The good news is that there won’t be quite as many drivers on the road this holiday season as there were in 2019. But there will be an awful lot of people sharing the roads with you, according to the 2024 holiday season travel forecast from AAA released Wednesday.
The auto club predicts nearly 120 million travelers will be out there over the holiday, with 107 million of them expected to hit the road down from 2019’s record of 108 million but well over last year’s number of 104.5 million.
“This is the time of year when lifelong memories are made with loved ones, and travel plays a big role in that,” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. “This year, with Christmas Day falling on a Wednesday, we’re anticipating record-breaking travel numbers the weekend before and the weekend after the holiday.”
Nearly 90% of holiday travelers will be sharing the highways with you, AAA said. Here’s how to deal with that.
What are the worst times for driving for Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s 2024?
According to transportation data analysis site INRIX, the worst times to throw the family in the car will be the weekends before Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, and the afternoons and evenings of practically every other day.
“With a near record number of auto travelers expected this holiday season, drivers should expect delays in and around major metro areas, with Sunday, December 22 expected to be the nation’s worst day to travel,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. “Our advice is to avoid traveling during peak commuting hours during the week. If schedules allow, leave bright and early or after the evening commute.”
Worst travel times:
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Thursday, Dec. 19: 3 p.m. – 8 p.m.
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Friday, Dec. 20: 1 p.m. – 8 p.m.
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Saturday, Dec.. 21: 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
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Sunday, Dec. 22: 3 p,.m. – 8 p.m.
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Monday, Dec. 23: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.
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Tuesday, Dec. 24: Minimal traffic impact expected
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Wednesday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day): Minimal traffic impact expected
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Thursday, Dec. 26: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
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Friday, Dec. 27: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
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Saturday, Dec. 28: 1:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
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Sunday, Dec. 29: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
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Monday, Dec. 30: 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
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Tuesday, Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve): Minimal traffic impact expected
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Wednesday, Jan. 1 (New Year’s Day): Minimal traffic impact expected
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Thursday, Jan. 2: 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Travel site AAA predicts 107 million travelers will be on the roads this holiday season.
What are the best times for driving for Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s 2024?
The best time to get some miles in on the road is on Christmas Day and New Year’s themselves, when interstates and highways are typically emptier, INRIX said.
Your best bet is to try and leave earlier in the mornings, INRIX analysts said.
Best times to drive:
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Thursday, Dec. 19: Before 11 a.m.
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Friday, Dec. 20: Before 11 a.m.
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Saturday, Dec.. 21: Before 2 p.m.
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Sunday, Dec. 22: Before 12 p.m.
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Monday, Dec. 23: Before 11 a.m.
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Tuesday, Dec. 24: Minimal traffic impact expected
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Wednesday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day): Minimal traffic impact expected
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Thursday, Dec. 26: Before 11 a.m.
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Friday, Dec. 27: Before 2 p.m.
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Saturday, Dec. 28: Before 11 a.m.
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Sunday, Dec. 29: Before 11 a.m.
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Monday, Dec. 30: Before 2 p.m.
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Tuesday, Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve): Minimal traffic impact expected
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Wednesday, Jan. 1 (New Year’s Day): Minimal traffic impact expected
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Thursday, Jan. 2: Before 3 p.m.
Renting a car? Here are the best times to pick it up and take it back
Miami, Orlando and Tampa are three of the busiest cities in the country for car rentals around the holiday season, according to car rental agency Hertz.
“The busiest car pick-up days are expected to be Friday, December 20 and Saturday, December 21,” Hertz said in the release. “The busiest time for rental returns is expected to be the weekend and Monday after Christmas. The average length of rental is one week.”
Travel tips from AAA
“With an additional 2.5 million travelers expected on the roads during this year-end holiday travel period, AAA urges drivers to prioritize safety with the following tips:”
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Follow posted speed limits: Speeding may feel faster but doesn’t make that much difference and the risk isn’t worth it
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Drive only when alert and refreshed: Driving on 4 or 5 hours of sleep is as dangerous as driving with a 0.08 blood alcohol level, AAA said. If you get less than 4 hours of sleep, the risk doubles. Avoid heavy meals, drowsy medications and alcohol before you get in the car and take breaks every tow hours or 100 miles.
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Slow down, move over: All 50 states and Washington D.C. have Move Over laws. Florida’s law, which requires motorists to move over a lane then they can safely do so for stopped law enforcement and emergency responders, was expanded to include dishabled vehicles and other hazards.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Best and worst times to drive for Christmas, New Year’s holidays