BOISE – Another holiday, another record. According to AAA, more than 119 million Americans will head 50 miles or more from home for a holiday vacation, including 700,000 Idahoans. This year’s total narrowly sets a new U.S. record for year-end travel, topping the previous record set in 2019 by 64,000 people.
“An additional three million Americans will dash through chilly weather than a year ago to wrap up 2024 and to ring in 2025,” says AAA Idaho public affairs director Matthew Conde. “No matter how you make your journey, you’ll find big crowds along the way.”
The year-end holiday travel period runs from December 21 to January 1.
Best and worst times to travel
| Worst traffic | Thursday and Friday PM (12/19 and 12/20), and Sunday (12/22) |
| Best traffic | Early mornings, Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day, New Years Day |
| Worst times to fly | Friday (12/20), Sunday (12/29), Monday (12/30) |
| Best times to fly | Early mornings, Christmas Day, New Years Day |
“Depending on work and school schedules, families have the flexibility to arrive well ahead of Christmas,” Conde said. “Travel continues to be seen as an investment in quality of life.”
Top ten year-end holiday destinations for Idaho travelers
- Anaheim/Los Angeles
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Las Vegas, NV
- Orlando, FL
- Hawaii
- San Diego, CA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Portland, OR
- Seattle, WA
- Bend, OR
Year-end travel modes
- By car: 107 million people will opt for the comfort and convenience of a road trip, representing 90% of all travelers and an additional 2.5 million people from a year ago
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- By plane: Nearly 7.9 million Americans (NEW RECORD) will fly – 6.6% of all travelers and a 4.7% jump in flights from last year
- By cruise ship, bus, or train: About 4.5 million passengers will climb aboard – nearly 4% of total travelers and about a 10% increase from a year ago
Year-end travel costs (gas prices as of 12/11/24)
- Average price for a gallon of regular gasoline (U.S.) – $3.02, 13 cents less than a year ago
- Average price for a gallon of regular gasoline (IDAHO) – $3.02, 43 cents less than a year ago
- Average price for domestic airfare is 4% higher than a year ago
- Average price for domestic car rental is 8% lower than a year ago
- Average price for domestic hotel stay is 1% higher than a year ago
- Average price for cruises departing from domestic cities is 33% higher than a year ago
“With modest increases in hotel rates and airfares, few will be deterred from their long-awaited holiday adventure,” Conde said. “For those who have used most of their year-end discretionary income for travel, treats, and Christmas presents, there are still plenty of low-cost activities when you arrive, such as good food, football, and checking out holiday light displays.”
AAA recommends arriving at the airport at least two hours early, and to expect longer airport security lines at times.
AAA to the rescue
AAA will provide emergency road service for nearly 860,000 vehicles over the winter vacation, including as many as 1,600 here in Idaho. About 40% of service calls will result in tows, but it’s not too late to get a pre-trip inspection from a repair shop that can diagnose and resolve issues such as tires and brakes, and engine fluids, hoses, and belts.
If you want to get away from it all, don’t bring it all with you
To save space, ship gifts to your end destination, and just pack the essentials, especially items that can be used in many different situations.
Safety first
Please drive when you are well-rested. If you celebrate the season with alcohol, make use of a designated driver or ride-hailing app.