Record number of drivers to hit the road on July 4

Motorists will travel in record numbers for the Independence Day holiday this year, encouraged by cheaper gasoline, travel group AAA said on Tuesday.

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The group said 35.5 million people will drive 50 miles or more away from home between July 3 and 8, up 4 percent from last year and the largest number in the last decade.

An additional 3.2 million will fly to their destinations over the holiday period, up 9 percent from a year ago, bringing the total number of vacationers to 42.3 million, a tie with the decade's record in 2007.

A gallon of gasoline will sell for $3.57 during the holiday, down about 3 percent from a year earlier, AAA said. The price forecast is based on the year's average gasoline prices through June 11. Gasoline prices peaked in early April this year, at an average $3.94 for regular gasoline.

The group expects no changes to airfare costs year-over-year.

The forecast, based on a survey of 50,000 U.S. households, said travelers are likely to take more days off to travel this year since Independence day will fall on a Wednesday.

Reporting by Selam Gebrekidan; Editing by David Gregorio.

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