119 Million Americans To Travel Over The Holidays In 2024, Says AAA

In its annual end-of-year forecast, AAA is projecting that 119.3 million Americans will be on the move over holiday travel period. The total number of domestic travelers is a 3.5% increase over last year and (finally) back to the pre-pandemic levels of 2019, when 119 million Americans traveled over the holidays.

Keep in mind, though, that AAA’s definition of “travel” is extremely (some might say ridiculously) broad: going 50 miles or more from home, no overnight stay required, at some point during the final ten days of the year. By this very low bar, picking up a kid at college would count as travel, as would a shopping trip to an outlet mall an hour away.

AAA says the calendar is a big factor. “This year, with Christmas Day falling on a Wednesday, we’re anticipating record-breaking travel numbers the weekend before and the weekend after the holiday,” says Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel.

‘Tis the Season for Highway Traffic

Expect the roads to be crowded, as 90% of holiday travelers will be getting to their destinations by car. AAA expects nearly 107 million people will drive, a 2.4% uptick from 2023 but one million fewer than in record-setting 2019.

As 2024 winds to a close, drivers can expect to pay an average of $3.03 for a gallon of gas. That’s about 11 cents less than this time last year, when the national average was $3.14 per gallon.

INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, predicts that the worst traffic over the 10-day holiday period will occur on the weekends before Christmas and New Year’s, when travel times could be up to 30% longer nationwide. On the holidays themselves, which fall midweek, travelers will encounter minimal congestion.

“With a near record number of auto travelers expected this holiday season, drivers should expect delays in and around major metro areas, with Sunday, December 22 expected to be the nation’s worst day to travel,” says Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX.

The best times to hit the road are before lunchtime or after 7 pm. “If schedules allow, leave bright and early or after the evening commute,” advises Pishue.

Dashing Through the Airports

About 6.6% of holiday travelers will fly to their destinations, according to AAA estimates. Airports will be the busiest they’ve ever been over the Christmas and New Year’s travel period, as 7.85 million air travelers surpass last year’s record of 7.5 million passengers.

AAA booking data shows flights are 4% more expensive this holiday season compared to last year. The average domestic ticket is $830. International flights are 13 % more expensive, averaging $1,630 a ticket.

Airfare over the holidays is about 4% higher than last year, with the average domestic ticket prices for Christmas trips at $380 this year.

Fa-la-la for an Alternative

The remaining 3.7% of holiday travelers will get to their destinations by other modes, such as bus, train or cruise ship. AAA expects more than 4.47 million Americans will take alternative transportation over Christmas and New Year’s. That’s an increase of 10% compared to last year and a 15% jump compared to 2019.

Domestic cruise bookings are up 37% compared to last holiday season, a reflection of the post-Covid cruise boom that is going strong.