A record-breaking 104 million Americans are expected to take to the road this holiday season, according to the American Automobile Association.
From Saturday, December 21 through Wednesday, January 1 an estimated 115.6 million people are expected to getaway – 4.3 million more people than last year – with most choosing to drive.
INRIX, a global transportation analytics company, expects delays to be the worst on Thursday, December 26, with afternoon delays reaching nearly double congestion-free drive times in major US cities.
“Holiday cheer is at an all-time high this year, with unemployment at historically low levels, and noted improvements in both disposable income and household net worth,” said Paula Twidale, Vice President, AAA Travel.
“Travelers should be getting used to crowded highways and airports, as this marks the eighth straight year of new record-high travel volumes for the year-end holidays.”
For the 104.8 million Americans traveling by automobile, INRIX, in collaboration with AAA, predicts only marginal delays throughout the holiday week. Nationally, drivers could experience double the travel times on Thursday and Friday afternoon, although New York City and Washington, DC could see triple the delays.
