The American Automobile Association (AAA) has released its 2025 holiday travel forecast — and a record number of people are expected to leave home for end-of-year celebrations and vacations.
According to the source, travel will be up across the board. AAA estimates 122.4 million people in the United States will journey at least 50 miles from home for the holidays this year. The whopping figure represents a 2.2% increase over 2024’s estimate. The report foresees a record number of travelers by car, air, and other modes of transportation, such as cruises, trains, and buses. However, by far, most travelers will likely travel by car, with AAA estimating 109.5 million will take road trips — 2% more than last year.
The source noted that gas prices are expected to be lower this holiday season compared to last year. Additionally, AAA said, “Driving is the overwhelming favorite among all modes of transportation because of its convenience and low cost. This year, 89% of holiday travelers will take road trips.”
For those driving, AAA anticipates “minimal traffic” on key dates this holiday season — December 24, December 25, December 31, and January 1. That said, transportation data and insights source INRIX noted that the week of Christmas will see more vehicles on the roads than the week of New Year’s. Moreover, the week before Christmas may be “extra congested” on the roads.
What Else Did AAA’s 2025 Holiday Travel Forecast Share?
This year’s holiday travel window spans 13 days, from Saturday, December 20, through Thursday, January 1, and includes two weekends.
Travelers are interested in warm-weather destinations this holiday season, per the forecast. The top three domestic locations that AAA’s booking data suggested people are heading to were all in Florida — Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami, consecutively. Other U.S. hotspots where holiday travelers are reportedly headed include the Anaheim/Los Angeles area, Honolulu, Tampa (also in Florida), New York City, Maui, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Las Vegas.
Internationally, Americans are largely opting for warm resort destinations. Cancun topped the list, though Punta Cana, Cozumel, San Jose, Puerto Vallarta, San Juan, Nassau, and Oranjestad were also name-dropped. And for those adventuring farther out from the U.S., Rome and Sydney were listed as popular destinations.
AAA predicts a record-breaking 8.03 million people will fly domestically for the holidays, the first time the source’s estimate is over 8 million. The figure comes despite round-trip domestic airfare for the season reportedly being 7% more expensive for travelers.
Regarding other forms of travel, 4.9 million may travel by bus, train, or cruise, an estimated increase of 9% over last year.
