AAA Forecasts Record Year-End Holiday Travel With 122.4 Million Americans on the Move

HARRISBURG, Pa. (EYT) — AAA projects 122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home during the year end holiday period running from December 20 through January 1, according to the organization’s annual forecast, marking a 2.2 percent increase from last year and setting a record for holiday travel.

According to AAA, the forecast surpasses the previous record of 119.7 million travelers in 2024 and reflects continued demand for holiday trips by car, plane, and other transportation modes.

“As we continue to set new travel records, it’s clear that most Americans love to travel and make it a priority, especially when making year end travel plans,” said Jim Garrity, director of public affairs for AAA East Central, in a prepared statement.

AAA’s Mid Atlantic region, which includes Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey, is expected to see 13.8 million travelers, a 2.3 percent increase from last year, according to regional projections. Of those travelers, about 12.4 million are expected to travel by automobile, while 945,000 will fly and roughly 451,000 will travel by bus, train, cruise ship, or other modes.

Nationwide, AAA estimates 109.5 million people will travel by car, accounting for about 89 percent of all holiday trips, according to the forecast. AAA cited lower gasoline prices compared to last year as a factor, noting the national average recently fell below $3 per gallon for the first time in four years.

AAA reported it responded to more than 860,000 roadside assistance calls during the 2024 year-end holiday period, primarily for dead batteries, flat tires, and empty fuel tanks. The organization urged drivers to slow down and move over when encountering stopped vehicles, tow trucks, or emergency responders along roadways, according to AAA safety guidance.

For travelers renting vehicles, AAA’s rental partner Hertz expects Saturday, December 20, to be the busiest pickup day, according to AAA. The highest demand markets are Orlando, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami, and Phoenix, with small SUVs leading rental preferences. AAA booking data shows domestic rental prices are about 1 percent higher than last year.

AAA also projects a record 8.03 million travelers will take domestic flights during the holiday period, a 2.3 percent increase over 2024 and the first time domestic air travel is expected to exceed 8 million travelers at year end, according to AAA data. AAA reported the average domestic round trip airfare is nearly $900, about 7 percent higher than last year, with the days leading up to Christmas being the most expensive.

Travel by bus, train, and cruise ship is expected to reach 4.9 million travelers nationwide, an increase of about 9 percent from last year, according to AAA. The organization attributed much of that growth to continued demand for cruises since the pandemic.

AAA booking data shows warm weather destinations dominate holiday travel plans, with Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Anaheim or Los Angeles, and Honolulu topping domestic destinations. International and Caribbean destinations include Cancun, Punta Cana, Cozumel, San Jose in Costa Rica, and Puerto Vallarta, according to AAA.

Traffic analytics firm INRIX reported Christmas week is expected to be busier on the roads than New Year’s week, with the heaviest congestion forecast for the weekend before Christmas and Friday, December 26. INRIX noted Christmas Day and New Year’s Day typically see lighter traffic, barring crashes or severe weather.

AAA said its holiday travel forecast is developed in cooperation with S&P Global Market Intelligence and is based on economic indicators, travel data, and historical travel behavior, with forecasts measuring person trips rather than individual airport screenings.

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