AAA Travel recently released a report that an estimated 41 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this Independence Day weekend. That’s a 1.9 percent increase from the 40.3 million people who traveled last year, according to a AAA press release.

An estimated 34.8 million are choosing to travel by car, the highest level since 2007, states the release.

AAA Travel is also projecting that many U.S. drivers can expect to be hit by higher gas prices as the holiday weekend rolls near. The national average price of gas is about 20 cents per gallon more expensive than the average price last year leading up to the Fourth of July.

While prices generally decline in the weeks leading up to the Fourth, that has not occurred this summer “due to higher crude oil costs as fighting intensifies in Iraq,” states the report. The price increase is still not expected to detour Americans from enjoying their Fourth of July weekend travel.

For the latest gas prices, drivers are encouraged to visit www.FuelGaugeReport.AAA.com for pricing across the nation.