Wednesday to be the busiest day on the roads for July 4th holiday travel, AAA says

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. (WPVI) -- Drivers are hitting the road for July 4th holiday travel, and AAA says Wednesday will be the busiest getaway day.

AAA predicts close to one million Philadelphia-area residents will travel this holiday period, which AAA defines as last Saturday through Sunday, July 6. That's up 2.3% from last year.

More than 82% of them will travel by car.

RELATED: For the latest conditions on area highways, check 6abc.com/Traffic.

"Today will be the busiest getaway day by car. We have people who want to maximize a long weekend, they are adding a day or two onto the long weekend, just to make the most of summer," said Jana Tidwell of AAA Mid-Atlantic.

According to AAA, the busiest times to drive will be Wednesday from noon to 9 p.m. and then Sunday from noon to 6 p.m., as people head home.

The good news for drivers is that gas prices are down about 8%, 20 cents, in our region.

In the Philadelphia five-county area, a gallon is $3.29

In South Jersey, it's $3.12, and in Delaware, you'll pay $3.18 at the pump.