AAA: 1-in-3 Americans Will Travel this Holiday Season

AAA forecasts that more than one-third of Americans will take to the nation’s runways, roadways, and rails this holiday season.

The record-breaking 112.5 million travelers represents a 4.4 percent increase over last year and the most since AAA began tracking holiday travel.

For the more than 102 million people who will pack up their cars for a holiday road trip, INRIX, a global mobility analytics company, predicts travel times in the most congested cities in the U.S. could be as much as four times longer than a normal trip.

“It’s exciting to see a record-breaking number of people traveling and bringing cheer to family and friends,” said Jim Lehman, president of AAA East Central. “The strong economy and declining gas price trends play a role in this year’s projected increase.”

The year-end holiday travel period is defined as Saturday, Dec. 22, through Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019. The 11-day span is one day longer than last year, due to Christmas and New Year’s Day falling on Tuesdays this year.

Forecast highlights

Holiday travelers in the Mid-Atlantic region (New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania), will total 13 million, an increase of 4.5 percent from the 12.4 million in 2017.

11.7 million will travel by automobile, up 4.6 percent from last year’s number of 11.2 million.

842,000 people will fly to their destinations, up 3.8 percent from the previous year’s amount of 812,000.

Holiday Hotspots

Based on historical and recent travel trends, INRIX expects drivers to experience the greatest amount of congestion before the holiday week – starting on Wednesday, Dec. 19 – as commuters and holiday travelers mix on our nation’s busiest roadways. Drivers in Atlanta, New York City, Boston and Houston will see travel times more than three times a normal trip.

Falling gas prices

While gas has been relatively expensive throughout this year, a recent drop, combined with rising disposable income, is motivating more Americans to hit the road this holiday season.

Gas prices averaged $2.46 for the first week of December, which set the record as the cheapest national gas price averages of the year.

Car rental, hotel costs

Holiday road trippers should budget slightly more for a rental car this year, as daily rates have increased 3 percent over last year.

At $76, the daily average car rental this holiday season is the most expensive in 10 years.

Travelers will also pay a bit more at AAA Two Diamond hotels, where prices are 1 percent more than last year, or $122 per night.

Conversely, the average rate for AAA Three Diamond hotels has fallen 3 percent to an average nightly cost of $152.

Top 10 Year-End Travel Destinations

Warm-weather destinations are top draws in the winter months, occupying nine of the top 10 spots on the list of most popular holiday destinations, based on AAA’s online and travel agency air and tour bookings.

The major cruise ports of Fort Lauderdale and Miami have both gained in popularity compared with last year, on the heels of a strong year for cruise sales. Meanwhile, New York City, the only cold-weather destination to make the top 10, can also expect a growing influx of travelers this holiday season.

The destinations are:

Orlando, Florida

Cancun, Mexico

Anaheim, California (Disneyland)

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Montego Bay, Jamaica

Honolulu, Hawaii

New York, New York

Kahului, Hawaii (Maui)

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Miami, Florida