This Fourth of July, a record-high 72.2 million people are expected to travel at least 50 miles within the United States, participating in road trips, barbecues, and fireworks shows nationwide.
While grocery prices are relatively stagnant this year compared to 2024, gas prices have decreased, and fireworks costs are expected to skyrocket.
Here’s how much the Fourth of July will cost you in 2025:
Gas prices: Lowest in four years
Gas prices are reported to be at their lowest since COVID-19, as inflation hits its lowest levels since 2020. Nationwide, the average cost of a gallon of gas is $3.14, roughly 32 cents cheaper than this time last year.
Some 1.7 million more people are planning on traveling within the U.S. between June 28 and July 6 than during the same period last year, and about 61.6 million people will travel by car, according to AAA.
States like California, Washington, and Hawaii are seeing the highest gas prices in the country, a staggering $4.30 per gallon, while states like Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Texas are seeing $2.67 per gallon.
Lower gas prices are due to the increasing stabilization in the Middle East as tensions between Iran and Israel de-escalate. While many hope gas prices decrease, the next few months, peak hurricane season, may cause gas prices to soar. The U.S. is expected to have a 60% of an “above-normal season” and see three to five major hurricanes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, told CNN that if Middle East conflicts simmer, and no major storms hit the U.S., gas prices could drop below $3 a gallon by the end of the summer.
Food costs: Staying relatively steady
As gas prices decrease, food costs are staying relatively stable. A Fourth of July cookout will cost roughly $70.92 for 10 guests this year — a 30-cent decrease from last year’s record-high costs since the group began the survey in 2013, according to a 2025 survey from the American Farm Bureau Federation.
The $70.92 total includes cheeseburgers, chicken breasts, pork chops, homemade potato salad, strawberries, and ice cream, among other foods. The survey doesn’t represent all Fourth of July food preferences, but it does give a general idea of the costs families are expected to see in the summertime.
“Inflation and lower availability of some food items continue to keep prices stubbornly high for America’s families,” Samantha Ayoub, an AFBF associate economist, said in a press release. “High prices don’t mean more money for farmers, however. Farmers are price takers, not price makers. Their share of the food retail dollar is just 15%. The cost of running their farm is up, from labor and transportation to taxes.”
| Food Item | 2025 Cost | Change from 2024 |
| Pork and beans (32 ounces) | $2.69 | 8.20% |
| Homemade potato salad (2.5 pounds) | $3.54 | 6.60% |
| Ground Beef (2 pounds) | $13.33 | 4.40% |
| Lemonade, fresh-squeezed (2.5 quarts) | $4.37 | 4.20% |
| Strawberries (2 pints) | $4.69 | 1.70% |
| Vanilla ice cream (1/2 gallon | $5.69 | 0.70% |
| Chocolate chip cookies (13 ounces) | $4.00 | 0.30% |
| Chicken breast, boneless, skinless (2 pounds) | $7.79 | -0.50% |
| Cheese slices (1 pound) | $3.54 | -0.90% |
| Potato chips (16 ounce bag) | $4.80 | -2.10% |
| Hamburger buns (8 buns) | $2.35 | -2.60% |
| Pork chops (3 pounds) | $14.13 | -8.80% |
| Total cookout cost | $70.92 | -0.004% |
In certain regions of the U.S., Fourth of July cookout costs for 10 people vary. In the Midwest, the average cost is $69.87, a less than $2 increase from 2024. Western states saw a $6 decrease, and the Northeast has the lowest average at $63.79.
Fireworks: Expected to skyrocket
While inflation is at its lowest since 2020, firework displays have gotten more expensive. Ninety-nine percent of fireworks sold in the U.S. come from China, which is currently facing 30% tariffs.
While 30% is still lower than President Donald Trump‘s initial tariff of 145% on Chinese imports, many businesses cannot afford to buy and sell fireworks at the new rate, especially since most are small businesses, former National Fireworks Association President Steve Houser told the Washington Examiner.
“It’s been three weeks and counting since production of fireworks for the USA has stopped,” the group wrote on X. “With production schedules full for other countries, the window is closing on making enough goods to satisfy demand for 2026.”
The U.S. has always relied on China for fireworks. In 2024, the U.S. imported $489 million worth of fireworks — $485 million of those coming from China. While Trump has pushed for more American-made products, Houser said that it isn’t an option for fireworks production.
FIREWORKS ADVOCACY GROUP WARNS OF SHORTAGE FOR FOURTH OF JULY NEXT YEAR
If fireworks are still taxed at the current tariff rate next year, every fireworks show in 2026 will be more expensive, or not exist at all. As a result, many importers have held their fireworks in China to wait out the tariffs, according to CNN.
But, with America’s 250th birthday approaching in 2026, businesses are expecting to see the largest celebrations ever. If those festivities include fireworks, shortages may affect Independence Day next year.