Record Crowds Expected During End-Of-Year Travel Period: What To Know In CA

California residents traveling for the holidays can expect to encounter record crowds on the roads and in airports during what’s projected to be a record end-of-the-year travel season.

AAA projects 122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home over the 13-day year-end holiday period beginning Saturday and continuing through Jan. 1. That’s a 2.2% increase from last year’s record of 119.7 million travelers.

More than 109.5 million Americans, 2% more than last year, are expected to take road trips. Another 8.03 million will take domestic flights during the holiday travel period. That’s up 2.3% from last year.

The 89% of holiday travelers hitting the road will generally pay less for gas than they did last year, when the national average was around $3.04 a gallon. The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline on Thursday was $2.896, according to AAA. In California, regular gas was selling for an average of $4.334 a gallon on Thursday.

AAA said this is the first time in four years that the national average dropped below $3 a gallon, and that prices could continue to drop as 2025 draws to a close.

INRIX, a transportation data company, expects travel during Christmas week to be busier than during New Year’s week, but said traffic will be heavier than normal throughout the 13-day period.

If possible, Golden State travelers should avoid traveling around 5:45 p.m. Dec. 26, what AAA predicts will be peak congestion in the Los Angeles metro area. For example, traveling from Los Angeles to Palm Springs via I-10 East at that time would take 3 hours and 25 minutes — an 89% increase from typical travel times.

Motorists should also avoid traveling around 5 p.m. Dec. 26 in San Diego and around 5 p.m. Dec. 23 in San Francisco, according to AAA. Traveling from San Diego to Palm Springs via I-15 North at that time would take 3 hours and 30 — a 62% increase from typical travel times. Traveling from San Francisco to Sacramento via I-80 East at that time would take 3 hours and 16 minutes — an 80% increase from typical travel times.

In general, these are the worst and best times to travel during the holiday period:

• Saturday, Dec 20: noon-8 p.m. (worst); after 9 p.m. (best)
• Sunday, Dec. 21: 1-7 p.m. (worst); before 11 a.m. (best)
• Monday, Dec. 22: 1-7 p.m. (worst); before 10 a.m. (best)
• Tuesday, Dec. 23: 1-7 p.m. (worst); before 10 a.m. (best)
• Wednesday, Dec 24: Minimal traffic impact expected
• Thursday, Dec 25: Minimal traffic impact expected
• Friday, Dec. 26: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (worst); before 11 a.m. (best)
• Saturday, Dec. 27: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (worst); before 11 a.m. (best)
• Sunday, Dec. 28: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (worst); before 11 a.m. (best)
• Monday, Dec. 29: noon-8 p.m. (worst); before 10 a.m. (best)
• Tuesday, Dec. 30: noon-7 p.m. (worst); before 10 a.m. (best)
• Wednesday, Dec. 31: minimal traffic impact expected
• Thursday, Jan. 1: minimal traffic impact expected

Get To The Airport Early

AAA expects 2025 to be the first time on record that the number of domestic air travelers over the year-end holiday period exceeds 8 million.

According to AAA data, which is based on what travelers paid when they booked their holiday trips, a roundtrip domestic flight is 7 percent more expensive this year, averaging nearly $900 a ticket. The days leading up to Christmas Day are the most expensive, while flying on the holiday itself is cheaper.

New Year’s flights are also pricey, with many people returning home on New Year’s Day or even squeezing one extra weekend out of the holiday season and coming back on Sunday, Jan. 4.

Travelers should be prepared for long security lines at Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco international airports.

It’s a good idea to arrive two or three hours early on busy days like Dec. 20-21 and Dec. 27-28. Delays are always a possibility, so use airline apps for updates.

Lines could be longest at major U.S. hubs like JFK, LAX, MIA, SFO, DFW and SEA, especially this weekend and the day after Christmas as people head to warm spots with the family.

The top 10 domestic travel destinations this holiday season are:

1. Orlando, Florida
2. Fort Lauderdale, Florida
3. Miami, Florida
4. Anaheim-Los Angeles, California
5. Honolulu, Hawaii
6. Tampa, Florida
7. New York City
8. Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
9. Las Vegas, Nevada

Top international destinations are:

1. Cancun, Mexico
2. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
3. Cozumel, Mexico
4. San Jose, Costa Rica
5. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico,
6. San Juan, Puerto Rico
7. Nassau, Bahamas
8. Rome, Italy
9. Oranjestad, Aruba
10. Sydney, Australia