Airports across the country traditionally see a spike in traffic around the US Independence Day holiday. In 2025, with July 4th falling on a Friday, the number of people taking to the skies is expected to be higher than ever. Large hub airports such as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Miami International Airport (MIA), and Denver International Airport (DEN) are expected to be especially busy.

According to the news outlet The Hill, 5.84 million passengers are expected to travel by air in the week surrounding July 4th, which is an increase of 1.4% on the 5.76 million passengers seen at the country's airports over the same period last year. In this article, we take a look at which airports are expected to see the highest number of passengers, both in the US and internationally.

A total of 5.84 million passengers over a seven-day period makes an average daily total of around 834,000 passengers. However, naturally, some days are expected to be busier than others, with Wednesday, July 2nd, and Sunday, July 6th, expected to be the two busiest days for passengers traveling by air.

This does not come as any great surprise, as these are the two days when people are likely to be traveling to their destination and back home again. The busiest single day for air travel is expected to be Sunday, July 6th, when passenger figures at airports across the country are expected to peak at 2.9 million.

Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL), Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), and Denver International Airport (DEN) are all expected to each see more than one million passengers throughout the Independence Day week. According to predictions by The Hills, the ten busiest domestic destinations for passengers traveling by air in the US over the Independence Day week are outlined in the table below:

The inclusion of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in the list of busiest airports should come as no surprise, given that the facility regularly tops the list of the busiest airports in the world, with more than 100 million passengers each year. The airport is the primary hub of Delta Air Lines, which has a 73% market share, way ahead of second-placed Southwest Airlines (9%) and third-placed Spirit Airlines (4%).

Meanwhile, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is home to American Airlines, with many of the carrier's connecting passengers traveling through the airport. In 2024, the airport served more than 87 million passengers, with American Airlines commanding the largest market share - 66%. Denver International Airport (DEN) is one of United Airlines' busiest hubs, with the Star Alliance carrier operating direct flights to destinations as far away as Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT) and London Heathrow Airport (LHR).

When it comes to the most popular international destinations for travel throughout the Independence Day week, the list is dominated by perennial favorites across Europe, with two cities in Canada also included. The ten most popular international destinations are expected to be as follows:

With such high numbers of passengers traveling through the country's airports, the chance of disruption is high, with even minor delays having a significant knock-on effect throughout the complex network of flights. With that in mind, it pays for passengers to be prepared in order to make their journey through the airport as smooth as possible.

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regularly provides updates to passengers on its website and social media channels, highlighting some of the most common issues and ways to avoid them. The TSA's Acting Administrator, Ha Nguyen McNeill, outlined what the organization was doing, saying,

“We are deploying technologies and procedures to improve security and enhance the passenger experience, including for families. We ask travelers to pack their patience, especially during peak travel days, as we work to provide maximum hospitality to our customers.”

Those with TSA PreCheck will be able to pass through dedicated security channels, which could be a real blessing when traveling at peak times and faced with lengthy lines. Children aged 12 and under are also able to accompany an adult with TSA PreCheck without any restriction. When it comes to the best time of day for flying, morning flights tend to be more punctual, as delays often build up throughout the day.

It is not only the number of passengers traveling that is set to increase this Independence Day, the average cost of a return domestic flight over the holiday weekend has also shot up. According to The Hill, the average price of a return domestic flight now sits at a staggering $810, which is a 4% increase on the average cost of the same flight last year.

Airlines generally price their tickets according to demand, so it is to be expected that traveling at peak times is more expensive. This is a common trend also seen around other major holiday periods, including Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break, and the school summer holidays.

That said, there are still plenty of bargains to be had, with domestic trips throughout the West Coast or to destinations such as Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) still available for under $200 return. Passengers will need to be quick to bag such bargains, with prices set to rise further closer to the day of travel.

The expected figure of 5.84 million passengers traveling by air throughout the Independence Day week is dwarfed by the number of people who are expected to take to the roads for domestic journeys over the same period. According to The Hill, a staggering 61.6 million people will take a domestic road trip, 2.2% more than last year. The Vice President of the travel company AAA Travel, Stacey Barber, said,

“Summertime is one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, and July 4th is one of the most popular times to get away. Following Memorial Day’s record forecast, AAA is seeing strong demand for road trips and air travel over Independence Day week. With the holiday falling on a Friday, travelers have the option of making it a long weekend or taking the entire week to make memories with family and friends.”

The busiest times to be traveling by road vary by day, but afternoons and early evenings tend to be the most popular times to travel, as shown in the table below:

Up and down the country, people are packing their bags and preparing to head off for a few days away, taking advantage of the Independence Day holiday. With July 4th falling on a Friday this year, the number of people traveling is expected to be higher than ever, with more than 61 million people taking to the roads and almost six million people traveling by air.

Independence Day marks the start of the peak summer travel season, which lasts until Labor Day in early September. Among the airports expected to be busiest this year are key connecting hubs such as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Denver International Airport (DEN), and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

Meanwhile, when it comes to the most popular international travel destinations, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), Vancouver International Airport (YVR), London Heathrow Airport (LHR), and Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) reign supreme. For those looking to escape the crowds and experience a quiet getaway, perhaps these are the airports to best avoid.