Idahoans, start your engines

BOISE - AAA Travel says 13.5 percent of the population in Idaho will travel during the Fourth of July holiday, compared to 12.9 percent for the U.S.

"We expect more than 172,000 Idahoans will drive 50 miles or more from home during this holiday period," said AAA Idaho spokesman Dave Carlson.

AAA expects 40.8 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Independence Day holiday, a 0.8 percent decrease from the 41.4 million who traveled a year ago.

Overall, the 2013 projection represents a 5 percent increase above the 13-year historical average of 38.9 million travelers and is on par with the most recent four-year period.

"This year's slight decline from a year ago is more a function of when the holiday falls during the week and less to do with the economy," Carlson said. "With the Fourth of July landing on a Thursday this year, the holiday period has returned to the standard five-day holiday, compared to the six-day period in 2012 when the holiday fell on a Wednesday."

AAA said this holiday is typically the busiest of the summer travel season with six million more Americans traveling than on Memorial Day, AAA said. The holiday period is defined as Wednesday, July 3 to Sunday, July 7.

Stronger economic signals in the Mountain Region mean the decline in the total person-trips in this region will be slightly lower than for the nation as whole, AAA said.

By the numbers

Highlights from the 2013 July 4 Travel Forecast:

n 40.8 million: number of travelers nationwide, down from 41.1 million a year ago.

n 84 percent: Portion of all travelers going by motor vehicle.

n 613 miles: expected average round-trip, down from 723 miles a year ago. Likely reflective of the shorter holiday season booked midway between two weekends last year.

n $747: median spending intended by holiday travelers, a negligible decrease from a year ago, when the number was $749.