ORLANDO, Fla. -- AAA projects 98.6 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the year-end holiday season, an increase of 4% from the 94.8 million people who traveled last year. This upward trend marks the highest forecast growth rate for the year-end holiday season since 2009 and the highest travel volume for the holiday period on record (since 2001).
The year-end holiday period is defined as Tuesday, December 23 to Sunday, January 4.
The calendar is having a positive effect on the number of travelers expected this year. This year the holidays land on a Thursday, creating a holiday travel season that is one day longer than last year's and the longest since 2008, offering travelers more options for departures and return trips. This flexibility makes it possible for more people to fit holiday travel into their schedules.
Nearly 91% of all travelers (89.5 million) will celebrate the holidays with a road trip, an increase of 4.2% from 2013. Air travel is forecast to grow 1% from 2013, with 5.7 million travelers taking to the skies.
Low gas prices continue to help boost disposable income this holiday season, with today’s national average price of gas at $2.53 per gallon, 70 cents less than a year ago.
The national average price of gasoline on December 17, $2.53 per gallon, is at the lowest level in five years and 70 cents lower than last year, a welcome gift for holiday travelers. Gas prices have fallen for 82 days in a row, helping to increase Americans' disposable income 3.5% from year-ago levels, which has had a positive effect on travel.
"While the economy continues to improve at an uneven pace, it seems more Americans are looking forward with increasing consumer confidence, rather than looking back at the recession. This is helping to drive expected travel volumes to the highest level we have seen for the year-end holidays," said Marshall L. Doney, AAA president and COO.
"Lower gas prices are filling stockings with a little more cash to spend on travel this year as travelers are expected to pay the lowest prices since 2009," he said. "Lower prices are increasing disposable income and enabling families to set aside money for travel this year."
The Orlando, Fla.-based motoring and travel club has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades. AAA's projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Global Insight.
Click here to view the full AAA year-end report.
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