AAA says millions to travel for Christmas. Here’s everything to know
What’s New
AAA predicts that 119.3 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday season between Saturday, December 21, and Wednesday, January 1, marking a record-breaking year.
Why It Matters
Domestic travel projections from 2024 show more travelers this year compared to the previous record set in 2019. There will also be an additional 3 million travelers this holiday season compared to last year.
“This is the time of year when lifelong memories are made with loved ones, and travel plays a big role in that,” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. “This year, with Christmas Day falling on a Wednesday, we’re anticipating record-breaking travel numbers the weekend before and the weekend after the holiday.”
Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images
What To Know
Nearly 90 percent of holiday travelers will be driving to their destinations this year. Around 107 million people are expected to travel by car.
For the drivers, gas prices are lower this year than the past two previous holiday seasons. The current national average at the time of writing is $3.03 for a regular gallon of gas. The national average was around $3.12 in the last two weeks of 2023.
Air travelers will set a new record this holiday season, with 7.85 million passengers. That number passed the previous record of 7.5 million last year.
Travel by bus, train and cruise is also up this season, by nearly 10 percent compared to last year.
Domestically, the top 10 destinations are:
- Orlando, Florida
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Miami, Florida
- Anaheim/Los Angeles, California
- Tampa, Florida
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Charleston, South Carolina
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- New York, New York
Internationally, the top 10 destinations are:
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- Mexicali, Mexico
- Cancun, Mexico
- Bahrain, Bahrain
- Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- San Josa, Costa Rica
- San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Nassau, Bahamas
- Oranjestad, Aruba
- London, England
In addition to the exorbitant number of people traveling, the weather this holiday season may pose an issue to many.
AccuWeather has predicted that more towns and cities across the U.S. are likely to experience a white Christmas this year compared to 2023. For a Christmas to be considered “white,” there must be at least one inch of snow on the ground on Christmas morning.
When Is The Best Time To Travel For The Holidays?
“With a near record number of auto travelers expected this holiday season, drivers should expect delays in and around major metro areas, with Sunday, December 22 expected to be the nation’s worst day to travel,” says Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX.
The best travel times overall by day are:
| Date | Best Travel Time |
| Thursday, December 19 | Before 11 a.m. |
| Friday, December 20 | Before 11 a.m. |
| Saturday, December 21 | Before 2 p.m. |
| Sunday, December 22 | Before noon |
| Monday, December 23 | Before 11 a.m. |
| Tuesday, December 24 | Minimal Traffic Impact Expected |
| Wednesday, December 25 | Minimal Traffic Impact Expected |
| Thursday, December 26 | Before 11 a.m. |
| Friday, December 27 | Before 2 p.m. |
| Saturday, December 28 | Before 11 a.m. |
| Sunday, December 29 | Before 11 a.m. |
| Monday, December 30 | Before 2 p.m. |
| Tuesday, December 31 | Minimal Traffic Impact Expected |
| Wednesday, January 1 | Minimal Traffic Impact Expected |
| Thursday, January 2 | Before 3 p.m. |
The worst travel times overall by day are:
| Date | Worst Travel Time |
| Thursday, December 19 | 3-8 p.m. |
| Friday, December 20 | 1-8 p.m. |
| Saturday, December 21 | 4-8 p.m. |
| Sunday, December 22 | 3-8 p.m. |
| Monday, December 23 | 1-6 p.m. |
| Tuesday, December 24 | Minimal Traffic Impact Expected |
| Wednesday, December 25 | Minimal Traffic Impact Expected |
| Thursday, December 26 | 12-5 p.m. |
| Friday, December 27 | 3-7 p.m. |
| Saturday, December 28 | 1:30-7 p.m. |
| Sunday, December 29 | 12-6 p.m. |
| Monday, December 30 | 5-7 p.m. |
| Tuesday, December 31 | Minimal Traffic Impact Expected |
| Wednesday, January 1 | Minimal Traffic Impact Expected |
| Thursday, January 2 | 4-8 p.m. |
By specific metro area, it depends on the area for when peak congestion will take place. The majority of major metro areas will see their peak congestion on Sunday, December 22.
| Metro | Route | Peak Congestion Period | Estimated Travel Time | Increase Compared to Typical Travel |
| Atlanta | Atlanta to Augusta via I-20 E | Sunday, December 22 at 1:45 p.m. | 2 hours, 54 minutes | 38 percent |
| Boston | Boston to Hyannis via Pilgrim Highway S | Friday, December 20 at 3:45 p.m. | 2 hours, 24 minutes | 100 percent |
| Chicago | Chicago to Milwaukee via I-94 W | Sunday, December 22 at 4:45 p.m. | 2 hours, 2 minutes | 69 percent |
| Denver | Fort Collins to Denver via I-25 S | Sunday, December 29 at 1 p.m. | 1 hour, 31 minutes | 67 percent |
| Detroit | Detroit to Cleveland via I-75 S | Monday, December 23 at 4:30 p.m. | 3 hours, 23 minutes | 36 percent |
| Houston | Lafayette to Houston via I-10 W | Friday, December 27 at 5:45 p.m. | 4 hours, 54 minutes | 53 percent |
| Los Angeles | Los Angeles to Palm Springs via I-10 E | Sunday, December 22 at 7:45 p.m. | 2 hours, 53 minutes | 81 percent |
| Minneapolis | Eau Claire to Minneapolis via I-94 W | Sunday, December 29 at 4:30 p.m. | 1 hour, 54 minutes | 46 percent |
| New York | New York to Hamptons via Long Island Expressway E | Sunday, December 22 at 4:30 p.m. | 2 hours, 39 minutes | 108 percent |
| Philadelphia | Philadelphia to Baltimore/DC via I-95 S | Sunday, December 22 at 4:45 p.m. | 2 hours, 4 minutes | 40 percent |
| Portland | Portland to Eugene via I-5 S | Sunday, December 22 at 3:45 p.m. | 2 hours, 23 minutes | 50 percent |
| San Diego | San Diego to Palm Springs via I-15 N | Friday, December 20 at 6:15 p.m. | 3 hours, 7 minutes | 35 percent |
| San Francisco | San Francisco to Napa via I-80 E | Saturday, December 21 at 7:30 p.m. | 2 hours, 2 minutes | 82 percent |
| Seattle | Seattle to Ellensburg via I-90 W | Friday, December 20 at 7 p.m. | 3 hours, 18 minutes | 106 percent |
| Tampa | Gainesville to Tampa via I-75 S | Saturday, December 28 at 10:30 a.m. | 2 hours, 54 minutes | 53 percent |
| Washington, DC | Washington DC to Annapolis via US-50 E | Thursday, December 19 at 4:30 p.m. | 1 hour, 17 minutes | 160 percent |
Is Christmas A Busy Travel Day?
Transportation and data insight company INRIX predicts that drivers in Boston, New York City, Seattle and Washington, D.C., may see double the typical delays. Nationwide, travel time could be up to 30 percent longer.
On Christmas itself, INRIX predicts minimal traffic impact. The days before and after are worse.
Hertz predicts that Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Oahu, Orlando, Phoenix and Tampa will have the highest rental demand this holiday season, with the busiest car pick-up days on Friday, December 20, and Saturday, December 21.
Weather Could Impede Travel In 23 States
Winter weather warnings are in place for 23 states this weekend, with forecasters warning that travel conditions could range from difficult to impossible.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), residents in states including Idaho, Pennsylvania and New York, among others, should exercise caution when traveling over the weekend amid icy conditions on the roads.
AAA noted that there will also be additional people on the road, so while it may be “tempting to speed,” driving at 80 miles per hour instead of 75 miles per hour only saves five minutes on a 100-mile commute, which the company called “hardly worth the risk.”
What People Are Saying
Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, told AAA: “Our advice is to avoid traveling during peak commuting hours during the week. If schedules allow, leave bright and early or after the evening commute.”
Paul Pastelok, AccuWeather’s lead long-range meteorologist told AccuWeather: “The cold blast will feel like January and will deliver a significant shock to hundreds of millions of people who may have gotten used to warm conditions during much of the autumn”
AccuWeather meteorologist Tom Kines previously told Newsweek: “Regardless of whether that storm hugs the coast or gets its act together, it is going to pull some cold air across the Northeast, Great Lakes and Midwest.”
What Happens Next
Temperatures will likely plunge in the Northeast this weekend.
