Although it seems like travel has never been more expensive than it is this summer, a new study shows that some prices are actually becoming more affordable than last year. According to Hopper’s latest analysis of prices for the upcoming July Fourth weekend, both domestic airfares and car rental rates are significantly cheaper this holiday weekend than in 2022. The average price for round-trip flights within the US for the long weekend is $300—that’s 27 percent more affordable than the average ticket price in 2022. The fares are in line with what airlines were charging over July Fourth in 2019, Hopper’s study says.
If you’re still looking to travel over Independence Day but haven’t booked yet, there are still some flight deals to be had. Hopper’s data shows flights from Boston to Orlando are as low as $150 round-trip; routes from Chicago to Dallas are going for as little as $128 round-trip, while quick jumps from Los Angeles to Las Vegas can be found for only $90 round-trip.
Car rentals are also more budget-friendly this year. After the pandemic and supply chain issues caused a frustrating shortage of rental cars in 2021 and 2022 that drove prices higher, rates seem to be finally evening out again. The average rental price for the holiday weekend was just $47 per day, which is 25 percent cheaper compared to last year’s rates.
Unfortunately, not every sector of travel is getting easier on the wallet this summer. International airfares, particularly those for flights to Europe and Asia, are still climbing. Airfares to Europe over July Fourth are the highest they’ve been in at least five years, according to Hopper, with the average round-trip ticket setting travelers back $1,370, a jump of 33 percent compared to before the pandemic. If you’re itching to explore a different country, tickets to most destinations in Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean are about half the price of flights to Europe and Asia, the study says.
Wherever you might be flying for the holiday, Hopper says there’s one key way to save money over the busy travel weekend: depart on Saturday. “Savvy travelers departing Saturday July 1st and returning Monday or Tuesday of the holiday weekend are saving an average of $74 per ticket, or 26 percent off peak airfare prices,” the study says.
