The Best Days to Fly Around July Fourth in 2025

For the first time in more than 10 years, Independence Day falls on a Friday in 2025. While Fourth of July is always a busy time for travel, the long weekend means travelers should prepare for larger crowds. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened a record number of passengers during the 2024 July Fourth weekend, and those records might be broken again in 2025.

But some days of the holiday week are less crowded (and cheaper) than others. If you can be flexible with your travel schedule and fly out on one of those less-crowded days, you could save money and avoid peak airport chaos.

Here’s what you need to know to fly smarter over the Independence Day travel window in 2025 — and potentially save money on airfare.

The best and worst days to fly over Fourth of July weekend in 2025

NerdWallet analyzed airfare price data provided by Expedia and TSA data showing the number of passengers screened at its U.S. checkpoints to predict the best and worst days to fly for July Fourth. We focused on a 15-day period including the week leading up to Independence Day, the holiday itself and the week following it. Here's what you can expect in 2025.

The worst day to fly on or before Fourth of July

Friday, June 27: To avoid crowds and save money, don’t fly the Friday before. Last year, the Friday before July Fourth was the busiest travel day in the week preceding the holiday.

Expedia expects that Friday, June 27, will be the most expensive day to fly in the seven-day window ahead of July Fourth.

The worst days to fly after Fourth of July

Sunday, July 6: For post-holiday travel, the Sunday after Fourth of July ranks as the busiest day to fly. In 2024, the Sunday after the holiday, July 7, marked the first time more than 3 million people passed through TSA checkpoints in a single day. About 36% more people passed through airports on that day compared to Fourth of July.

We expect similar patterns with a Friday holiday as people look to return home from the long weekend.

Friday, July 11: Along with July 6, this is one of the two most expensive days to fly in the seven-day period after July Fourth, according to Expedia. TSA data from the past six years shows that Fridays are typically the busiest day of the week throughout the year, so it’s no surprise that prices will be high.

The best days to fly on or before Fourth of July

Friday, July 4: Typically, Independence Day is the least busy day to fly. We expect that pattern to hold, even though the holiday falls on a Friday this year — and Fridays are typically busy days for flying. Last year, airport crowds on July Fourth were 24% smaller than they were on the busiest travel day in the week ahead of the holiday, which was the Friday before.

Fourth of July is also one of the cheapest days to fly in the week leading up to the holiday, according to Expedia — a sign of lower demand.

Monday, June 30: If you’d rather spend July Fourth celebrating — and not in an airport — turn to Monday, June 30. According to Expedia, Monday, June 30, will be the cheapest day to fly in the week leading up to the holiday. Booking a flight on this date gives you a head start on your vacation while avoiding the higher prices seen later in the week.

The best days to fly after Fourth of July

Monday, July 7, and Tuesday, July 8: These are the two cheapest dates to fly in the week after the holiday, according to Expedia. In general, Tuesday is also the least busy day on average at airports, according to a NerdWallet analysis of TSA data over the past six years.

» Learn more: The cheapest U.S. cities for a July 4th getaway in 2025

Optimize your Fourth of July itinerary

Avoid the July Fourth crowds and save money by traveling during less-crowded times.

For longer trips, fly earlier in the week. If you want to extend your trip, consider leaving on Monday or Tuesday ahead of the holiday, rather than Friday, June 27. For your return trip, try flying out on Monday or Tuesday following the holiday weekend.

Travel on July Fourth. Whether you’re arriving home or jetting off, flying early in the day on July Fourth might be a smart move. About 86% of flights departing between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. from major airports left on time, compared to just 71% of flights departing between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., according to Department of Transportation data from December 2024, the most recent data available.

Plus, a morning flight improves your odds of catching the fireworks at your final destination.