AAA: 12.8 million set to travel for the holidays, traffic likely
Santa Claus has no trouble circling the globe in one night on his flying sleigh, but motorists stuck on the ground may want to plan for some lengthy delays this season.
As families prepare to celebrate the holidays this week, travel experts from AAA are advising motorists that delays may be likely as record numbers of travelers head toward their holiday destinations. In the mid-Atlantic region, over 12.8 million travelers are expected to leave home to celebrate Christmas and New Year's Eve this year.
According to the recent travel forecast from AAA, over 112 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from their homes from Dec. 23 to Jan. 2. This is an increase of 3.6 million travelers from the 2021 holiday travel season and the third biggest season for holiday travel since 2000. Numbers also continue to grow closer to pre-pandemic travel numbers, signaling more public comfort with traveling after the spread of COVID-19.
Despite the continuous shift in gas prices, vehicle travel remains the most popular method for travel this year. Over 102 million Americans plan to drive to their holiday destinations, which is on par with numbers recorded in 2019. The largest number of vehicle travel was recorded in 2019, with 108 million travelers flooding the roadways for the holidays.
In the mid-Atlantic region, 11.5 million motorists are planning to travel by car. Fuel prices across Pennsylvania have been slowly decreasing during December, with a statewide average of $3.73 per gallon of gas as of Dec. 14. Prices for gas are the highest in western Pennsylvania, which is typically above $3.75 per gallon.
This is notably higher than the rest of the United States, with the national average currently being reported at $3.21 per gallon. Nationally prices are 6 cents cheaper than they were last year, with experts saying that an increased supply and increased demand have led to pushing prices lower.
“The seasonal pattern of less driving due to shorter days and crummy weather, combined with a lower oil cost, is driving gas prices lower,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesman. “If this trend continues, many states could see their average prices fall below $3 a gallon by early next year.”
Air travel will also see a spike this year, with 7.2 million Americans traveling by air during the end of 2022. Increased demand for air travel will mean higher prices for tickets and packed airports this season, reminiscent of pre-pandemic travel at its peak. In the mid-Atlantic forecast, over 868,000 travelers plan to start their journeys at local airports.
Alternative modes of travel are also popular this year, rebounding from low numbers seen in the pandemic: 3.6 million Americans and 365,000 mid-Atlantic region residents plan to take trips on buses, railways and cruise ships this season. Local demand for these methods of transportation has increased by 28% and across the nation, demand has increased by 23% for these modes of transportation.
AAA reports the top destination for travelers across the United States remains theme parks, with Anaheim and Orlando remaining in the top spots for annual holiday travel. Two East Coast destinations, New York and Boston, are also popular destinations this year. Many travelers are also opting to head to warmer cities for the holidays, including Atlanta, Tampa, Phoenix and Las Vegas.
INRIX: Holiday travel to cause traffic across the United States
With the large number of motorists expected to travel this season, traffic will be particularly bad until the nation rings in the new year., according to a report from a national location data and software company.
INRIX's insights for traffic predict that the most congested days for vehicle traffic will be around Christmas, with many travelers expected to begin their journey on Friday. In major metros, traffic is expected to experience double the usual delays and motorists across the nation are being advised that travel times can take an average of 25% longer due to the number of motorists on the roadways.
Families should expect delays on Dec. 23 as both travelers and everyday commuters fill the roadways before the holidays. The worst time for travel will be from 4 to 7 p.m. that day, so travelers are encouraged to plan either before 2 p.m. or after 8 p.m. to avoid the peak congestion.
Christmas Eve will also be hectic on the roads, with the worst time to travel occurring between noon and 6 p.m. that day. Motorists can leave early for their destinations, with INRIX recommending a departure before 11 a.m., or plan to leave any family gatherings later in the evening, after 7 p.m., to avoid the worst of traffic.
If travelers are looking for a Christmas miracle, traffic will remain minimal throughout the holiday as many people settle down with their families for the day. Vehicle traffic will rise again on Dec. 26 around 2 p.m., but will not be as congested as the days before Christmas. Travelers leaving before noon or after 7 p.m. should experience moderate levels of traffic.
Traffic will increase on Dec. 27 as many travelers prepare to travel home or depart for New Year's Eve destinations, creating notable congestion throughout the week. During the leadup to the next holiday, travelers hoping to avoid traffic should be on the road before 2 p.m. or after 7 p.m.
Traffic on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day will be minimal, but will be at its worst on Jan. 2 as motorists returning from their destinations mix with commuters returning to work. The worst time to travel will be between 4 and 7 p.m., so motorists should leave earlier or later that day to avoid the worst levels of vehicle congestion.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: AAA: 12.8 million set to travel for the holidays, traffic likely
