Congested Roads, Long Airport Wait Times Predicted For CA Holiday Travel

It's the time of year to pack the family up in the car and visit relatives for the holidays or for college student to return home for Christmas. But the travel conditions are forecasted to be especially busy this year.

Patch has all you need to know about travel and weather for the holiday season in 2025 in California.

California Travel Conditions

INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, predicts that roads will be more congested during Christmas week than during New Year's week, though both weeks will have days with heavier traffic. The interstates are expected to be especially crowded on the weekend before Christmas as travelers begin their journeys on Saturday and Sunday. The Friday after Christmas, December 26, is also projected to be busy with post-holiday travel. Because the year-end travel period is longer, travelers have more flexibility for when they leave and return. Traffic is generally lightest on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, but unforeseen delays can occur due to accidents or bad weather.

A record number of people are expected to travel during the year-end holiday period, from December 20 to January 1, according to The American Automobile Association.. AAA projects 122.4 million Americans will travel nationwide, a 2.2 percent increase over the previous record set in 2024. This 13-day travel period is expected to include more than 16.5 million Californians traveling at least 50 miles from home, which is an increase of over 445,000 travelers compared to last year.

Anticipated holiday travel in California will see 14.5 million residents driving and over 1.5 million taking to the skies, contributing to national totals of 109.5 million and 8.03 million road and air travelers, respectively, according to AAA. Additionally, more than 542,000 Californians are expected to utilize buses, trains, and cruises, with significant post-pandemic growth noted in the cruise sector, AAA stated.

Southern Californians should anticipate high airport wait times and heavy freeway congestion during the holidays. Travel is expected to be busiest on the weekends preceding Christmas and New Year's, as both holidays fall mid-week, according to AAA.

Weather In California

Intense atmospheric river-fueled storms are slamming the Golden State over the holidays especially in Southern California where between 4 and 8 inches of rain is expected between now and Friday.

Caltrans advises travelers heading to California’s mountains for Christmas to prepare for winter conditions: carry chains, check for road closures, and monitor weather. The early forecast suggests a mild start to the Christmas season, with potential for wetter weather later in December.