Worst 2018 Holiday Travel Dates For Chicago Area: AAA Report

CHICAGO, IL — Holiday travel is about to begin for those who plan on having some festive fun away from home. In fact, AAA reports one in three Americans will travel this holiday season — a new record — so you might want to avoid these certain dates and times when it comes to traveling. According to a recent AAA report, the worst time to be on Chicago area highways and roads will be Monday, Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve), specifically 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. when travel times are expected to more than double.

The 102.1 million people expected to hit the road for holiday travel represents a 4.4 percent increase from last year.

Between planes, boats, trains and automobiles, 112.5 million will be traveling. That's the highest number since AAA began tracking holiday travel in 2001. The nation's worst day for holiday travel is expected to be Thursday, Dec. 20, according to the report, which listed the nation's busiest roadways and the worst days and times to travel them.

“Tis the season for holiday travel, and more Americans than ever will journey to spend time with friends and family or choose to take a vacation,” said Bryan Shilling, managing director, AAA Travel products and services, in the report. “Strong economic growth fueled by robust consumer spending continues to drive strong demand for seasonal travel. With a record-breaking one-third of the country choosing to travel this holiday, roadways and airports are sure to be busy."

There will also be 6.7 million people traveling the skies this year, which AAA said is the highest level of air travel in 15 years, and 4.2 percent higher than last year. AAA also listed the best times to fly and book Christmas flights.

Trains, cruise ships and buses will accommodate 3.7 million holiday travelers, AAA added.

If you're traveling by car, make sure to fill up that tank ASAP, as the state's average gas price is $2.302, 67 cents cheaper than the national average of $2.369, which AAA said is the cheapest December national gas price average in two years.

AAA worked with INRIX, a global mobility analytics company, to create this year's holiday travel report. INRIX predicts travel times in the most congested cities in the U.S. could be as much as four times longer than a normal trip.

Share your I-PASS with out-of-town guests

If you have family or friends headed to you for the holidays, the Illinois Tollway is offering I-PASS customers the opportunity to gift those who live out of town and traveling on the Illinois Tollway system with access to their toll accounts.

I-PASS customers now have the ability to add license plates of traveling family and friends and rental cars to their I-PASS accounts. Temporary plates can be added as authorized I-PASS account users to pay tolls electronically and avoid violations. Account holders can update their accounts online or by calling 800-UCI-PASS.

Free holiday coffee

“The Illinois Tollway wishes its customers safe travels this holiday season,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Liz Gorman, in a release. “We hope customers enjoy the opportunity to share the convenience of I-PASS with family and friends traveling for the holidays and remember to stop by a Tollway oasis on Christmas and New Year’s Eve for a free cup of coffee.”'

Here's where and when you can get a free cup of java on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31:

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90)

• Belvidere Oasis, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. at 7-Eleven and McDonald’s

• Lake Forest Oasis – 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. at 7-Eleven and McDonald’s
• Hinsdale Oasis – 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. at 7-Eleven and McDonald’s
• Chicago Southland Lincoln Oasis – 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. at McDonald’s and 9
• p.m. to 6 a.m. at 7-Eleven
• Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88)
• DeKalb Oasis, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. at 7-Eleven and McDonald’s

Construction updates

The Illinois Tollway is working to wrap up major construction, including removing lane closures on the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) and on the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355) in time for holiday travel. All work is weather dependent.

Ongoing construction activity will be restricted to better serve Tollway customers during holiday travel with any temporary maintenance and construction lane closures suspended from noon on Monday, Dec. 24, through 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 26, and again from noon on Monday,
Dec. 31, through 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 2.

Some work may continue behind barriers with long-term lane closures remaining in place, including lane reductions on the Edens Spur (I-94) and at the 159th Street Interchange on the Tri-State Tollway (I294). The ramps carrying traffic from westbound 159th Street to southbound I-294 and from northbound I-294 to westbound 159th Street are closed with posted detours

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