PA Turnpike Holidays Traffic: Here's What To Expect

PENNSYLVANIA— All road work has been suspended on the Pennsylvania Turnpike for the holidays as the turnpike commission expects more than 7.3 million motorists to use the toll road in the travel period running from Dec. 19 through New Year's Day.

The turnpike commission earlier this week estimated the busiest day for turnpike traffic will be Dec. 19, with an estimated 675,000 vehicles on the road. The second busiest day is anticipated to be on Dec. 23, with an estimated 650,000 people in transit.

The least busy day is expected to be on Jan. 1, with an estimated 320,000 on the toll road.

For comparative purposes, about 550,000 motorists travel on the turnpike daily.

To give maximum safety to travelers, the turnpike will have increased personnel on the road along with the Pennsylvania State Police. In the event of any emergency, motorists can dial *11 via mobile phone to summon help.

Nationally, 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 percent increase from last year’s record of 119.7 million travelers.

More than 109.5 million Americans, 2 percent 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 percent from last year.

The 89 percent 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 Wednesday was $2.90, according to AAA.

In Pennsylvania, regular gas was selling for an average of $3.11 a gallon on Wednesday. A year ago, the price was $3.22 per gallon.

If you're looking for an explanation as to why the Keystone State has a higher-than-average gasoline price,t he Tax Foundation has one: Pennsylvania has the nation's fourth-highest state gas tax at 58.7 cents per gallon.

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.