Washington

Washington has one of the top July 4 travel destinations in the nation, AAA reports

Published

9 months ago

June 26, 2025

Washington has one of the top July 4 travel destinations in the nation, AAA reports

A new report from AAA predicts that a record number of Americans will travel over the July 4 holiday, and it reveals that a city in Washington state is a top destination for domestic travelers.

The automobile association projects that 72.2 million people will travel 50 miles or more over the Independence Day period from June 28 to July 6. That’s 1.7 million more travelers compared to 2024 and 7 million more compared to 2019, according to the report.

The increase is bolstered by “strong demand” for car and plane trips during the holiday week, Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in the report. July 4 falling on a Friday is also a factor, as travelers can take advantage of the extended weekend, Barber said.

Here’s what to know.

Which Washington city ranks as a top July 4 travel destination?

According to AAA booking data, Seattle is one of the top 10 destinations in the U.S. for the Independence Day travel period, the report said.

Other top cities include:

Orlando, Florida
New York, New York
Anchorage, Alaska
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Honolulu, Hawaii
Denver, Colorado
Miami, Florida
Boston, Massachusetts
Atlanta, Georgia

“Cruises, beaches, and fireworks are the main motivators for travelers heading to these cities,” the report states. “Alaska cruises are in peak season, Florida and Hawaii are in high demand for their resorts and attractions, and New York and Boston host two of the most popular fireworks shows in the nation.”

In 2024, Seattle and King County welcomed a total of 40 million visitors, representing a 5.3% increase from 2023, according to Visit Seattle, a nonprofit tourism marketing organization. Visitor spending totaled $8.8 billion, according to the organization’s 2024 data.

What is the price of gas in Washington state?

The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Washington was $4.451 on June 26, according to AAA Fuel Prices. The national average was $3.22.

The state’s gas tax will increase by 6 cents per gallon on July 1, from 49.4 cents to 55.4 cents per gallon, the Washington State Standard reported.

What’s happening in Washington on July 4?

There are multiple ways to celebrate Independence Day in the Seattle area and throughout Washington, including fireworks displays, live music, parades, and ball games. Here’s a selection of events:

Bremerton

Port Orchard

Kingston

Seattle

Vancouver area

Spokane

Walla Walla

Read more about what’s happening in Kitsap here.

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Washington

In deep-red Washington County, a surge in Democratic candidates

Published

2 hours ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

In deep-red Washington County, a surge in Democratic candidates

Anger over a proposed immigration detention center in Williamsport and a gradual reduction in public participation at county commissioner meetings are cited as possible reasons for a surge in Democratic, and younger, candidates in Washington County.

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Washington

North Dakota National Guard heading to Washington duty

Published

14 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

North Dakota National Guard heading to Washington duty

BISMARCK — About 60 North Dakota Army National Guard Soldiers will be sent to help the District of Columbia National Guard under a joint task force starting in April.

Most soldiers are from the 131st Military Police Battalion, which is headquartered in Bismarck, according to a release.

The support will be given as part of the effort that began on Aug. 11, when several states activated members of their National Guard to support local and federal law enforcement in Washington under the President Donald Trump’s

executive order 14333,

which declared a crime emergency in the nation’s capital.

The support is a federal mission under the command of the D.C. National Guard, which supports civilian agencies and local law enforcement to reduce crime and minimize property damage.

“Safeguarding the citizens, federal workers and elected leaders in our nation’s capital is a matter of national security, and we appreciate these Soldiers volunteering for this important mission,” said North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong in a release. “We know they will represent our state with the skill and professionalism that military leaders everywhere have come to expect from the North Dakota National Guard.”

The battalion is expected to be in Washington for about three months.

Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.

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Washington

Brothers shot Park Police officer who arrested one of them the day before, documents say

Published

3 days ago

March 25, 2026

Press Room

Brothers shot Park Police officer who arrested one of them the day before, documents say

Charging documents reveal the U.S. Park Police officer who was shot Monday in Southeast D.C. had arrested one of the suspects the day before and was following that suspect at the time.

The suspects are brothers, 22-year-old Asheile Foster and 21-year-old Darren Foster, of Southeast. They appeared in federal court Wednesday afternoon.

Court documents state the Park Police officer who was shot had arrested Asheile Foster on Sunday on suspicion of dealing drugs. The officer said he followed Foster after he was released from jail on Monday and came to Park Police headquarters to get his personal belongings.

According to prosecutors, Foster told police he knew he was being followed by a white Tesla, and he confronted the officer on Queens Stroll Place SE, jumping out in front of the Tesla before the officer swerved around him.

Then, dozens of gunshots went off, the officer told police. He said in charging documents he was shot in the shoulder as he kept driving several blocks to the intersection of Benning Road and Southern Avenue SE, where police found him. A helicopter then took him to a hospital. According to charging documents, the officer was treated and released the same night as the shooting.

A U.S. Park Police officer who was shot in Southeast D.C. on Monday is recovering from what authorities say was likely a targeted attack. Multiple law enforcement sources tell News4’s Mark Segraves that when the officer was shot, he was investigating a shooting that occurred in Anacostia Park on Friday.

Photos in the charging documents show the brothers firing at the officer’s Tesla, according to prosecutors.

The shooting drew a massive police presence to the Southeast neighborhood near the D.C-Maryland border Monday night.

Shell casings littered the middle of the street. Police said they recovered two weapons: a Glock 9 with an extended magazine and an AR-15.

Prosecutors said that when the officer was shot, he was investigating a shooting that occurred in Anacostia Park on Friday. No one was injured in that shooting.

Darren Foster was located and stopped shortly after the shooting, D.C. police said. Asheile Foster was found on Tuesday.

The brothers were charged with assault on a federal officer, assault with intent to kill and weapons charges. They could face up to 60 years in prison if they’re convicted.