AAA Says 72 Million Americans Will Travel This July 4th—and Your House Is Vulnerable on Vacation 

To celebrate America’s 250th birthday, Americans will be taking to the skies and roads in droves. 

AAA projects 72.2 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home for Independence Day between Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, July 5, surpassing last year’s record of 71.8 million travelers.

For homeowners, hitting the road means leaving your home unattended, which can be scary. Anything can happen from unexpected damage to pest invasions to the most anxiety inducing situation of all: burglaries. 

Knowing how to protect your home when you’re away is critical, not just for your peace of mind, but also to ensure you can make the proper claims to your insurance company if needed. 

Create a plan to maintain everyday appearances

"It's important to have a solid plan in place before leaving town," says Jen Wilbert, assistant vice president, property portfolio at Travelers Insurance. 

Robbers will case out homes that look empty. So if you're en route to vacation, you want to create the illusion you never left.

"It’s important to make it look like someone is home even if you are not," says Wilbert, who suggests using automatic timers or smart lightbulbs that can be controlled remotely to turn lights on and off in various parts of the house and installing motion-sensitive lights outside to add security. "Outdoor lighting can be the difference between your home being targeted, or not, by thieves."  

Creating the appearance that you're still present also means making a plan to keep up with everyday home-maintenance activities. Yes, you should have someone collect your mail and ask a neighbor to grab any packages that may be delivered while you are away. But don't forget about typical "weekly" tasks as well.

For example, an unkempt lawn can signal that your home is vacant, which could attract burglars.

"Arrange for lawn mowing so you do not advertise when you are away from home," suggests Wilbert. "Also, ask a neighbor to set out your trash on collection day and then retrieve empty cans and recycling bins the same day."

Remember not to advertise your absence

As tempting as it may be, keep your vacation plans private. In fact, it’s a good idea to keep as much about your life private as possible.

Because thieves are watching. 

Case in point: In May 2026, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna addressed the surge of residential burglaries that were plaguing the area. 

Luna explained that international theft groups—who often enter the country on 90-day tourist visas— conducted extensive preplanning and used sophisticated tactics, including online research and surveillance of intended victims, before breaking into their targeted homes.

"Everyone wants to put everything on social media," says Luna. "You put that stuff out there, your friends and family aren't the only ones paying attention. There are people that will target you for expensive handbags, jewelry, and other items."

So while it might seem harmless to share details like this online, to keep your home safe, it’s better to be cautious. 

"Refrain from sharing travel plans on social media to prevent potential burglars from exploiting information about when your house will be vacant," says Wilbert.

Secure your home from the inside out and outside in

Obviously you're going to lock your doors when you leave, but have you thought about all the other ways someone could get into your house?

"Reinforce external access points, which are any entryways or openings to your home that can be accessed from the outside," says Wilbert.

This can be done with deadbolt locks and security hinges which make it more difficult to remove the door or tamper with the hinge pins. Also refrain from leaving your house key hidden somewhere outside your home and make sure all gates, fences, and garage doors are locked and secured.

And don't forget about the windows!

"Before you leave on vacation, you’ll want to ensure all of the windows on your home are locked and cannot be opened from the outside," says Wilbert.

If your window does not have a lock and you are unable to have them installed before you leave for vacation, Wilbert suggests that homeowners consider inserting a restrictor, using a piece of a wood as a wedge to block the track (if it’s a sliding window), or applying a security film to make it harder for intruders to break the glass.

Finally, if you have a security system, safeguard your home against theft by ensuring alarm systems are functional before your departure.

"If you have an alarm monitoring device, you can run the system in 'test mode' triggering doors and sensors to see if the system is working properly," suggests Wilbert. "If you have a self-monitored system, ensure you are receiving notifications through app, text, or email."

Compile a comprehensive inventory list

This is a step many travelers don't think about ahead of time, but in the off chance that something does happen to your property while you're gone, would you be able to accurately recall everything you own in detail?

"Document possessions inside your home and on your property that may be of value, before you leave on vacation," advises Wilbert. "Create a photo or video inventory and store it in a cloud-based service to ensure it won’t be lost, stolen, or damaged during any disaster at your home."

Take pictures of relevant rooms or items—including serial numbers, purchase dates, receipts, and other details. If you choose to create a paper version, consider storing it off-site in a safe deposit box (which is also a good place to store any expensive jewelry or heirlooms). Wilbert says you may have possessions that are worth more than you think, and your homeowners insurance policy may not cover those high-value items—unless accounted for and appraised.

"Having a detailed and up-to-date inventory list can help to expedite the claims process, allowing you and the insurance adjuster to accurately assess the value of your lost or damaged possessions if something were to happen," says Wilbert.

Additional edits and information provided by Dina Sartore-Bodo.