Fireworks, parades, and barbecues come practically standard for the Fourth of July in the U.S. For many of us, the holiday weekend is also one of the most popular times to travel. With jam-packed flights and pricey hotel rates, traveling for the Fourth of July isn\u2019t always a picnic for your pocketbook, especially if you just started plotting a holiday getaway. With less than two weeks to plan your holiday travels, we have rounded up some of our favorite Fourth of July travel hacks for last minute planners – yes, we’re looking at you.<\/p>\n
National Parks are great spaces to celebrate Independence Day in the U.S. With more than 400 national parks to choose from, you are sure to find a stretch of land to appreciate the natural beauty of the U.S. However, don\u2019t just look to the national parks. When you are already stretching your budget on flights and accommodations, let your Fourth of July activities come at no cost. Travelers should look for national monuments, historic sites and national seashores for legendary Fourth\u00a0of July events.<\/p>\n
Some of our favorite sites hosting fun and free Fourth activities?\u00a0Bent\u2019s Old Fort National Historic Site<\/a> in Southern Colorado is hosting an old-fashioned Fourth of July with 1840s period activities. Valley Forge National Historic Park<\/a>\u00a0in Pennsylvania will have a community picnic with music, musket demonstrations, historical games, and an All-American cook-out. Check the National Park Service Event Search<\/a> feature to find free Fourth of July events near you at national parks, monuments, and historic sites.<\/p>\n The big fireworks shows tend to bring traffic, parking nightmares, and crowds. If you are traveling this Fourth of July, your accommodations might seem overpriced with many hotels raising their rates for the holiday. However, if you carefully select a property with a view of fireworks displays, your room will also lend you the perfect spot to watch fireworks. If you can\u2019t snag a room with a view, head toward a country club or the suburbs for less traffic and fewer headaches than the big shows.<\/p>\n With less than two weeks to plan your Fourth of July getaway<\/a>, don\u2019t get stuck in the big cities that charge\u00a0big-ticket hotel rates and flights. Cities like Washington D.C., New Orleans, and Boston can have sky-high last-minute holiday hotel rates and even steeper airline tickets. Instead of going to a crowded city, think small town. Smaller towns won\u2019t have the popularity to spike up hotel rates, making them much more doable last minute. Some small towns with big Fourth of July celebrations include Bend, Oregon<\/a> with its Fourth celebration complete with a pet parade and hula hoop contest, Bristol, Rhode Island<\/a> with what is believed to be the nation\u2019s oldest Fourth of July celebration dating back to 1785 and Seguin, Texas<\/a>, home to the biggest small town Fourth of July parade.<\/p>\n Sure, everyone wants to go somewhere to cool off for the Fourth of July, usually near a beach or body of water. If you’re strapped for cash, buck tradition and head away from bodies of water. Also, if you can take the heat, spots like Texas, Arizona, Utah and even the humid South can lend great savings as so many travelers are avoiding them due to their scorching temperatures.<\/p>\nBook a Room with a View<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Think Small Town for Big Savings<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Head for the Heat & Away from Water<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Don\u2019t Pay Your Car Rental Too Far in Advance<\/strong><\/h2>\n