These Are the Worst Times to Travel This Holiday Season

This holiday will be a wild one on the roads and in the skies. Here’s how to plan accordingly.

Golden Gate Bridge Traffic
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Written by Krista Simmons December 24, 2024

The travel industry is continuing to rebound, with this year’s holiday season promising to be the busiest one yet, especially here in the West. AAA has released their annual data, which projects 119.3 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home over through Wednesday, January 1, which is 3 million travelers more than last year.

Nearly 90% of holiday travelers will be driving to their destinations, making it the most popular way to travel. Hertz says Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Oahu, Orlando, Phoenix, and Tampa are the cities displaying the highest rental demand for the holidays. The busiest time for rental returns is expected to be the weekend and Monday after Christmas. Air travel is set to hit new highs too, with 7.85 million passengers hitting the skies, regardless of the fact that flights are 4% more expensive than year.

INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, expects drivers will experience the worst traffic delays the weekends before Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The holidays themselves are expected to have minimal congestion. Drivers in Boston, New York City, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. could see double the typical delays. And nationwide, travel times could be up to 30% longer. 

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Here are the best and worst times to travel during the next couple of days:

Worst Travel Times

  • Tuesday, Dec. 24: Minimal Traffic Impact Expected
  • Wednesday, Dec. 25: Minimal Traffic Impact Expected
  • Thursday, Dec. 26: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
  • Friday, Dec. 27: 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
  • Saturday, Dec. 28: 1:30 PM – 7:00 PM
  • Sunday, Dec. 29: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
  • Monday, Dec. 30: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
  • Tuesday, Dec. 31: Minimal Traffic Impact Expected
  • Wednesday, Jan. 1: Minimal Traffic Impact Expected
  • Thursday, Jan. 2: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Best Travel Times:

  • Tuesday, Dec. 24: Minimal Traffic Impact Expected
  • Wednesday, Dec. 25: Minimal Traffic Impact Expected
  • Thursday, Dec. 26: Before 11:00 AM
  • Friday, Dec. 27: 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM Before 2:00 PM
  • Saturday, Dec. 28: Before 11:00 AM
  • Sunday, Dec. 29: Before 11:00 AM
  • Tuesday, Dec. 31: Minimal Traffic Impact Expected
  • Wednesday, Jan. 1: Minimal Traffic Impact Expected
  • Thursday, Jan. 2: Before 3:00 PM
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