Holiday travel expected to be 2nd busiest since 2000
The hustle and bustle of the end of the year holiday travel for 2023 is set to be the second busiest year since records began being tracked in 2000, according to AAA. An expected 115.2 million travelers are expected to travel 50 miles or more through the end of the year.
This year’s total of domestic travelers is a 2.2% increase compared to last year, with 2019 remaining the busiest Christmas and New Year’s travel period on record with 119 million travelers.
“This year-end holiday forecast, with an additional 2.5 million travelers compared to last year, mirrors what AAA Travel has been observing throughout 2023,” Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel said. “More Americans are investing in travel, despite the cost, to make memories with loved ones and experience new places.”
AAA is expecting nearly 104 million people to drive to their holiday destinations, which is an increase of 1.8% when compared to 2022.
Drivers can expect to pay about the same or a little less for a gallon of gas compared to this time last year, AAA spokesperson Jim Garrity said.
The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Butler County as of Dec. 21 was $3.43.
Nationally the average price for a gallon of regular gas stood at $3.12, while the Pennsylvania average was also $3.43.
“It's a combination of a couple things,” Garrity said. “Your crude oil prices have stabilized, the demand has dropped, inventory is good and it's winter blend gasoline which is cheaper. With demand about to go up because of travel, you could see prices go up a little."
Airports, however, are expected to be at their busiest on record, with a projected 7.5 million travelers to take to the air over the Christmas and New Year’s travel period, which would surpass 2019’s record of 7.3 million.
A record number of travelers are also expected to use a number of alternative modes of transportation such as bus, train and cruises.
AAA projects this number is expected to reach more than 4 million, which surpasses the record of 3.98 million in 2019.
"There could always be issues that arise,“ Garrity said. ”The rule of thumb is you should get to the airport two hours before your flight. Maybe with a record amount of people traveling, it's not a bad idea to get there even earlier than that. Worst case you have to wander the airport."
Some of the best times to hit the road during the holiday period would be before 10 a.m. Dec. 23, with Christmas Eve and Day to have “minimal traffic.”
Then Dec. 26 through Dec. 30, the best times to travel would be anytime before noon with heavy traffic expected in the afternoon hours according to AAA.
"It can all depend on your individual situation,“ Garrity said. ”If you can avoid the Saturday before major holidays, those are going to be very busy days. With 104 million Americans on the road you definitely run into some traffic no matter where you go."
Those expecting a white Christmas as of now could be disappointed. Meteorologist Lee Hendricks with the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh is expecting Christmas Day to bring partly sunny skies with temperature in the low 50s.
“You’ll have to go down to Snowshoe in West Virginia. That would be your best bet for any snow,” Hendricks said with a laugh.
Hendricks said the days leading up to and after Christmas will have temperatures in the mid- to low-40s, with chances of rain Saturday and Christmas night.
The New Year’s Eve forecast at the moment could see some rain, but Hendricks said it’s too soon to try to accurately predict.
