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AAA predicts nearly 120 million travelers for Christmas, Hanukkah season. Best times to travel

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AAA predicts nearly 120 million travelers for Christmas, Hanukkah season. Best times to travel

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If you’re planning to road trip or fly for the holidays, you won’t be alone.

AAA is predicting nearly 119.3 million travelers will be out there over the holiday period from Saturday, Dec. 21 to Wednesday, Jan. 1. That’s just barely above the previous record set in 2019 before the COVID pandemic by 64,000 travelers but 3 million over last year.

Of those crowds, 107 million are expected to be on the roads, 7.85 million in the air and 4.47 million on trains, buses, cruises and other transportation.

“This is the time of year when lifelong memories are made with loved ones, and travel plays a big role in that,” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel in a release Wednesday. “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.”  

Here’s how it breaks down, according to AAA.

How will people be traveling for the 2024 holiday season?

According to AAA, 119.3 million people are expected to travel 50 miles or more from their homes for the holiday.

  • Traveling by vehicle: 107 million, up from 104.5 million in 2023 but down from 108 million in 2019
  • Traveling by air: 7.85 million, up from 7.5 million last year and 7.33 million in 2019
  • Other (train, cruise, bus, etc): 4.47 million, up from 4.08 million in 2023 and 3.89 million in 2019

The “other” category is up almost 10% over last year and nearly 15% over 2019 as the demand for cruises has been surging since the pandemic. Domestic cruise bookings are up 37% compared to last year’s holiday season, AAA said.

What are the best and worst times to drive during 2024 holiday season?

The best time to get some miles in on the road is on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day themselves, when interstates and highways are typically emptier, according to transportation data site INRIX.

The worst time to drive? The weekends before Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

“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,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, in the release. “Our advice is to avoid traveling during peak commuting hours during the week. If schedules allow, leave bright and early or after the evening commute.” 

The worst time to drive on Friday, Nov. 29, is the morning between 7 and 10 a.m. Try to go after 1 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, get moving before 1 p.m. And on Monday, Dec. 2, try to leave before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m.

Travel times in metro areas are expected to be double or more at peak times. Driving from Fort Myers to Tampa on I-75 on Saturday, Dec. 28, at 10:30 a.m. is expected to take 2 hours and 54 minutes, INRIX said, a 53% increase over the usual travel time.

Florida leads list of top holiday destinations

According to AAA, what people want is warm weather, theme parks, beaches and cruise ports. Of their top 10 holiday season destinations for 2024, the first three domestic ones are in Florida.

Top 2024 domestic holiday season destinations:

  • Orlando
  • Fort Lauderdale
  • Miami
  • Anaheim/Los Angeles, CA
  • Tampa
  • Las Vegas, NV
  • Honolulu, HI
  • Charleston, SC
  • New Orleans, LA
  • New York, NY

Top 2024 international holiday season destinations:

  • Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
  • Mexicali, Mexico 
  • Cancun, Mexico
  • Bahrain, Bahrain
  • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
  • San Jose,. Costa Rica
  • San Juan, Puerto Rico
  • Nassau, Bahamas
  • Oranjestad, Aruba
  • London, England
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