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yesterday

AAA Sees Record Year-End Travel as INRIX Pinpoints Worst Drive Times

Cheaper gas is steering most travelers to drive.

Traffic is backed up on Highway 9 in Silverthorne, Colorado on December 22, 2022 due to the closure of the eastbound lane of I-70 because of extreme winter driving conditions. - More than 2,200 flights were canceled across the United States by Thursday afternoon as a massive winter storm named Elliot upended holiday travel plans with a triple threat of heavy snow, howling winds and bitter cold. (Photo by Jason Connolly / AFP) (Photo by JASON CONNOLLY/AFP via Getty Images)
Travelers waiting to be checked in at Terminal 1 at Hamburg Airport; a tree decorated with Christmas baubles can be seen in the foreground.
A picture shows a christmas tree on the Spanish Steps at night with Trinita dei Monti church in the background, in Rome on Dec. 2, 2025.
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Overview

  • AAA projects 122.4 million people will travel 50 miles or more from December 20 to January 1, up 2.2% from last year’s record.
  • About 109.5 million travelers are expected to go by car—nearly 9 in 10—after the national average for gasoline dipped below $3 a gallon.
  • Air travel is set to hit a new high with roughly 8.03 million domestic fliers, while another 4.9 million people plan to use buses, trains, or cruises.
  • INRIX expects the heaviest road congestion the weekend before Christmas and on Friday, December 26, with the worst windows generally from midday to early evening and the best times early morning or late night.
  • AAA booking data show strong demand for warm-weather getaways, with Orlando leading U.S. destinations and Cancun topping international spots.