Rush to get out of town for Fourth of July begins

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The rush to get out of town begins on Thursday for the Fourth of July holiday weekend, and people are hitting the road or heading to the airport.

AAA estimates that nearly 85 percent of travelers -- 35.5 million Americans nationwide -- will be hitting the roads.

After five months of rising, gas prices appear to have peaked for the season.

And it's a good sign for the nation's birthday and economy: More people are working and have the money to take some time off to celebrate the Fourth of July.