It's going to be a near record year when it comes to travel this holiday season. The American Automobile Association projects that 115.2 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the 10-day year-end holiday travel period. That's a 2.2% increase of domestic travelers over last year and the second highest year-end travel forecast since 2000, when AAA began tracking holiday travel. 2019 remains the busiest Christmas and New Year’s travel period on record with 119 million travelers.
According to AAA data, the vast majority of travelers (90%) are expected to take road trips. AAA expects nearly 104 million people will drive to their holiday destinations, an increase of 1.8% compared to 2022.
“This year-end holiday forecast, with an additional 2.5 million travelers compared to last year, mirrors what AAA Travel has been observing throughout 2023,” said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel. “More Americans are investing in travel, despite the cost, to make memories with loved ones and experience new places.”
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