The final stretch of holiday travel for the year is upon us, and it’ll be a busy one.
For the winter holidays between Dec. 20 and Jan. 1, around 122.4 million Americans are expected to travel – exceeding last year’s 119.7 million and setting a new record, according to AAA.
While most will hit the road for their year-end trips, around 8.03 million are expected to fly. There is also increased demand for cruising, up 25% from 2019.
“Year-end travel is a mix of family road trips, friend getaways, and tropical vacations,” said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, in a statement. “Holiday celebrations look different for everyone, but a common thread is the desire to travel, whether it’s returning to your hometown or exploring new destinations.”
Here’s what to know about holiday travel.
Yes, with a round-trip domestic flight averaging nearly $900 – about 7% more expensive compared to last year, according to AAA. The most expensive days to fly are those leading up to Christmas and New Year’s, as people fit in one last getaway.
According to Cirium data, flight prices for the holiday season are more stable than in 2024, as more budget carriers have fewer excess seats to fill this year.
People can expect airports to be the most crowded on Dec. 26, with more than 3.1 million seats scheduled for U.S. domestic flights, according to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company. The other busiest days to fly for year-end trips include Dec. 21, 22, 28 and 29.
Conversely, those who have some flexibility in their travel plans and can fly on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s can enjoy airports at their quietest for the holiday season as they have the least amount of scheduled seats.
As usual, the least amount of traffic will be on the holidays themselves: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
To bypass the worst congestion, avoid driving after 9 p.m. on Dec. 20 and before 1 p.m. on Dec. 21 through Dec. 23.
After Christmas, traffic will be lighter before 11 a.m. from Dec. 26 through Dec. 28 and before 10 a.m. on Dec. 29 and Dec. 30.
Christmas week is anticipated to have more traffic than New Year’s, with the busiest days expected to be the Saturday and Sunday before Christmas and the day after the holiday, according to INRIX.
As many embark on their Christmas trips, the worst traffic will be between noon and 8 p.m. on Dec. 20, and then 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Dec. 21 through Dec. 23.
Drivers can expect heavy traffic between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Dec. 26 and Dec. 28; noon and 8 p.m. on Dec. 29; and noon and 7 p.m. on Dec. 30.
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(This story was updated to add new information.)

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