On the eve of the First World War, Moscow was a city with a population of more than one million people.

In November, 1917, the Soviet power was established in the region. In 1918, the country’s capital was moved from St. Petersburg to Moscow that contributed to economic recovery of the province. In the 1920s-1930s, a lot of churches located near Moscow were closed, a large number of cultural monuments were destroyed. On January 14, 1929, Moscow Oblast was formed.

In 1941-1942, one of the most important battles of the Second World War took place on the territory of the region - the Battle for Moscow. In the postwar years, the growth of economic potential of the region continued; several science cities were founded (Dubna, Troitsk, Pushchino, Chernogolovka).

In the 1990s, the economy of Moscow Oblast experienced a deep crisis. Since the 1990s, due to the motorization of the population and commuting, road traffic situation in the Moscow region significantly deteriorated. Traffic jams have become commonplace.

Pictures of Moscow Oblast

Moscow Oblast scenery

Author: Mikhail Grizly

At the airport in the Moscow region

Author: Evgeny Davydov

Nature of Moscow Oblast

Author: Alexander Khmelkov

Moscow Oblast - Features

Moscow Oblast is located in the central part of the East European Plain, in the basin of the rivers of Volga, Oka, Klyazma, Moskva. The region stretches from north to south for 310 km, from west to east - 340 km. It was named after the city of Moscow, which however is not part of the region. Part of the administrative authorities of the region is located in Krasnogorsk.

On the territory of the Moscow region, there are 77 cities and towns, 19 of them have a population of more than 100 thousand people. The largest cities are Balashikha (518,300), Podolsk (309,600), Mytishchi (262,700), Khimky (256,300), Korolyov (225,300), Lubertsy (209,600), Krasnogorsk (174,900), Elektrostal (149,000), Odintsovo (138,900), Kolomna (136,800), Domodedovo (136,100).

The climate is temperate continental. Summers are warm, winters are moderately cold. The average temperature in January is minus 10 degrees Celsius, in July - plus 19 degrees Celsius.

One of the most important features of the local economy is its proximity to Moscow. Some of the cities (Odintsovo, Krasnogorsk, Mytishchi) have become in fact the “sleeping districts” of Moscow. The region is in second place in terms of industrial production among the regions of Russia (after Moscow).

The leading industries are food processing, engineering, chemical, metallurgy, construction. Moscow oblast has one of the largest in Russia scientific and technological complexes. Handicrafts are well developed (Gzhel ceramics, Zhostov trays, Fedoskino lacquered miniatures, toy-making).

Moscow railway hub is the largest in Russia (11 radial directions, 2,700 km of railways, the density of railways is the highest in Russia). There are two large international airports - Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo. Vnukovo airport is used for the flights within the country.

Attractions of Moscow Oblast

Moscow Oblast has more than 6,400 objects of cultural heritage:

• famous estate complexes,
• ancient towns with architectural monuments (Vereya, Volokolamsk, Dmitrov, Zaraysk, Zvenigorod, Istra, Kolomna, Sergiev Posad, Serpukhov),
• churches and monasteries-museums (the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, Joseph-Volokolamsk monastery, Pokrovsky Khotkov monastery, Savvino Storozhevsky monastery, Nikolo Ugresha monastery).

The most famous estate complexes:

• Arkhangelskoye - a large museum with a rich collection of Western European and Russian art of the 17th-19th centuries,
• Abramtsevo - a literary and artistic center,
• Melikhovo - an estate owned by A.P. Chekhov at the end of the 19th century,
• Zakharovo and Bolshiye Vyazyomy included in the History and Literature Museum-Reserve of Alexander Pushkin,
• House-Museum of the composer P.I. Tchaikovsky in Klin,
• Muranovo that belonged to the poet F.I. Tyutchev,
• Shakhmatovo - the estate of the poet Alexander Blok.

The architectural ensemble of the Trinity Sergius Lavra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The largest museum of the Moscow region is located in Serpukhov - Serpukhov Historical and Art Museum.

The places of traditional arts and crafts are the basis of the souvenir industry of Russia:

• Fedoskino - lacquer miniature painting,
• Bogorodskoe - traditional manufacture of wooden toys,
• Gzhel - unique tradition of creating ceramics,
• Zhostovo - painted metal crafts,
• Pavlovsky Posad - fabrics with traditional printed pattern.

Some of these settlements have museums dedicated to traditional crafts (for example, a toy museum in Bogorodskoe), as well as centers of learning arts and crafts.

Moskovskaya oblast of Russia photos

Landscapes of moscow oblast.

Nature of the Moscow region

Country road in the Moscow region

Moscow Oblast landscape

Author: Mikhail Kurtsev

Moscow Oblast views

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Country life in Moscow Oblast

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Churches of Moscow Oblast

Church in the Moscow region

Cathedral in Moscow Oblast

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Parking and Transportation

Fleet services newsletter, may 2024, wex card’s expire on 5/31 – time to pick-up your new card .

WEX fuel credit card swaps have been slow so far, we still have a lot of new cards to give out. If you have not yet picked up your new card please make a plan to do so. All you need to do is bring your old card to our office and we will swap it out. The current cards expire at the end of May. Cards can be exchanged Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

New Decals for University Healthcare Vehicles

As part of the  new branding initiative of UI Healthcare, Fleet Services will be updating the decals of all healthcare vehicles. The process began on May 6 th , is ongoing, and should be complete in the next 6 months. The plan is to swap for the new branded decals at each vehicle’s next service appointment. 

Who is Considered a Pedestrian in Iowa?

Current law in Iowa defines a pedestrian as a person specifically on foot and does not include people in wheelchairs, riding scooters/skateboarding, or cyclists. Lobbyists and advocacy groups like, AARP Iowa, and the University of Iowa Injury Prevention Research Center pushed to make the language of the law more inclusive. Late last week Governor Kim Reynolds signed a new law that changes the meaning of a pedestrian. The new definition adds some language and now includes “ a person using a pedestrian conveyance”   in addition to a pedestrian on   foot. A pedestrian conveyance is any human-powered device a pedestrian may use to move or move another person. It also includes electric motored devices as long as they produce less than 750 watts. The bill goes into effect on July 1st.  Check out the full article from CBS .

Driving in a Tornado – How to Stay Safe

Never try to outrun a tornado. According to AccuWeather, tornados can travel very quickly and do not follow road patterns. If you are driving and a tornado develops it is best to try to find shelter in a sturdy building. When there is no shelter nearby, experts recommend staying in your car, secured using your seat belt, putting your head down below the window, and covering your head with your hands or a blanket if you have one. If you can safely get to a low-lying area such as a ditch or ravine, basically lower than the roadway, then exit the car and lie down in the area and cover your head with your hands or use a protective covering like a blanket or tarp. Also avoid taking shelter under an overpass. The winds are higher in these openings and flying debris can still get to you. Check out the full article on tornado safety . 

Real ID – New Deadline to be Enforced

There is a new deadline for Real ID, it is now May 7, 2025. Just a little less than a year away. If you fly commercially or need access to federal facilities you will need a REAL ID or another federally approved ID like a passport. Take a look at the Iowa DOT’s info page . Please note, it can take up to 30 days to receive your REAL ID in the mail so plan ahead.

Fleet Services Severe Weather Protocol

When severe weather pops up and the sirens go off, we lock our doors and evacuate to the CAMBUS Maintenance Facility until we get the all-clear. If you have a reservation scheduled to pick up during a severe weather event, please call our office ahead of time. Our phones will be forwarded to a manager’s cell phone, and they will give you instructions to get your vehicle. We will also leave a sign on our door, so you know where we are.

Honest Mikes Used Cars

Vehicle sale season is on-going and we have a nice variety of vehicles at auction now and coming soon. Check out our GovDeals auction page to view what we currently have listed.

Fleet Factoid

According to Consumer Affairs, Louisiana is the state with the most incidents of road rage. To come up with their ranking, CA analyzed data on aggressive driving, rates of speeding/careless driving, tickets, accidents, fatalities, and traffic incidents involving gun violence, and assigned each state a “Road Rage” score. Iowa was ranked 39 th and New Hampshire was 50 th , having the nicest drivers. Check out the full article from Consumer Affairs . 

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• Excellent 18
• Very Good 9
• All languages ( 43 )
• Russian ( 37 )
• English ( 4 )
• German ( 1 )
• Italian ( 1 )

" DIR: West; bigger nice evening sun but louder due to main street DIR:East; Quiter, very bright in the morning if sun rises "

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Apelsin Hotel - Reviews & Photos