July 4th holiday: 47 million people expected to travel

U.S. travelers will hit the roads, rails, and airports in record numbers this Fourth of July holiday, despite higher gasoline prices, the nation's largest automotive advocacy group said on Thursday.

Some 46.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles (80 km) over the upcoming July Fourth holiday, the fifth consecutive annual increase and highest travel volume since the group began tracking data 18 years ago, according to the AAA, or American Automobile Association.

The holiday period is defined this year from July 3 to July 8.