It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, that season that entails a frenzy of shopping and then a trek someplace to see somebody, maybe even grandma herself?
Wherever they all go, they’ll be party to setting a record for travel during the extended Christmas week. That’s according to the annual AAA survey, that says 103 million Americans – close to a third of the population – plan to drive, fly or go by bus, train or boat for a visit.
It’s an increase of 1.5 percent over last year, and the highest number of expected travelers the AAA survey has recorded.
“This year, more Americans will travel to celebrate the holidays and ring in the New Year than ever before,” said AAA President Marshall Doney. “Rising incomes and continued low gas prices should make for a joyous holiday travel season.”
Most people – almost 94 million – tell AAA they plan to drive 50 or more miles from home in the run-up to Christmas and the week that follows through New Year’s Day. About 6 million people say they plan to fly, while 3.5 million say they’re opting for other modes of travel.
A big reason for the bump in car travel, AAA says, is that U.S. drivers have saved more than $27 billion on gas so far this year, compared with the same time frame in 2015. The average price per gallon nationwide is $2.22, AAA says, the second-lowest price since 2009, when the national average was $1.62.
While grandmother and other relatives and friends can expect plenty of visitors, a lot of people are fleeing the cold in search of warmer climes. Las Vegas, Orlando, San Diego and Anaheim meet that criteria, though New York City slips in among them in the top five.
It’s not clear just how many people will flock to the nation’s capital this season, but the region long has been one from which a lot of people flee.
AAA says 43 percent of the region’s people plan to take a trip over the protracted holiday period. The automobile club projects that almost 2.6 million of the metro area’s 6 million people will depart.
“On an epic scale, four out of 10 residents in the Washington metro area will embark on long-distance trips during the Christmas/New Year’s holiday,” said AAA spokesman John B. Townsend II.
Poll: Will you be traveling more than 50 miles from home during the Christmas/New Year holiday period?
Yes - 287 - 31.23%
No - 632 - 68.77%
