Lexington, Neb. — The upcoming Fourth of July is expected to be a record-breakingly busy travel period, with AAA projecting 72.2 million Americans to travel at least 50 miles from home, a slight increase over 2025.
This nine-day holiday window spans from Saturday, June 27, through Sunday, July 5.
Even though gas prices are still higher than this time last year, AAA says most travelers, over 61 million, will choose the most affordable travel: by car.
AAA says the number of people flying is expected to be 5.85 million, while the number of people taking buses, trains and cruise ships, is projected to be just under 5 million this year.
According to the Nebraska State Historical Society, since 1868, Seward has, with but few interruptions, sponsored a yearly 4th of July celebration which has gained national attention. The square, the original site of the festival, is today its focal point.
Special trains once brought revelers there on the Fourth; today tens of thousands arrive by auto.
With community young people having provided motivation for the celebration, Governor Jim Exon in 1973 designated Seward “Nebraska’s Official 4th of July City.”
