As the summer travel season gets into full swing, the AAA is projecting more than 72 million people will hit the road over the July 4th holiday period — and this year, the travel rush will start the weekend before, the association says. NBC’s Ryan Nobles reports for TODAY.

AAA Northeast is projecting that 72.2 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home over the Independence Day holiday period.

AAA expects 72 million travelers during the nine-day holiday stretch in 2025, but airports are testing new technology to handle the surge.