Robert Buck launches his son, Alex, 11, into the air in the Clinton Lake swimming area. The Buck family, from Bonner Springs, came to Clinton Lake on Friday to relax. Temperatures hovered around the century mark on Friday and are expected to remain hot and humid until the Fourth of July.

Americans are ready to celebrate their country’s birthday a little early, making it a four-day affair for some.

This weekend is expected to be sunny, hot and mostly dry with lots of people in the usual places as the Fourth of July nears.

“We’re expecting a real big weekend; maybe our biggest,” said Lee Kennedy, manager of the Clinton Lake Marina. “The water temperature is around 80 degrees, so it’s beautiful water.”

Thousands of people will travel over the highways headed toward area lakes and parks or to the backyards of friends and relatives to celebrate the holiday.

Even where fireworks are banned, such as in Lawrence, it shouldn’t be difficult to find a nearby public display.

The Jaycees will sponsor their annual fireworks show beginning at dusk Tuesday in Burcham Park along the Kansas River.

There is no admission for the event. The Journal-World is sponsoring the buses that will transport people to the park. As in previous years, the buses will make a loop of downtown parking lots to take people to and from the park.

An estimated 40.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this weekend, according to AAA. That is a 1.2 percent increase from last year, despite this year’s higher gas prices.

The national average price of a gallon of gas is $2.87; in Kansas it is $2.80. The Lawrence average is $2.78.

From left, Alex , 6, Michael and Abby Pang, 11, relax at their camp site Friday near Clinton Lake after an afternoon swim. The Topeka family planned to head home this morning to beat the Fourth of July weekend crowd.

Beachfront properties top the list of favorite destinations this holiday as 22 percent of travelers plan to take a water-based vacation.

Those traveling overnight and needing a place to stay may have a tough time finding a vacant hotel or motel room. More than a quarter of Fourth of July travelers plan to stay in a hotel or motel, according to AAA.

The major starting period for travel by vehicle began after work Friday, Kansas Highway Patrol Lt. John Eichkorn said.

“We expect most people to take advantage of a four-day weekend,” he said. “It is going to be a busy weekend.”

Kansas Highway Patrol troopers will be especially watchful for impaired drivers, Eichkorn said. Fourth of July activities are mostly outdoors and that means alcohol will be served at many of them, he said.

Last July, during a shorter, three-day holiday weekend, there were 43 alcohol-related vehicle accidents in Kansas, causing 26 injuries and one death, according to Highway Patrol records.

The weather should cooperate with the celebrations, according to Matt Wolters, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Topeka. Temperatures will be in the 90s, he said.

A weak frontal boundary is expected in the area Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, and that could bring some rain.

“It doesn’t look like it is going to wash out the entire three days,” Wolters said. “It should leave most of the days dry.”