PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Nearly 50 million people are expected to travel for the Fourth of July this year, according to AAA.

AAA says a “record-breaking” 46.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more for the holiday, which is an increase of more than 5 percent compared to last year. AAA Northeast says more than 2 million of those travelers will be from New England.

“Terrible Tuesday,” the day before the Fourth of July, is the worst day to travel, according to AAA, with travel times being twice as long.

“This Independence Day will be one for the record books, as more Americans take to the nation’s roads, skies, rails and waterways than ever before,” AAA Northeast Senior Vice President of Public and Government Affairs Lloyd Albert said. “Confident consumers with additional disposable income will look to spend on travel this holiday, building on an already busy summer travel season.”

AAA said the increase in travelers can also be attributed to the holiday falling on a Wednesday this year, giving people more flexibility to schedule trips the weekend before or after the holiday.

AAA also said this is the highest number of people traveling at any point since 2001.

Those traveling to see the 233rd Annual Bristol Fourth of July Parade now have the option of taking a ferry from Providence. 

This is the first year a ferry will be picking people up in Providence and dropping people off in Bristol, though tickets for the ferry that drops off in time for the parade are already sold out.