AAA FORECASTS 112.7 MILLION AMERICANS TO TRAVEL FOR YEAR-END HOLIDAYS
BUNSVILLE, MN., (December 13, 2022) – ’Tis the season to travel, and AAA estimates 112.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more away from home from December 23 to January 2. That’s an increase of 3.6 million people compared to last year and the third busiest since AAA began tracking in 2000. In the West North Central Region, 8.8 million travelers will journey 50 miles or more away from home, an increase of nearly 241,000 people over last year. These numbers are the fourth highest travel volume for the year-end holiday travel period on record for the region.
*West North Central region includes IA, KS, MN, MO, ND, NE, SD
| West North Central Region Year-End Holiday Traveler Totals | ||||
| Total Travelers | Auto Travelers | Air Travelers | Other Modes | |
| 2022 (Forecast) | 8,831,000 | 8,166,000 | 374,000 | 292,000 |
| 2021 | 8,590,000 | 8,033,000 | 322,000 | 235,000 |
| 2019 | 9,634,000 | 8,931,000 | 394,000 | 309,000 |
| Growth (2021 to 2022) | +2.8% | +1.6% | +16.2% | +24.2% |
| Growth* (2019 to 2022) | -8% | -9% | -5% | -6% |
National travel figures are also stronger than 2021, yet slightly lower than pre-pandemic levels. View all National travel figures in the full holiday travel report.
“Despite inflationary pressures, consumers remain resilient and dedicated to travel this year, and the holidays will be no different,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Americans are spending more on travel than any other time in the past two years. The good news is the cost for a holiday road trip will be less expensive than anticipated, now that gas prices are on the way down.”
Automobiles, Planes, Trains and Cruises
Nationwide, 90% of holiday travelers will drive to their destinations.
Air travel will see a 14% increase over last year, with nearly 7.2 million Americans expected to fly. Flights and airports will be packed this holiday season, reminiscent of pre-pandemic days. Demand for flights has surged despite higher airline ticket prices. AAA expects the number of people taking holiday flights this year will come close to matching 2019 when 7.3 million Americans traveled by air.
“If the distance is not reasonable to drive, more people are flying to maximize the time spent at their destination,” Haas adds. “Conversely, if the travel distances are reasonable and more than one or two people in the household are taking the trip, it may be more cost-effective to drive rather than buy multiple air tickets and rent a car.”
Other modes of transportation are also rebounding in a big way. AAA estimates travel by bus, rail, and cruise ship will rise to 3.6 million this holiday season, a 23% increase from last year and nearly 94% of 2019’s volume.
Gas Prices are Falling Fast
Holiday road trippers are getting the early gift of plunging prices at the pump. The Minnesota state average has declined 64 cents per gallon since October 4, 2022. In Iowa, the state average has declined 62 cents per gallon since November 4, 2022.
On Monday, the average price for gasoline in Minnesota was $3.07 per gallon and Iowa was $2.94. That’s $.04 per gallon and $.10 per gallon less than a year ago respectively.
“Since most Americans have already made their holiday travel plans, these plunging pump prices may not necessarily lead to more auto travelers,” said Meredith Mitts, Public Affairs Specialist for AAA Minnesota-Iowa; The Auto Club Group. “What we often see instead is consumers reallocating the added savings, spending more on hotels, shopping and dining out.”
Hotel and Airfares are Slightly Higher than 2021; Car Rental Rates are Cheaper
- Airfares cost 6% more than last year
- The lowest round trip airfare costs $163 vs $154 in 2021
- Hotels cost 5% more than 2021
- A mid-range AAA Three Diamond property costs $167 per night vs $160 last year
- Car Rentals cost 19% less
- The average daily rate is $105 vs $130 last year
- View AAA’s Leisure Travel Index for a full breakdown on pricing
Busiest Corridors and Best/Worst Times to Travel
Drivers should prepare for delays, particularly in and around major metro areas. Nationwide, drivers could see travel times increase by 25%, according to INRIX, a provider of transportation analytics and insights. The most congested days on the road are forecast to be Friday before Christmas, December 27 and 28, and on Monday, January 2. INRIX predicts the single busiest travel day will be Tuesday, December 27th. The best advice for avoiding congestion is to leave early in the morning or later in the evening.
Best & Worst Times to Travel by Car
| Date | Worst travel time | Best travel time |
| 12/23/22 | 4:00-7:00 PM | Before 2:00 PM, After 8:00 PM |
| 12/24/22 | 12:00-6:00 PM | Before 11:00 AM, After 7:00 PM |
| 12/25/22 – Minimal Traffic Expected | ||
| 12/26/22 | 2:00-6:00 PM | Before 12:00 PM, After 7:00 PM |
| 12/27/22 | 3:00-7:00 PM | Before 2:00 PM, After 8:00 PM |
| 12/28/22 | 3:00-7:00 PM | Before 2:00 PM, After 8:00 PM |
| 12/29/22 | 3:00-7:00 PM | Before 2:00 PM, After 8:00 PM |
| 12/30/22 | 3:00-7:00 PM | Before 2:00 PM, After 8:00 PM |
| 12/31/22 – Minimal Traffic Expected | ||
| 1/1/23 – Minimal Traffic Expected | ||
| 1/2/23 | 4:00-7:00 PM | Before 3:00 PM, After 8:00 PM |
Source: INRIX
Peak Congestion by Metro
| Metro | Corridor | Peak congestion period (date/time) | Compared to Typical |
| Atlanta | I-75 North, GA-17 to I-675 | 1/2/2023, 5:15-6:15 PM | 65% |
| Boston | I-93 South, Albany St to MA-24 | 12/28/2022, 3:00-5:00 PM | 47% |
| Chicago | I-290 East, Mannheim Rd to Paulina St | 12/27/2022, 4:45-6:45 PM | 75% |
| Detroit | I-94 West, Gratiot Ave to Michigan Ave | 1/2/2023, 12:00-2:00 PM | 27% |
| Houston | I-69 North, I-610 to TX-10 | 12/27/2022, 3:45-5:45 PM | 36% |
| Los Angeles | I-5 South, Colorado St to Florence Ave | 12/27/2022, 5:30-7:30 PM | 95% |
| New York | I-278 West, I-495 to 6th Ave | 12/27/2022, 3:45-5:45 PM | 112% |
| San Francisco | I-80 East, Maritime St to San Pablo Dam Rd | 12/28/2022, 5:00-7:00 PM | 50% |
| Seattle | I-5 South, WA-18 to WA-7 | 12/28/2022, 4:00-6:00 PM | 62% |
| Washington DC | I-95 South, MD-212 to Central Ave | 12/27/2022, 9:30-11:30 AM | 68% |
Source: INRIX
Source: INRIX
AAA Advice for Auto Travelers
- Leave early so you are not in a rush.
- Watch the weather. Consider alternate routes or adjust your departure time to avoid driving through bad weather.
- Never drive distracted. Pre-program your GPS andput the cellphone down while driving.
- Slow down. Make sure you are driving a speed reasonable for the weather. If visibility is poor, or the roads are slick, slow down.
- Wear your seat belt and never drive impaired.
AAA Expects to Rescue nearly 899,000 stranded motorists
Nearly 899,000 drivers will need AAA roadside assistance during the 11-day holiday period. The most common reasons are for dead batteries, flat tires and lockouts. AAA encourages drivers to get a full vehicle inspection before hitting the road – checking everything from your tires to brakes, lights, and wiper blades. You can find a list of AAA Approved Auto Repair Facilities at AAA.com/AutoRepair.
Ensure your vehicle has an emergency kit. This should include jumper cables, a first-aid kit, car/portable phone charger(s), flashlight with extra batteries, shovel and ice scraper or snow brush, warm dry clothes and winter gear, traction aid, blankets, and drinking water and snacks for everyone in the car. Click here to view a full list of items.
AAA Reminds Drivers to ‘Move Over for Me’
Being stuck on the roadside will be especially dangerous during the holidays, due to the influx of auto travelers and the potential for impaired drivers. AAA reminds motorists to slow down and move over for first responders and tow trucks. And although Minnesota law does not currently require it, AAA also urges drivers to move over for disabled vehicles on the roadside. In Iowa, disabled vehicles are covered by the law the same way first responders and tow trucks are.
“Whether it’s a tow truck or a disabled vehicle, when you see flashing lights please move over,” said Mitts. “We want to make sure all holiday travelers, tow truck drivers and first responders make it home safely for the holidays.”
Click here to learn more about The Auto Club Group’s ‘Move Over for Me’ campaign.
AAA Advice for Air Travelers
Strong demand will create long lines at airports, yet winter weather is the wild card. Snow and other winter conditions can not only cause delays and cancellations, but combine that with strong demand during this season, and you can have a hard time getting re-booked in a hurry.
“If you plan on flying this time of year, travel insurance can be extremely valuable for air travelers,” Haas said. “There are policies that can provide compensation for flight delays for as little as three hours. And if your flight is cancelled, passengers can receive compensation for covered out-of-pocket expenses.”
Other Air Travel Tips
- Check-in early online.
- Monitor your flight status using your air carrier’s mobile app.
- Arrive 2-3 hours before scheduled departure.
- Pack medications and an extra set of clothes in your carry-on bag, just in case your flight is delayed or cancelled.
If you Have Not Booked your Flight:
- Book a flight that leaves early in the day. Flights in the afternoon and evening are more susceptible to delays and cancellations.
- Book a direct flight. Otherwise, build in extra time between connections, in case your first flight is delayed.
- Consider traveling on Christmas Day. This could offer the best combination of availability and price.