UNITED STATES, — AAA predicts an historic amount of Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the holiday season, which ranges from Dec. 21, 2024 to Jan. 1, 2025.
The forecasted number of travelers is 119.3 million.
This projection is a slight increase over the current record of 64,000 travelers set in 2019. The anticipated number of travelers is up 3 million over last year.
Nearly 90% of holiday travelers are expected to be driving. AAA believes 107 million people will hit the road, benefiting from lower gas prices compared to 2023.
While car travel numbers are close to the 2019 record, gas prices are more affordable, which aids budget-conscious families. The busiest demand for rental cars will be in cities such as Denver, Las Vegas and Miami, with the highest pick-up days projected for Dec. 20 and 21.
Air travel is also expected to break records, with 7.85 million passengers projected to take to the skies. This is up from last year’s 7.5 million. In addition, ticket prices are higher with domestic flights averaging $830 and international tickets costing about $1,630. Travel by bus, train and cruise is up nearly 10% with 4.47 million people choosing alternative modes of transport.
To ensure safety, AAA urges drivers to follow speed limits, stay alert and take breaks when necessary. With the expected surge in travelers, it’s essential for everyone to prioritize safety on the roads.
Popular destinations this holiday season include tropical locations and cities such as Charleston and New Orleans for domestic travel. There could also be a rise in Caribbean and Bahraini bookings, boosted by cruise options.
Overall, the 2024 holiday travel season could be the busiest ever. Whether or not it will break records remains to be seen.
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