PROVIDENCE – A record number of people are expected to travel for the year-end holidays this year, according to AAA Northeast Thursday.
Approximately 112.5 million Americans, more than one-third of all Americans, will drive, fly or take to the rails for the holiday season. The number of expected travelers reflects a 4.4 percent increase from 2017. AAA expects 102 million of those travelers to drive. Congestion in U.S. cities is expected to increase travel times by a magnitude of four times.
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In New England, of the 4.7 million expected to travel, 4.1 million are predicted to travel by car.
In Boston, travel times are expected to increase by three and a half times, with a peak travel day of Wednesday, Dec. 19, at the start of rush hour.
“With a record-level number of travelers hitting the road this holiday, drivers must be prepared for delays in major metro areas – with Thursday, Dec. 20, being the nation’s worst day to travel,” stated Trevor Reed, a transportation analyst at INRIX, a global mobility analytics company. “Our advice is to avoid traveling during peak commuting hours. If schedules allow, leave bright and early, or after the morning commute.”
The year-end holiday travel period is defined by AAA as Saturday, Dec. 22, through Tuesday, Jan. 1.
AAA also said Saturday, Dec. 22, Sunday, Dec. 23, and Wednesday, Dec. 26, will be the busiest days at airports.
The average traveler paid $561 for a round-trip flight this year. Last-minute travelers are expected to get airfares of an average of $488 round trip.
