2024 Holiday Travel Forecast: The Best and Worst Times to Travel This Season

NEW YORK CITY – Vacation travelers, get ready: this year, we expect to see a record number of people hitting the roads and air for their end-of-year festivities.

By the numbers

This year, AAA predicts that 119.3 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home during the holiday period, from Saturday, December 21 to Wednesday, January 1.

According to AAA, domestic travel forecasts for this year exceed 2019’s record by a margin of 64,000 travelers. Compared to 2023, AAA expects 3 million more travelers this holiday season.

For our region, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said a record 13.8 million travelers are expected to use its airports and vehicle crossings during the holiday season.

Here’s what you need to know when it comes to traveling by car, plane, or other means of transportation this year:

Planning to hit the road?

AAA said nearly 90% of vacationers will take the road to get to their destination.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey estimates that about 8.6 million vehicles will use its bridges and tunnels during the holiday season.

Note: All ongoing repair and construction projects at its passages will be suspended from 5 a.m. Monday, December 23, 2024 through 5 a.m. Thursday, January 2, 2025, the Port Authority of New York and New York announced Jersey.

According to AAA, 107 million people are expected to travel by car, 2.5 million more than last year.

The good news for drivers is that gas prices are lower this year, AAA said. Last year, the national average was about $3.12 during the last two weeks of 2023, according to AAA.

Here are the best and worst times during the Thanksgiving travel season to hit the road:

The best times to travel

• Sunday December 22 – before noon
• Monday December 23 – before 11 a.m.
• Thursday December 26 – before 11 a.m.
• Friday December 27 – before 2 p.m.
• Saturday December 28 – before 11:00 a.m.
• Sunday December 29 – before 11:00 a.m.
• Monday December 30 – before 2 p.m.
• Thursday January 2 – before 3 p.m.

The worst times to travel

• Sunday December 22 – between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• Monday December 23 – between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
• Thursday December 26 – noon and 5 p.m.
• Friday December 27 – between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
• Saturday December 28 – between 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
• Sunday December 29 – between noon and 6 p.m.
• Monday December 30 – between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
• Thursday January 2 – between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

A decrease in traffic is expected on Tuesday December 24, Wednesday December 25, Tuesday December 31 and Wednesday January 1.

Live traffic in New York

Click HERE to open the built-in map in your browser.

Are you flying to your destination?

AAA predicts a record 7.85 million passengers will take to the skies this holiday season, surpassing last year’s record of 7.5 million air travelers.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey projects that approximately 5.2 million passengers will pass through John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia and New York Stewart International airports this year.

Note: The busiest travel days at agency airports are expected on December 22 and 23, 2024, with significant passenger volume also expected on December 27 and January 2, 2025, according to the Port Authority of New York and the New Jersey.

According to AAA booking data, airfares increased 4% from last year, with domestic tickets averaging $830. International flights saw an even greater increase, of 13%, with an average cost of $1,630 per ticket.

To view travel advisories from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, click here.

Delays and cancellations at New York area airports

Check the Status from each airport below:

JFK Airport Status

• For more information about FlightAware, click HERE.

LaGuardia Airport Status

• For more information about FlightAware, click HERE.

Newark Airport Status

• For more information about FlightAware, click HERE.

Buses, trains and cruises

This holiday season, nearly 10% more Americans are opting for buses, trains and cruises compared to last year, with AAA estimating 4.47 million travelers, which is the highest since 20 years old.

Domestic cruise bookings increased 37% over last year.

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