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If you're driving, flying or on transit from NYC for July 4, why haven't you left yet?
By
Niamh McAuliffe
and
Samir Ferdowsi
Published Jul 3, 2025
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Kena Betancur/Getty Images
By
Niamh McAuliffe
and
Samir Ferdowsi
Published Jul 3, 2025
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Barbecues. Sunshine. Long days lounging at the Jersey Shore and Jones Beach. Patriotic and jubilant displays.
And traffic.
July 4 weekend is upon us, giving New Yorkers lots of reasons to celebrate. But if you’re heading into, out of or around the city and haven’t left yet, you might already have set yourself up for mind-numbingly long travel delays.
Here’s what to expect if you’re hitting the road, waters, rails or sky this weekend.
On the roads
The American Automobile Association predicts this holiday weekend will have the highest volume of people traveling by car, with a projected 6.6 million people on the roads.
The Port Authority anticipates that as many as 3.3 million vehicles will cross its bridges and tunnels over the holiday period, similar to the same period in 2024.
If you’re heading to the Jersey Shore, common sense and a little experience will tell you to expect a mess of traffic on the Garden State Parkway or alternates like Route 9, both going down and coming. But AAA, which predicts the worst times to hit the roads in major metro areas ahead of holiday weekends, actually anticipated that Tuesday afternoon was the worst time to be on the Parkway — so maybe you’ll get lucky.
The AAA’s also anticipating a rough ride back from the Albany area on Route 87 South this coming Sunday afternoon. So if you’re spending time north, beware.
Fireworks are fun … and kind of a hassle
Expect some gridlock and closed roads in the city — especially around the prime viewing areas for the Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks display. Roads will be closed along the viewing zones in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Dozens of streets on the Lower East Side and in the Financial District will be closed, from East Broadway to the FDR Drive. In Brooklyn, certain streets will be closed in Vinegar Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens and Red Hook. The DOT has released a full list of street closures.
Residents and employees of local businesses will be required to show ID at NYPD checkpoints to be allowed access into many streets in Brooklyn Heights and Dumbo starting at 8 p.m. The 2 and 3 trains will skip Clark Street in both directions until after the fireworks show is over at 11 p.m.
The Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges will also be closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic during the show.
On the buses and rails
According to the MTA, subways and buses across the five boroughs will run on a Saturday schedule on Friday, July 4. There will be increased service on the A, C, F, R, 2, and 4 trains in the late afternoon and early evening for the Macy’s Firework Show.
The Long Island Rail Road will operate on a Saturday schedule on Friday with off-peak fares in effect all day. Metro-North East of Hudson trains will run on a Sunday schedule, with two extra trains on the New Haven Line to accommodate riders after the Macy’s fireworks show.
PATH trains will run on a modified Saturday schedule on Friday. Journal Square-33rd Street (via Hoboken) and Newark-World Trade Center lines will be running.
Planned signal modernization and maintenance work will still continue through the holiday. There will be service changes on multiple train lines this weekend, so check your commute before heading out.
In the skies
According to the Port Authority, nearly 2.2 million people will travel through JFK, Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia and New York Stewart International airports. The Port Authority is anticipating travelers will set a new record for the holiday weekend.
Thursday and Monday are expected to be the busiest days.
The Port Authority is encouraging all air travelers to plan ahead and allow for additional travel time, especially if flying through JFK. The airport is undergoing major modernization and expansion upgrades, including work on its roadways. The Port Authority also strongly recommends travelers take advantage of mass transit to get to the airport instead. AirTrain JFK single-ride one-way fares are half-priced, at $4.25.
And though steps have been taken to mitigate the mess that's been Newark Airport travel this year, we'd still get there extra early.
On the water
The Rockaway Rocket ferry service returns starting on Friday, and continues every weekend through Sept. 1. The Rocket stops in Long Island City, Greenpoint and finally Rockaway Beach. The whole ride takes just about an hour and 15 minutes, according to the MTA.
City officials say this route is meant to reduce lines on other ferry routes during the weekends, especially the other Rockaway route that runs from Pier 11.
While the Rocket is blasting off starting on Friday, other routes are set to run with modifications. Most routes will end by around 3 p.m. to accommodate for the East River fireworks display, though the St. George route will continue later in the evening. The NYC Ferry’s schedule for individual routes is here.
Niamh McAuliffe
Read more
Samir Ferdowsi
Samir is a day-of reporter on the general assignment and breaking news desk. Previously Samir was a reporter, host and producer at VICE News.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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