LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Airports around the country are bracing for what's expected to be one of the busiest Fourth of July travel seasons ever.

Officials at the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport are preparing for more than 44,000 passengers throughout the weekend.

"We do expect it to be very busy," said Natalie Ciresi Chaudoin with Louisville's airport. "It's going to be pretty similar to what we saw last year, which was a record-setting year for us."

The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen more than 32 million people at the nation's airports between Thursday and July 8, the Monday after the holiday, for a daily average of 2.67 million. That would be a 5.4% increase over the July 4 period last year.

Airports will also likely be packed all week long, but the TSA expects most people will take to the skies on Friday. It anticipates that it will screen more than 3 million individuals Friday. That would surpass the agency’s current record for most people screened on a single day, which reached just under 3 million last Sunday.

Last year, the busiest day for Fourth of July air travel was also the Friday ahead of the holiday, TSA data shows. If past trends hold, travel will likely be higher on the days before and after the Fourth — particularly closer to the weekend. In 2023, for example, more than 2 million people were screened on the Fourth, which landed on a Tuesday last year, down from 2.88 million the Friday before.

Ciresi Chaudoin said the airport is offering travelers four tips as they lay out their holiday plans:

  • Keep up with your flight
  • Arrive at least two hours early
  • Have a parking plan
  • Remember what you can and can't bring through security

AAA projects that some 70.9 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from their homes over a nine-day Independence Day travel period, surpassing pre-pandemic numbers for the holiday. 

If you’re traveling by car for the Fourth of July, it’s best to hit the road in the morning, according to transportation data and insights provider INRIX. Peak traffic congestion varies by location, INRIX data published by AAA shows, but the worst times to drive on, or leading up to, the holiday are generally between 2-7 p.m. Either way, be prepared for the roads to be jammed. 

And if you’re renting a car ahead of July Fourth, the busiest pickup days will be Friday, Saturday and Wednesday before the holiday, AAA notes.

Here are three tips to traveling over the holiday weekend, courtesy of the Associated Press:

  • Leave early: There are more people everywhere during a holiday week, so lines will be longer and roads will be busier. Give yourself more time to get to your destination or to make your way through airport security.
  • Keep an eye on the weather — and not just for your destination: Look at the weather for your entire travel path. Even if it’s sunny skies both at home and the place you’re headed, it’s important to keep an eye out for any storms in between. You may need to do some rerouting.
  • Be kind: A trip delay or cancellation can be really frustrating — but if you’re running into disruptions, chances are others are too. Customer service agents have a lot on their plate at this time of year, and it’s important to be patient and respectful as they try to help you.

Copyright 2024 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.