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By Alice Gibbs
Senior Reporter
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A record-breaking number of Americans are expected to hit the road this Christmas season, prompting AAA to release new guidance on when drivers should—and shouldn’t—travel to avoid the worst holiday traffic.
AAA projects 122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home during the holiday period between December 20 through January 1. This marks a 2.2 percent increase over last year, and sets a record for holiday travel.
"Year-end travel is a mix of family road trips, friend getaways, and tropical vacations," Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in a statement. "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."
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When Christmas Travel Will Be the Most Congested
According to traffic data provider INRIX, roads will be busier during Christmas week than New Year’s week, though both periods will see significant congestion.
Interstates are expected to be especially crowded the weekend before Christmas, as travelers begin their trips on Saturday and Sunday.
The worst travel times throughout the holiday stretch generally fall between midday and early evening, while the best times to drive are in the early morning or late at night, AAA said.
The holidays themselves—Christmas Day and New Year’s Day—are typically the lightest for traffic, though AAA cautioned that crashes or severe weather could still cause unexpected delays.
Best and Worst Times To Drive This Christmas
AAA and INRIX recommend avoiding the following peak travel windows:
- Saturday, December 20: Worst from noon to 8 p.m.; best after 9 p.m.
- Sunday, December 21: Worst from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.; best before 11 a.m.
- Monday-Tuesday, December 22-23: Worst from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.; best before 10 a.m.
- Friday-Sunday, December 26-28: Worst from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; best before 11 a.m.
- Monday-Tuesday, December 29-30: Worst from noon to 8 p.m.; best before 10 a.m.
Where Drivers Will Face the Worst Delays
INRIX identified several metro-area routes likely to experience severe slowdowns, with travel times rising as much as 133 percent above normal.
Predicted to be the most-congested routes are:
- Washington, D.C., to Baltimore on Saturday, December 20, with delays increasing travel time by 133 percent
- Boston to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on Saturday, December 20, with delays up 126 percent
- Los Angeles to Palm Springs on Friday, December 26, with delays up 89 percent
- New York City to the Hamptons on Monday, December 22, with delays up 90 percent
AAA expects 109.5 million Americans—nearly 9 in 10 holiday travelers—to travel by car this Christmas, making road trips the dominant mode of transportation.
With more drivers on the road, AAA is also urging travelers to prioritize safety, noting that December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month.
The organization also reminded motorists to follow "slow down, move over" laws when encountering roadside assistance vehicles. Last year, AAA responded to more than 860,000 roadside assistance calls during the year-end holiday travel period.
Earlier this year, an analysis by Upgraded Points also revealed the best and worst days to travel by air this holiday season.
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