Many dread getting on the road or dealing with the chaos of air travel to make their way to family holiday celebrations, especially on the busiest travel days of the year.
The most anticipated and busiest travel days of the year are between Dec. 21 and Jan. 2. According to AAA’s latest 2023 Year-End Holiday Travel Forecast report, 115.2 million Americans are expected to travel between Saturday, Dec. 23 and Monday, Jan. 1. This is a 2.5 million increase from last year.
Whether you are flying, driving, or taking public transit, here is what you need to know about this year’s 10-day holiday travel period.
More:This is the worst day, the worst airport to fly: What to know for a smooth holiday flight
What to expect at the airport
Going through the airport is already stressful enough, and adding the chaos of the holidays can create even more problems in getting to your destination. According to AAA, over 7.5 million holiday travelers are expected to fly during the Christmas and New Year’s traveling 10-day period.
Most travelers are expected to fly on Thursday, Dec. 21, and Friday, Dec. 22. Those travelers are also expected to return home on Thursday, Dec. 28 and Friday, Dec. 29.
There are several tips that can make your airport visit and flight experience go smoother.
- Make sure to leave with plenty of time so you can get to the airport, check bags, and go through TSA.
- If you are using public transit to get to the airport, double-check the night before and the morning of your flight date to ensure there aren’t any delays.
- If you are either driving or taking a taxi or Uber to the airport, check the traffic forecast before leaving the house and plan accordingly.
- If you are driving to the airport and need to park your car, call ahead and reserve a parking spot to guarantee one.
More:Driving this Christmas? Here’s how to avoid the worst traffic.
What to expect on the road
Nearly 104 million Americans are expected to hit the road during the 10-day holiday travel period. According to AAA, drivers should expect peak traffic congestion between Saturday, Dec. 23, and Thursday, Dec. 28. Also, on Saturday, Dec. 30, when many are projected to head back home or travel to their New Year’s Eve destination, traffic is predicted to increase.
On Saturday, Dec. 23, the worst time to travel to your holiday destination by car is between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. The AAA holiday travel report recommends hitting the road before 10 a.m. on Dec. 23. Starting Tuesday, Dec. 26 to Saturday, Dec. 30, the best time to travel by car is before noon― peak traffic is expected between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m.
The best days to travel by car at any time are Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.
Gas prices are predicted to drop or stay the same as last year during this holiday travel period. According to AAA, last year, the national gas price average was between $3.10 and $3.20 on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
