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According to the Auto Club of Southern California, the anticipated number of travelers is a 2.8% increase from last year’s volume of 9.9 million SoCal travelers.
LOS ANGELES – A record-breaking holiday travel season is set to begin this Saturday, with 10.2 million Southern Californians expected to travel at least 50 miles from home.
According to the Auto Club of Southern California, this year's volume represents a 2.8% increase from the 9.9 million travelers recorded last year.
What we know:
The official holiday travel period is defined as running from Saturday, Dec. 20, through Jan. 1.
The vast majority of Southern California travelers, approximately 8.9 million, plan to reach their destinations by car.
An additional 945,000 people are expected to fly, while 332,000 will utilize other methods such as trains, buses, or cruise ships.
A record 10.2 million Southern Californians are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home this year.
Popular destinations for the region include San Diego, Las Vegas, Anaheim, the Central Coast, and various national parks in California and Arizona.
Nationwide, travel is also hitting a record high, with 122.4 million Americans expected to be on the move.
Timeline:
The travel surge begins Saturday, Dec. 20, with significant congestion expected on local freeways.
Officials specifically identified the eastbound 10 Freeway toward Phoenix as a major bottleneck for Saturday, where travel times may double.
Looking ahead, the Auto Club also predicts that Dec. 26 will be a particularly busy day as travelers begin making post-Christmas trips.
What they’re saying:
"Year-end travel brings together everything from family road trips and friends' getaways to tropical escapes," Auto Club spokesman Doug Shupe said in a statement.
"Each household celebrates the season differently, but the common thread is a shared desire to travel — whether heading home or discovering someplace new."
By the numbers:
What we know:
Based on the latest data from AAA and transportation analysts at INRIX for the 2025 holiday season, Southern California drivers will face significant delays across all major corridors.
While the eastbound 10 Freeway remains the top concern for Saturday, here are the peak congestion times and worst routes for other major area freeways:
Timeline:
In addition to the 10 Freeway, several other routes are projected to see extreme congestion:
If you have flexibility in your schedule, INRIX identifies the following days as having the minimal traffic impact:
The Source: This report is based on detailed travel forecasts and data provided by the Auto Club of Southern California (AAA) and transportation analysts at INRIX, who monitor regional traffic patterns and holiday volume trends. Our findings include direct statements from Auto Club spokesperson Doug Shupe and specific route modeling to provide you with accurate, real-time expectations for the 2025 holiday season.
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