Holiday Travel Expected To Set Record: When To Get Out Of RI This Year

The holiday travel season is just about here, and experts in the field expect that it will again be hectic.

Take a deep breath.

AAA projects 122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home over the 13-day year-end holiday period beginning Dec. 20 and ending Jan. 1.

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This year’s forecast is a 2% increase over 2024, surpassing last year’s record of 119.7 million travelers.

“Year-end travel is a mix of family road trips, friend getaways, and tropical vacations” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. “Holiday celebrations look different for everyone, but a common thread is the desire to travel, whether it’s returning to your hometown or exploring new destinations.”

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AAA projects 109.5 million Americans will travel by car for their year-end trips, an increase of 2% compared to last year. Company officials said that's likely tied to both cost and convenience.
Gas prices are lower compared to last holiday season when the national average was $3.04 to end 2024. For the first time in 4 years, the national average dropped below $3 a gallon this month, and prices could continue dropping as 2025 comes to a close.

The busiest trip in Rhode Island area is the Boston to Portsmouth drive via Interstate 95 North, with AAA expecting the worst travel day to be Dec. 20, around 3:30 p.m. Officials expect that drive to take 3 hours and 43 minutes, a 126 percent increase from the typical trip.

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As for other days, the best time to hit the road is usually before 10 a.m., according to AAA.

AAA projects a record 8.03 million travelers will take domestic flights this holiday season, a 2.3% increase compared to last year. This will be the first time on record that the number of domestic air travelers over the year-end holiday period exceeds 8 million.

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According to AAA data, which is based on what travelers paid when they booked their holiday trips, a round-trip domestic flight is 7% 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 Jan. 4.

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