by Donald Wood
Last updated: 12:05 AM ET, Wed December 10, 2025
New data from AAA projects that 122.4 million Americans
will travel at least 50 miles from home during the 13-day year-end holiday
period from December 20 to January 1.
The 2025 forecast is a 2.2 percent increase over last
year, surpassing the 2024 record of 119.7 million travelers.
"Year-end travel is a mix of family road trips,
friend getaways, and tropical vacations," AAA Travel Vice President Stacey
Barber said.
"Holiday celebrations look different for everyone,
but a common thread is the desire to travel, whether it's returning to your
hometown or exploring new destinations," Barber continued.
Modes Of Transportation
In terms of how the majority of Americans will get to
their holiday destinations, 109.5 million people are expected to travel by car,
an increase of two percent compared to last year. The ride will be cheaper as
well, with gas prices lower than the previous holiday season and the national
average dropping below $3 a gallon this month.
Another 8.03 million travelers will take domestic
flights to reach their destinations this holiday season, a 2.3 percent increase
from last year. If the total reaches AAA's projections, it would be a new
record for the winter holiday travel period.
Travel by other modes of transportation is also
expected to increase by 9%, with 4.9 million people traveling by bus, train, or
cruise. This category has seen a 25 percent increase since 2019, mainly due to
record-setting post-pandemic demand for cruises.
Top Destinations for the Holidays
Americans are expected to hit the road in record
numbers, but where are they going? AAA Travel has found the top domestic and
international destinations for the year-end travel period.
For domestic travelers, warm-weather destinations
dominate, with Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami taking the top three spots.
Other tourism hotspots popular in 2025 include Los Angeles, Honolulu, Tampa,
New York City, Maui, Dallas, and Las Vegas.
As for the top international destinations, Cancun,
Punta Cana, and Cozumel are the most popular this year, followed by San Jose,
Puerto Vallarta, San Juan, Nassau, Rome, Oranjestad, and Sydney.
Best and Worst Times to Drive
AAA Travel partnered with INRIX transportation data to
analyze the busiest times to hit the road during the winter holiday travel
period. The study found that traffic congestion will be heavy the weekend
before Christmas, as travelers hit the road on Saturday and Sunday ahead of the
holiday.
Friday, December 26, is also expected to be busy as
travelers hit the road post-Christmas Day.
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