AAA Expects Second Highest Year-End Holiday Travel Period Since 2000

Over $115 million are expected to travel 50 miles or more away from home this holiday season.

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WASHINGTON, DC – Whether it is by plane, train, or automobile, more than 115.2 million Americans are expected to travel this holiday season.

AAA projects a 2.2 increase in domestic travelers over last year and the second-highest year-end travel forecast since 2000.

The estimated 115.2 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the 10-day year-end holiday period that runs from December 23 to January 1.

“This year-end holiday forecast, with an additional 2.5 million travelers compared to last year, mirrors what AAA Travel has been observing throughout 2023,” said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel. “More Americans are investing in travel, despite the cost, to make memories with loved ones and experience new places.” 

AAA expects nearly 104 million, or 90 percent of travelers, will drive to their holiday destinations – an increase of 1.8 percent compared to 2022.

This year’s projected number of drivers is the second highest on record after 2019 when 108 million drivers hit the road for the holidays.

Airports are expected to be the busiest they’ve ever been over the Christmas and New Year’s travel period. AAA projects 7.5 million air travelers this holiday season, surpassing 2019’s record of 7.3 million.

The number of people traveling by other modes, like bus, train, and cruise, is also expected to surpass 2019. AAA expects more than 4 million Americans will take alternative transportation over Christmas and New Year’s compared to 3.66 million in 2022 and 3.89 million in 2019.

INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, says Saturday, December 23 and Thursday, December 28 will be the most congested days on the road.

For more details, visit https://newsroom.aaa.com/2023/12/115-million-americans-expected-to-travel-over-christmas-new-years/.