Attention holiday travelers! This season is expected to witness an extraordinary number of individuals traveling by road and air to celebrate the year-end festivities.

According to AAA, around 119.3 million people will be traveling more than 50 miles from December 21 to January 1. This is an increase of 3 million travelers compared to last year and 64,000 more than in 2019. Almost 90% will be driving, while record levels of air passengers, about 7.85 million, are also predicted.

“This season is when cherished memories are created with family and friends, and travel is a key part of that experience,” stated Stacey Barber, AAA Travel’s Vice President. “With Christmas landing on a Wednesday this year, we anticipate high travel numbers the weekends before and after the holiday.”

Here’s what you need to know about this year’s holiday travel.

The worst and best days to fly for Christmas and New Year’s

From December 23 to New Year’s Day, airlines are set to offer 32.5 million seats departing from U.S. airports, which reflects a 2.4% increase from the previous year, as reported by Hopper’s Christmas Outlook. Although no specific day is expected to be the busiest, Hopper forecasts consistent high passenger traffic throughout the holiday travel period.

To dodge the heaviest crowds, consider flying on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, or New Year’s Day. Unsurprisingly, these popular travel dates often come with the highest airfare. Flexibility with your travel days and times might unlock better last-minute rates.

Busiest U.S. airports for Christmas

Hopper predicts that Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, and Denver International Airport will be the busiest airports from Christmas through New Year’s. Each of these airports is expecting over 1.3 million departing seats, with the majority of departures occurring between 8 a.m. and noon. Aim to arrive early if you’re catching an early flight.

Worst driving times for Christmas and New Year’s

The weekends just before Christmas and New Year’s are anticipated to experience the most road congestion, with travel times projected to be up to 30% longer than usual, according to INRIX.

Here are the worst driving times during the holiday season:

• Thursday, Dec. 19 – between 3 and 8 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 20 – between 1 and 8 p.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 21 – between 4 and 8 p.m.
• Sunday, Dec. 22 – between 3 and 8 p.m.
• Monday, Dec. 23 – between 1 and 6 p.m.
• Thursday, Dec. 26 – noon and 5 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 27 – between 3 and 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 28 – between 1:30 and 7 p.m.
• Sunday, Dec. 29 – between noon and 6 p.m.
• Monday, Dec. 30 – between 5 and 7 p.m.
• Thursday, Jan. 2 – between 4 and 8 p.m.

Best driving times for Christmas and New Year’s

Traffic is expected to be at its lightest on the actual holidays, so if you have flexibility, consider driving on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, or New Year’s Day. Here are other ideal times to drive:

• Thursday, Dec. 19 – before 11 a.m.
• Friday, Dec. 20 – before 11 a.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 21 – before 2 p.m.
• Sunday, Dec. 22 – before noon
• Monday, Dec. 23 – before 11 a.m.
• Thursday, Dec. 26 – before 11 a.m.
• Friday, Dec. 27 – before 2 p.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 28 – before 11 a.m.
• Sunday, Dec. 29 – before 11 a.m.
• Monday, Dec. 30 – before 2 p.m.
• Thursday, Jan. 2 – before 3 p.m.

Worst travel times in major US cities

“Given the near-record number of road travelers anticipated this holiday season, drivers should prepare for delays in and around major metropolitan areas, with Sunday, Dec. 22, likely to be the worst travel day,” noted Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst with INRIX.

“We recommend steering clear of peak commuting hours during the week. If possible, depart early in the morning or after the evening rush hour,” he added.

▶ Atlanta

• Worst route: Atlanta to Augusta via I-20 E
• Worst day: Sunday, Dec. 22
• Worst time: 1:45 p.m.
• Estimated travel time: 2 hours, 54 minutes
• Increased travel time: 38%

▶ Boston

• Worst route: Boston to Hyannis via Pilgrim Hwy S
• Worst day: Friday, Dec. 20
• Worst time: 3:45 p.m.
• Estimated travel time: 2 hours, 24 minutes
• Increased travel time: 100%

▶ Chicago

• Worst route: Chicago to Milwaukee via I-94 W
• Worst day: Sunday, Dec. 22
• Worst time: 4:45 p.m.
• Estimated travel time: 2 hours, 2 minutes
• Increased travel time: 69%

▶Houston

• Least favorable route: Lafayette (LA) to Houston via I-10 W
• Most congested day: Friday, Dec. 27
• Peak traffic time: 5:45 p.m.
• Projected travel duration: 4 hours, 54 minutes
• Travel time increase: 53%

▶ Los Angeles

• Least favorable route: Los Angeles to Palm Springs via I-10 E
• Most congested day: Sunday, Dec. 22
• Peak traffic time: 7:45 p.m.
• Projected travel duration: 2 hours, 53 minutes
• Travel time increase: 81%

▶ New York

• Least favorable route: New York to Hamptons via Long Island Expressway E
• Most congested day: Sunday, Dec. 22
• Peak traffic time: 4:30 p.m.
• Projected travel duration: 2 hours, 39 minutes
• Travel time increase: 108%

▶ San Francisco

• Least favorable route: San Francisco to Napa via I-80 E
• Most congested day: Saturday, Dec. 21
• Peak traffic time: 7:30 p.m.
• Projected travel duration: 2 hours, 2 minutes
• Travel time increase: 82%

▶ Seattle

• Least favorable route: Seattle to Ellensburg via I-90 W
• Most congested day: Friday, Dec. 20
• Peak traffic time: 7 p.m.
• Projected travel duration: 3 hours, 18 minutes
• Travel time increase: 106%

▶ Washington, D.C.

• Least favorable route: Washington, D.C. to Annapolis via US-50 E
• Most congested day: Thursday, Dec. 19
• Peak traffic time: 4:30 p.m.
• Projected travel duration: 1 hour, 17 minutes
• Travel time increase: 160%

Tips for Scoring Winter Travel Deals

As per Deloitte’s report, around 50% of Americans plan to travel this winter. To save money, consider scheduling your trip during off-peak weeks. The days surrounding Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and school vacations are typically the busiest for travel. Instead, aim for late January and February (excluding Presidents Day) to score better deals.

Hopper suggests that there are round-trip flights from numerous U.S. cities to the Caribbean for $300 or even less during January and February, along with bargains to popular European destinations for under $400 round-trip.

Flexibility, like with holiday travel, can significantly enhance your chances of finding the best rates. Additionally, booking early direct flights can minimize the chances of delays or cancellations.