Holiday travel: Best days to hit the road as 110 million Americans expected to drive over Christmas and New Year's

For Americans, ‘tis the season once again to hit the road.

An estimated 122.4 million people in the United States are expected to travel at least 50 miles for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays this year, according to AAA’s projections , up more than 2% from last year’s record 119.7 million.

The year-end traveler forecast spans a 13-day period from Dec. 20 to Jan. 1.

The vast majority of people — nearly 110 million, or 89% — will travel by car, which means an additional 2.2 million people on the road compared to the same period last year.

Gas prices are lower than they were a year ago. The national average for a gallon of gasoline fell below $3 this month, per AAA data, compared to the $3.07 per gallon that American drivers were paying at the end of last year.

As for when to go, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are typically the best days to drive, according to AAA. On Dec. 24, 25, 31, and Jan. 1, “minimal travel impact” is expected.

As for air travel, price increases and flight disruptions triggered by the U.S. government shutdown shortly before Thanksgiving did nothing to dissuade holiday flyers.

AAA projects a record 8 million people will take domestic flights this holiday season, up 2.3% compared to last year. According to AAA data, the average ticket price for a round-trip domestic flight this year is nearly $900, which is 7% more expensive than it was last year.

Meanwhile, holiday travel by other modes of transportation is expected to increase 9%, with 4.9 million people traveling by bus, train or cruise. According to AAA, the uptick in alternative holiday travel has been driven by a post-pandemic surge in cruise passengers. More than 20 million Americans took a cruise in 2025, a record number for the third consecutive year .