More than 9.1 million expected to travel for the holidays, here’s how you can be safe

More than 9.1 million people are expected to travel across the upper Midwest for the holidays this year.

That’s up by 139,000 compared to 2023, but still lower than the record set in 2019.

AAA Vice President of Travel, Debbie Haas, said they also expect to see 3 million more travelers across the nation than from last year. An estimated 119.3 million people are expected to travel at least 50 miles. That narrowly surpasses the record set back in 2019 by 64,000 travelers.

“Travelers should expect the roads, airports and cruise terminals to be more crowded than normal,” Haas said. “So, finalize your travel plans now and give yourself extra time to get to your destination. We also suggest travel insurance, which provides assistance in the event winter weather or something unexpected interferes with your plans.”

There are several factors that play into this year’s travel forecast, including:

• Travel volume is being driven by consumer spending as inflation continues to moderate.
• Strong employment continues to drive rising wages and with inflation leveling off, consumers are expected to spend nearly five percent more than last year as incomes rise at a similar level.
• Economic growth continues to remain steady, with quarter four real GDP growth expected at two percent in quarter four compared to last year.

We’ve broke down some of those figures for you below:

Air

Nationally, AAA expects air travel to set a new record this holiday season. Nearly 7.9 million Americans are forecast to take at least one domestic flight. That number surpasses the previous record of 7.5 million air travelers last year. AAA booking data shows flights are four percent 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.

The top holiday destinations listed below are based on AAA booking data from Dec. 21, 2024 to Jan. 1, 2025. Tropical weather destinations top the list as many people head to beach resorts and on cruises to end the year. The charming Southern cities of Charleston and New Orleans are also on the top 10 domestic list. In addition to Caribbean destinations, Bahrain finds itself in the top 10 international list thanks to its popular cruise port, pleasant weather, and rich history.

Car

AAA expects 2.5 million more people on the roads this year. Nationwide, an estimated 107 million will take a road trip of 50 miles or more. That’s just shy of the record of 108 million road travelers set in 2019.

Road travel numbers are expected to be below records for the region, even with 8.3 million expected to take a road trip. That’s 83,000 more travelers than last year, but less than the 2019 record. Nearly 90% of holiday travelers will drive to their destinations, making it the most popular way to travel even without setting a record.

Gas prices are expected to be competitive with last year’s levels and could remain lower. During the last two weeks of 2023, Nebraska gas prices averaged $2.87 per gallon, In Iowa, the average was $2.80. As of the morning of Dec. 11, 2024 drivers are paying around $2.74 per gallon in Nebraska and $2.70 in Iowa To view updated national, state, and metro area gas price averages, visit GasPrices.AAA.com.

AAA car rental partner Hertz says Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Oahu, Orlando, Phoenix, and Tampa are the cities displaying the highest rental demand for the holidays. The busiest car pick-up days are expected to be Friday, Dec. 20 and Saturday, Dec. 21. The busiest time for rental returns is expected to be the weekend and Monday after Christmas. The average length of rental is one week.

Other means of transportation

The number of Americans traveling by bus, train, and cruise this holiday season is up nearly 10% nationally compared to last year and over 13% in the WNC Region since 2019. AAA expects 4.47 million people will travel by other modes. That number is the highest it’s been in 20 years. Cruise bookings out of domestic ports are up 37% compared to last holiday season. Cruising is popular this time of year as many families enjoy celebrating the holidays aboard a ship full of activities and food.

There are some things you can do to help stay safe as you travel. You can find the list of safety tips below:

Follow Posted Speed Limits

Driving 80 mph instead of 75 mph over 100 miles saves only 5 minutes, hardly worth the risk. While it’s tempting to speed to save time, the facts don’t support it. Even minor increases in speed can make crashes deadly.

Speeding may feel faster but often leads to tragedy.

Drive Only When Alert and Refreshed

Driving on four to five hours of sleep is as dangerous as driving with a 0.08 blood alcohol content (legal intoxication). Less than four hours of sleep? The risk doubles.

Travel during hours you’re normally awake and avoid overnight drives.

Steer clear of heavy meals, drowsy medications, and alcohol.

For long trips, take breaks every two hours or 100 miles. Use these breaks to switch drivers if possible, or park at a safe location and nap for 20 to 30 minutes to recharge.

Slow Down, Move Over

A roadside worker is killed every other week in the U.S. To help prevent these tragedies, AAA asks drivers to Slow Down, Move Over.

When you see an emergency responder on the side of the road assisting a stranded driver, reduce your speed.

If possible, change lanes to give those crews room to do their jobs safely.

All 50 states and the District of Columbia have Move Over laws in place.

INRIX Transportation Analyst, Bob Pishue, said travelers are also encouraged to pack their patience as they head out the door.

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

Right now, drivers are expected to see the worst traffic delays on the weekends leading up to Christmas and New Year’s Day. But, the holidays themselves are anticipated to see minimal congestion on the roadways.

You can read more about AAA and their programming here.