AAA: Holiday Travel to Surge to Record Highs

AAA expects 119 million Americans including nearly 1.7 million Oregonians to travel for the holidays

Updated December 13, 2024

PORTLAND, Ore., – AAA projects 119.3 million Americans (35% of the population) including 1.68 million Oregonians will travel 50 miles or more for the Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year holidays. This year’s travel volume narrowly beats the previous record set in 2019 by 64,000 travelers. AAA expects an additional three million travelers this holiday season compared to last year. 

The year-end holiday travel period is defined as Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, through Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025.

“With Christmas falling on a Wednesday this year, many are taking the entire week off or working remotely so they can extend their holiday break,” says Doreen Loofburrow. “Travel demand has been strong all year, and now we’ll finish 2024 setting a new record for holiday travel,” says Doreen Loofburrow, senior vice president of travel for AAA Oregon/Idaho.

“AAA expects travel volumes to soar this holiday season, surpassing pre-pandemic numbers, as Americans drive, fly and cruise to celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah and ring in 2025. Expect busy roads and crowded airports, pack your patience, and have a plan B as weather is always the wildcard this time of year,” says Marie Dodds, public affairs director for AAA Oregon/Idaho.

Most travelers will drive

About 90% of travelers or 107 million Americans will drive to their holiday destinations. This is 2.5 million more than in 2023 but just shy of 2019’s record of 108 million. In Oregon, about 1.5 million will drive.

Driving is often the most flexible and affordable way to travel, which is why it’s the number one mode. It’s especially appealing for families with small children.

Air travel to soar to record high

Air travel sets a record this holiday season, with 7.85 million Americans including 160,000 Oregonians taking to the skies. This surpasses the previous record of 7.5 million air travelers last year. In all, about 6.6% of all holiday travelers will fly to their destinations.

Find AAA’s tips and advice for air travelers below.

Other modes will see highest volumes in 20 years

Travel by other modes, including cruises, trains and buses, will be the highest in 20 years with nearly 4.5 million travelers including about 62,000 Oregonians. This is up nearly 10% from last year. Domestic cruise bookings are up 37% compared to last holiday season. In all, about 3.7% of all travelers will go by these modes. Cruises are very popular over the holidays because they appeal to multiple generations and there’s something for everyone on board.

Top holiday destinations

These are the trending destinations for regional, domestic and international travel for members of AAA Oregon/Idaho based on bookings by our AAA travel agents and at AAA.com. 

Theme parks, beaches and European cities are among the most popular spots. Bend tops the list as the most popular regional destination again this year.

Gas prices are cheapest for the holidays in four years

Those taking a holiday road trip will find gas prices at their cheapest since 2020. The current (as of Dec. 13) national average for regular unleaded is $3.03 and the Oregon average is $3.48. These prices are at or near the year-to-date lows for 2024. Visit the AAA Fuel Prices website for current gas prices and EV charging rates.

AAA members can fill up for less at Shell stations when they join the Fuel Rewards® program at AAA.com/Shell. Save 30¢/gal on your first fill-up at Shell when you join the Fuel Rewards® program by 12/31/25 and make your first transaction within 30 days of joining. After that, save 5¢/gal every day on each individual fill-up of up to 20 gallons from participating Shell stations. 

Best and worst times to drive; Peak traffic expected December 22 and 29

The busiest days for road trippers are expected to be Sunday, December 22 as folks head out to their Christmas destinations, and again on Sunday, December 29 as people return home. But roads will be busier than usual throughout the holiday season with a record number of travelers going by car. The afternoon and evening hours from December 19 through December 23, and from December 26 through January 2, will all have more congestion, especially on the weekdays in urban areas as commuters mix with holiday travelers, The lightest traffic is expected on December 24 and 25.

Some metro areas across the U.S. could have travel times that are two to three times longer than typical drive times, especially in larger urban areas. In Oregon, drivers can expect that their trips will take 8% to 50% longer than a normal commute, assuming no additional delays from crashes or winter weather.

“Leave early if you can. Mornings during the holiday season are the times with the least congestion. You can also avoid the heaviest traffic by traveling on the actual holidays – December 24, 25, 31 and January 1. But with a record number of travelers taking a holiday road trip, assume traffic will be heavier than usual and that it will probably take you longer to get to your destination,” says Dodds.

AAA also recommends using traffic apps, local Department of Transportation notifications, 511 services, and local news and traffic reports to get real-time updates.

Here are projected travel times in and out of Portland at the peak times for driving:

AAA’s tips for a safe drive:

• Get your car road-trip ready. Breakdowns are always a hassle, and you don’t want to be stranded during the holidays. Find a trusted mechanic nearby at AAA.com/repair.

• Be sure your vehicle and passengers are ready for winter driving conditions. Get tips and advice, including what to put in your emergency kit, at AAA.com/winterprep.  Bring enough water, provisions and warm clothing so that you can keep everyone safe if you are stranded for several hours or even overnight.

• Please let family members or friends know your itinerary, so authorities have an idea where to start looking for you if you don’t make it to your destination.

• Don’t blindly follow your GPS. If a road looks remote and not well traveled or maintained, don’t proceed!

• Slow Down, Move Over. A roadside worker is killed every other week in the U.S. To help prevent these tragedies, AAA asks drivers to Slow Down, Move Over. When you see an emergency responder on the side of the road assisting a stranded driver, reduce your speed and, If possible, change lanes to give those crews room to do their jobs safely. All 50 states, including Oregon, and the District of Columbia have Move Over laws in place.

• Drive only when alert and refreshed. Driving on four to five hours of sleep is as dangerous as driving with a 0.08 BAC. Less than 4 hours of sleep? The risk doubles. Travel during hours you’re normally awake and avoid overnight drives. Take a break every couple of hours. If needed, park at a safe location and take a 20-to-30-minute nap to recharge.

• Of course, if you’re driving, don’t get impaired. If you’re impaired, don’t drive.

AAA has advice for air travelers:

• Download the airline’s app on your phone and set it up for push notifications so that you’ll be notified about departure and arrival information as well as any flight changes, delays or cancellations. FlightAware and other sites let you track your incoming flight so you can find other options if that flight is late or cancelled.

• Get to the airport early – two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights. The increase in travelers can make for longer than usual wait times to get through security. If you’re flying out of PDX, arrive early if you haven’t been in the new terminal which opened in September after four years of construction. You may need extra time to find your way around.

• If you need to park at the airport, book a parking spot in advance or at least check on availability before you go. Many airports including Portland International airport let you check current availability https://www.flypdx.com/Parking.  Better yet, take transit, use a ride sharing service, or get a ride from a friend to the airport.

• Carry your bags on your flight instead of checking them. If you do need to check bags, bring medications, a change of clothes, comfortable shoes, and any other necessary items in your carry on bag. Make sure your bags have name tags, and also put your name and contact info inside each bag. Consider using an Apple AirTag, Samsung Galaxy SmartTag, or another tracker if you do check your bags.

• Plan ahead for meals and snacks. Full airports can mean long lines and wait times at restaurants. Bring a refillable water bottle and snacks. Many airlines allow you to pre-order food up to 24 hours before your flight. The TSA allows solid foods through screening but liquids or gels (such as yogurt) must comply with the 3-1-1 liquids rule.

• Consider signing up for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and/or CLEAR to expedite the security screening process. Do make sure the airports you use offer CLEAR as it’s not available at all airports.

What to do if your flight is cancelled

• If your flight is canceled by the airline or there are significant delays, they will try to accommodate you on a later flight; however, you are entitled to a full refund under federal law.

• Weather is considered an “act of God”. Airlines will rebook you on flights that are available but are not required to do much more. The issue is when flights are full, rebooking passengers can be a challenge and could be days later.

• If you do call your airline, expect long wait times if you call the customer service number. You may have better luck dialing the international or rewards phone number. If you’re already at the airport, use a three-pronged approach: while waiting in line to speak to an airline representative at the gate or ticket counter, use the airline’s app to try to book a new flight and/or call the airline.

Tips on booking flights:

• Book the first flight of the day or early morning flights if you can. They are less likely to be cancelled or delayed.

• Try not to book tight connecting flights – you’ll want enough time to change flights in case your originating flight is late.

• If you really need to be at your destination on a certain day, book flights a day or two early so that you have a buffer. A winter weather event can wreak havoc on airlines’ schedules.

• If possible, avoid airports for connecting flights where winter weather can lead to delays, including Denver, Chicago O’Hare, Newark Liberty, LaGuardia, and JFK.

• Don’t book more than one flight. Duplicate bookings will not only cost you a non-refundable ticket but could also cause both reservations to be canceled. Many carriers have algorithms in place to spot dupes and cancel both itineraries which could leave you with no flights at all.

Holiday travel costs

This holiday season, AAA finds that travelers are generally paying more for domestic and international trips compared to last year. But travelers are paying less in some categories.

Costs of overall year-end holiday travel (average of all categories)

• Domestic year-end travel bookings are up 36% compared to last year.
• Domestic year-end vacations are 12% more expensive this year with an average cost of $1,000.
• International year-end travel bookings are up 13% compared to last year.
• International year-end vacations are 7% more expensive this year with an average cost of $1,500.

Here’s a breakdown of average booking prices, according to AAA data.

Flights

• The average price for a domestic roundtrip flight is $830, up 4% this holiday season compared to last year.
• The average price for an international roundtrip flight is $1,630, up 13% over last year.

Hotels

• The average price for a domestic hotel stay (typically a few nights) is $690, up 1% from 2023.
• The average price for an international hotel stay (typically a few nights) is $1,125, down 15% from last year.

Rental cars

• The average price for a domestic rental car (typically for several days) is $630, down 8% from 2023.
• The average price for an international rental car (typically for several days) is $790, up 1% from last year.
• AAA partner Hertz says the busiest pick-up days will be Friday, December 20 and Saturday, December 21. The busiest time for rental returns is expected to be the weekend and Monday after Christmas. The average length of rental is one week. 
• Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Oahu, Orlando, Phoenix, and Tampa are the cities displaying the highest rental demand for the holidays.
• See AAA’s rental cars do’s and don’ts for advice.

Cruises

• The average price for a cruise departing from domestic cities is $1,315, up 33% compared to 2023.
• The average price for a cruise departing from international cities is $2,120, up 5% from last year.

Tours

• The average price for a domestic tour is $1,015, the same as last holiday season.
• The average price for an international tour is $1,155, up 4% from last year.

What to know before you go – AAA tips for holiday travelers

• Take all necessary travel documentation, including your Real ID, driver’s license, and/or passport, as well as health insurance cards.

• Consider working with a travel agent to help plan your trip. They can help you plan the trip that meets your needs and comfort level this holiday season, provide the best value for your vacation dollars, explore travel insurance options, assist with any last-minute changes to travel plans, and act as an advocate if the unexpected happens.

• Travel and medical insurance. AAA strongly recommends travel insurance to cover unexpected delays or trip interruptions. Travel insurance provides a safety net should something unexpected happen ahead of or during your trip. Travel insurance can cover expenses associated with flight cancellations, travel delays, lost luggage, and trip cancellation. Medical travel insurance can provide coverage for illness and injuries and that may not be included in your regular health insurance plan. Travel agents can also advise on what travel insurance policy makes the most sense for your trip.

AAA to the Rescue 

Before you head out on a holiday road trip, be sure your vehicle is ready to avoid a breakdown along the way. AAA expects to respond to 869,000 calls including 15,000 Oregonians at the roadside over the holidays. Dead batteries, lockouts, flat tires and extrications are the top issues.

AAA makes it easy to request assistance – by phone (800-222-HELP), app or online – and members can track the service technician’s progress as they make their way to your vehicle.

Before any long trip, AAA suggests getting an inspection to check key components such as the battery, fuel system, tires, brakes and fluid levels. Have your vehicle inspected by a trusted repair shop, such as one of the 7,000 AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities across North America.

Be sure that your vehicle and passengers are ready for winter driving conditions. This includes having proper traction—snow tires, chains and/or tire socks—and an emergency kit in your vehicle. Also bring warm clothing as well as water and snacks in case you get stranded. Find all the info and tips at AAA.com/winterprep.

Forecast Methodology

In cooperation with AAA, S&P Global Market Intelligence (SPGMI) developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes. The economic variables used to forecast travel for the current holiday are leveraged from SPGMI’s proprietary databases. These data include macroeconomic drivers such as employment, output, household net worth, asset prices, including stock indices, interest rates, housing market indicators, and variables related to travel and tourism, including gasoline prices, airline travel, and hotel stays. AAA and SPGMI have quantified holiday travel volumes going back to 2000.

Historical travel volume estimates come from DK SHIFFLET’s TRAVEL PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM. The PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM is a comprehensive study measuring the travel behavior of U.S. residents. DK SHIFFLET contacts over 50,000 U.S. households each month to obtain detailed travel data, resulting in the unique ability to estimate visitor volume and spending, identify trends, and forecast U.S. travel behavior, all after the trips have been taken.

The travel forecast is reported in person-trips. In particular, AAA and SPGMI forecast the total U.S. holiday travel volume and expected mode of transportation. The travel forecast presented in this report was prepared the week of November 4, 2024.

Because AAA forecasts focus on domestic leisure travel only, comparisons to TSA passenger screening numbers should not be made. TSA data includes all passengers traveling on both domestic and international routes. Additionally, TSA screens passengers each time they enter secured areas of the airport, therefore each one-way trip is counted as a passenger tally. AAA focuses on person-trips, which include the full round-trip travel itinerary. As a result, direct comparisons of AAA forecast volumes and daily TSA screenings represent different factors. 

Year-End Holiday Travel Period  

For this forecast, the year-end holiday travel period is defined as the twelve-day period from Saturday, December 21 to Wednesday, January 1. AAA’s year-end holiday travel period can range from 10 to 13 days, depending on which day of the week Christmas and New Year’s Day fall. This year’s holiday travel period is two days longer than last year. While a longer holiday travel period can offer more options for departures and return trips, all the year-end holiday periods contain two weekends. 

About AAA

Started in 1902 by automotive enthusiasts who wanted to chart a path for better roads in America and advocate for safe mobility, AAA has transformed into one of North America’s largest membership organizations. Today, AAA delivers exceptional roadside assistance, helps travelers plan their dream vacations and adventures, offers exclusive member discounts and benefits, and provides trusted financial and insurance services – all to enhance the life journey of our 65+ million members across North America, including nearly 58 million in the United States. To learn more about all AAA offers or become a member, visit AAA.com. Drivers can request roadside assistance, identify nearby gas prices, locate discounts, book a hotel or map a route via the AAA Mobile app.

Find current fuel prices at GasPrices.AAA.com.

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_{Fuel prices are updated daily at AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge at AAA Gas Prices. For more info go www.AAA.com.  AAA Oregon/Idaho provides more than 910,000 members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services, and is an affiliate of AAA National, serving 65 million members in North America.}