122.4 Million Americans to Travel This Holiday Season, Says AAA

Record Number of Americans Set to Travel During Year-End Holidays

A record number of Americans are expected to travel during the year-end holiday period, according to AAA. The organization predicts that 122.4 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home, marking a 2.2% increase over 2024 and surpassing last year's record of 119.7 million travelers.

Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, noted that the holiday season is a time for family road trips, friend getaways, and tropical vacations. "Holiday celebrations look different for everyone, but a common thread is the desire to travel," she said.

Road Travel Dominates the Holiday Season

AAA projects that 109.5 million people will travel by car, a 2% increase from last year. About 89% of holiday travelers plan to drive, driven by lower gas prices. The national average price for gasoline has dipped below $3 per gallon for the first time in four years, down from $3.04 at the end of 2024.

During National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, AAA is urging drivers to stay vigilant. Last year, the organization responded to more than 860,000 roadside assistance calls during the holiday period. Drivers are reminded to slow down and move over for stopped vehicles, including tow trucks and emergency responders.

Car rentals are also seeing high demand. Hertz expects December 20 to be the busiest pick-up day, with top markets including Orlando, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami, and Phoenix. AAA reported that domestic car rentals are about 1% more expensive than a year ago.

Air Travel to Break Records

Airports are also expected to be crowded. AAA forecasts 8.03 million domestic air travelers, a 2.3% increase from last year and the first time the holiday period will surpass eight million fliers.

Domestic roundtrip tickets are averaging nearly $900, about 7% higher than last year. Flights in the days leading up to Christmas and around New Year's remain the most expensive.

Other Modes of Travel See Growth

About 4.9 million people are expected to travel by bus, train, or cruise, a 9% increase from last year. This segment has climbed 25% since 2019, fueled largely by strong demand for cruises.

Top Holiday Destinations

Warm weather destinations dominate domestic bookings, with Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Anaheim/Los Angeles, and Honolulu topping AAA's list. Internationally, Cancun leads demand, followed by Punta Cana, Cozumel, San Jose in Costa Rica, and Puerto Vallarta.

Traffic Forecasts Show Busy Christmas Week

Transportation analytics company INRIX expects Christmas week to generate heavier road congestion than New Year's week. The weekend before Christmas will be particularly clogged as travelers depart on Saturday and Sunday. Dec. 26 is also projected to bring major slowdowns.

The lightest travel days are expected to be Christmas Day and New Year's Day, though weather or crashes could still create delays.

INRIX highlighted several routes expected to see significant delays, including Boston to Portsmouth on Dec. 20 (126% above typical travel time) and Washington, D.C., to Baltimore on the same day (133% higher).

Travel Forecast Methodology

AAA's travel projections, developed with S&P Global Market Intelligence, rely on economic data including employment figures, gasoline prices, household net worth, and travel trends. The forecast measures domestic leisure trips and is not comparable to TSA screening data, which includes all passengers and counts each airport entry.

The 2025 holiday travel window spans Dec. 20 through Jan. 1, and includes two full weekends.