Lower gas prices to fuel rise in July 4th travel

More people in the Philadelphia region are expected to travel for next week's Fourth of July holiday, in part due to relatively cheap gas prices.

AAA Mid-Atlantic estimates that about 563,000 people in the region will make trips for Independence Day, the most expected travelers since 2007.

Most people - about 85 percent - are expected to reach their destinations by car, according to figures released Friday.

The travel group says lower gas prices and improving economic signs are behind the rise in travels this year.

Travelers can expect the lowest Independence Day gas prices in five years.

In Philadelphia and its Pennsylvania suburbs, fuel prices were averaging $2.91 per gallon on Friday. That's a small, seasonal uptick from the $2.86 average last month, but well below the $3.78 average from this time last year, according to AAA data.

Gas prices were averaging $2.54 in South Jersey, slightly up from $2.49 last month but down from the $3.55 average a year ago.

The national gas-price average stood at $2.78 on Friday.

That's the lowest price since 2010, when fuel averaged $2.74 per gallon for the Fourth.

From 2011 through 2014, national average gas costs for Independence Day ranged from $3.34 to $3.66 a gallon.

Nationwide, about 42 million people are predicted to travel for the holiday this year, AAA said.