Staff photo by Tim Barber
Holiday travelers exit the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway at the base of the mountain in St. Elmo on Thursday, July 2, 2015. The Fourth of July weekend is one of the heaviest domestic travel days of the year.Torrential rain forecast for large parts of the country this Fourth of July weekend may drown out some events, but the largest number of people since 2007 are still expected to hit the roads.
According to AAA, around 41.9 million Americans will take trips 50 miles or more away from home over Independence Day week (which runs July 1-5), whether it's to visit relatives or simply get away for vacation.
Partly, it's because things are better financially for many families than in recent years.
But nationally, it's also due in part to gas prices hovering under $3 a gallon, the lowest average for this time of year in at least five years, reports AAA.
Weekend weather
› Today: Thunderstorms: highs in lower 80s, lows in upper 60s› July 4: Thunderstorms: highs in lower 80s, lows in upper 60s› July 5: 50 percent chance of storms: highs in lower 80s, lows in mid-60sSource: National Weather Service
Last year, Fourth of July gas prices in Chattanooga averaged around $3.37 a gallon, but this year, it's more around $2.50 a gallon.
Typically higher than local prices, national gas prices are averaging just above Chattanooga right now, at about $2.76 a gallon.
Whatever it is that draws people out of the house this holiday weekend, local tourism attractions and get-away spots are glad to see Independence Day come around the corner.
Lisa McClung, general manager at the Lost Sea in Sweetwater, said the Fourth of July is always the underground attraction's biggest weekend.
"On the Fourth, that's when a lot of people get their week vacations, so a lot of them are traveling," she said.
The Lost Sea, which turned 50 last month, usually hosts 1,000 to 1,200 - even up to 1,500 - guests on the busiest Fourth business day, which often actually turns out to be the day before Independence Day.
Because by the time July 4 actually rolls around, travelers are "usually where they're going," said McClung.
But en route to wherever that is, they like to stop off, take a break from the Interstate and visit.
This year will be a little different, with the holiday falling on a Saturday instead of a weekday, but McClung said Lost Sea officials are "curious if the Fourth will be our busiest day."
Thom Benson, spokesman for the Tennessee Aquarium, emphasized the importance of the Fourth of July weekend, not just for business, but as a barometer for the rest of the month.
"A strong Fourth of July weekend can signal a strong month, but several factors come into play from year to year," he said.
Benson said the aquarium typically averages around 3,800 visitiors on July 4.
Meanwhile at Raccoon Mountain Caverns and Campground, staff have known for over a month that the July 4 weekend was going to be busy - because all the campground's cabins were claimed that long ago.
"It's one of the busiest weeks of the year," said Caleb Massey, assistant manager.
Massey has worked at the park for seven years and says folks always make a strong showing to camp over the long weekend.
As of Thursday, all 65 RV sites were taken.
Only a handful of traditional camping sites were still up for grabs.
"Just about everything's booked up," said Massey.
He said anyone still waffling over camping this weekend should "make reservations ASAP" if they're leaning toward going.
And while the rain had many families and local governments making alternative plans for the weekend, some were holding fast to hope that things would dry up enough to go on with the show.
Soddy-Daisy City Manager Janice Cagle said the city - known for its large firework show over the lake - was planning on July 4 pyrotechnics.
"If we don't drown, we will have another [show]," she said.
Contact staff writer Alex Green at agreen@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6480.
For updates on weather forecasts and firework shows, visit timesfreepress.com