AAA forecasts that more than one-third of Americans will travel this holiday season. The record-breaking 112.5 million travelers taking to the nation’s runways, roads and rails for the year-end holidays represents a 4.4 percent increase over last year and the most since AAA has been 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.
New England residents are also expected to travel in record numbers, with 4.7 million traveling from the six states, 4.1 million of them by car
“’Tis the season for holiday travel, and more Americans than ever will journey to spend time with friends and family or choose to take a vacation,” said Lloyd Albert, AAA Northeast Senior Vice President of Public and Government Affairs. “Strong economic growth fueled by robust consumer spending continues to drive strong demand for seasonal travel. With a record-breaking one-third of the country choosing to travel this holiday, roadways and airports are sure to be busy.”
The year-end holiday travel period is defined as Saturday, December 22 through Tuesday, January 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.
By the Numbers: 2018 Year-End Holiday Travel Forecast
- Automobiles: More Americans will travel by car this holiday season than ever before. The 102.1 million people expected to pack up their cars for road trips is 4.4 percent higher than last year. It is the most since AAA began tracking holiday travel in 2001.
- Planes: The 6.7 million people who will travel by air this year is the highest level in 15 years and is 4.2 percent more than last year.
- Trains, Buses and Cruise Ships: Travel across these sectors will increase by 4 percent, with a total 3.7 million passengers.
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, December 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.
“With a record-level number of travelers hitting the road this holiday, drivers must be prepared for delays in major metro areas – with Thursday, December 20 being the nation’s worst day to travel,” says Trevor Reed, transportation analyst at INRIX. “Our advice is to avoid traveling during peak commuting hours. If schedules allow, leave bright and early, or after the morning commute.”
|
City |
Worst Day to Travel |
Worst Time for Travel |
Delay Multiplier |
|
Atlanta |
Saturday, Dec. 22 |
3:00 – 4:00 PM |
4x |
|
New York City |
Thursday, Dec. 20 |
9:30 – 10:30 PM |
3.75x |
|
Boston |
Wednesday, Dec. 19 |
3:30 – 4:30 PM |
3.5x |
|
Houston |
Wednesday, Dec. 19 |
12:15 – 1:15 PM |
3.25x |
|
Detroit |
Monday, Dec. 24 |
2:00 – 3:00 PM |
3x |
|
Seattle |
Wednesday, Dec. 19 |
4:00 – 6:00 PM |
2.25x |
|
Chicago |
Monday, Dec. 24 |
1:30 – 2:30 PM |
2.25x |
|
Los Angeles |
Thursday, Dec. 20 |
2:30 – 3:30 PM |
2x |
|
San Francisco |
Friday, Dec. 21 |
4:15 – 5:15 PM |
1.25x |
|
Washington, DC |
Thursday, Dec. 20 |
1:15 – 2:15 PM |
2.75x |
|
Source: INRIX |
Falling Gas Prices Motivating More Holiday Travelers to Drive
While gas has been relatively expensive throughout this year, a recent drop to the cheapest national gas price averages of the year, 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 is two cents per gallon less than one year ago.
Best Times to Fly and Book Christmas Flights
An analysis of AAA’s flight booking data from the last three years revealed that most holiday air travelers depart two or three days before Christmas and return the day after the holiday. This holiday season, Saturday, December 22, Sunday, December 23 and Wednesday, December 26 will be the busiest days in the skies and at the airports. Fewer holiday travelers choose to fly on Christmas Eve (Monday, December 24) and Christmas Day (Tuesday, December 25), which are the lightest travel days around the Christmas holiday.
|
Day |
3-Year Average Ticket Price |
Expected Crowds |
|
Saturday (Dec. 22, 2018) |
$590 |
Heavy |
|
Sunday (Dec. 23, 2018) |
$564 |
Heavy |
|
Monday (Dec. 24, 2018) |
$512 |
Light |
|
Tuesday (Dec. 25, 2018) |
$564 |
Light |
|
Wednesday (Dec. 26, 2018) |
$666 |
Heavy |
Most travelers booked their Christmas flights between October 26 and November 27, paying an average ticket price of $561 roundtrip. Last-minute planners who book between December 12-18 this year can expect to pay the lowest average airfares, at $488. However, those travelers risk encountering limited availability and their preferred flights may already be sold out.
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.
- 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
AAA to Rescue More Than 960,000 Motorists
AAA expects to rescue more than 960,000 motorists at the roadside this year-end holiday period. Dead batteries, lockouts and flat tires will be the leading reasons AAA members will experience car trouble. AAA recommends motorists take their vehicle to a trusted repair facility to perform any needed maintenance before heading out. Oil changes, fluid level checks, battery tests and tire inspections go a long way toward reducing the chances of a breakdown. Members who require roadside assistance can call the toll free number (800-222-4357 or 800-AAA-Help), or contact AAA via www.AAA.com or the AAA mobile app.
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 46 percent of all crashes involving bad weather take place in the winter. AAA encourages drivers to be vigilant when hitting the road this winter and to always stay prepared by carrying an emergency roadside kit containing a mobile phone and car charger, first-aid kit, blankets, drinking water and snacks, a flashlight with extra batteries, a basic toolkit, warning flares, an ice scraper, jumper cables and a shovel.
