AAA is predicting that nearly 43 million Americans will be traveling this 4th of July holiday.

The travel volume, which is a four-percent increase over last year, is the highest recorded for any holiday since the auto club began tracking travel n 2000.

What's driving this holiday's record numbers? Lower gas prices, lower unemployment, robust spending and more money in our pockets, says Ed Welsh, Regional General Manager for AAA Northeast. "We're working more, we're earning more, and we're spending more so we can travel more," he said.

85 percent of holiday travelers will be driving, the most ever for the holiday and they'll find some good news at the gas pumps.

The average price for a gallon of gas is about 15 cents lower than this time last year.

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