The holiday travel rush is in full effect as millions of Americans make their way to airports and roadways ahead of Christmas. According to travel experts, this season is on track to break records, following the unprecedented travel levels seen during Thanksgiving 2024.
AAA projects that 119.3 million people will travel at least 50 miles between December 21 and January 1, marking an increase of approximately three million compared to last year. The surge is particularly noticeable around the weekend before and after Christmas, a result of Christmas falling on a Wednesday this year.
The previous Christmas travel record was set in 2019, but this year’s forecast is poised to surpass that. On December 23, travel experts are advising drivers to avoid hitting the road between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., as heavy congestion is expected.
Meanwhile, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is preparing for a significant increase in air travel, with projections of screening approximately 40 million passengers between December 19 and January 2. This represents a 6% rise from the previous holiday season. The busiest travel days for air passengers are expected to be Friday, December 27, and Monday, December 30.
Despite crowded airports, AAA anticipates that about 90% of holiday travelers—roughly 107 million people—will drive to their destinations. In addition, over four million individuals will use alternative transportation, such as buses and trains, the highest in two decades.
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