The Most Difficult Journey Days for Christmas and New Yr’s 2025

Dec. 10, 2025, 12:01 a.m. ET

A report 122.4 million Individuals are anticipated to journey for the winter holidays.
Home round-trip flights are averaging almost $900, a 7% enhance from final yr.
The times main as much as Christmas may have probably the most important highway visitors.

The ultimate stretch of vacation journey for the yr is upon us, and it will be a busy one.

For the winter holidays between Dec. 20 and Jan. 1, round 122.4 million Individuals are anticipated to journey – exceeding final yr’s 119.7 million and setting a brand new report, in line with AAA.

Whereas most will hit the highway for his or her year-end journeys, round 8.03 million are anticipated to fly. There’s additionally elevated demand for cruising, up 25% from 2019.

“Yr-end journey is a mixture of household highway journeys, pal getaways, and tropical holidays,” stated Stacey Barber, vice chairman of AAA Journey, in a press release. “Vacation celebrations look completely different for everybody, however a frequent thread is the need to journey, whether or not it’s returning to your hometown or exploring new locations.”

Here is what to learn about vacation journey.

Are vacation flights dearer this yr?

Sure, with a round-trip home flight averaging almost $900 – about 7% dearer in comparison with final yr, in line with AAA. The costliest days to fly are these main as much as Christmas and New Yr’s, as individuals slot in one final getaway.

In accordance with Cirium knowledge, flight costs for the vacation season are extra steady than in 2024, as extra price range carriers have fewer extra seats to fill this yr.

What are the highest vacation locations?

Many vacationers are looking for out hotter temperatures for the winter holidays. Floridian cities like Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Miami are the most well-liked locations for home vacationers, adopted by Anaheim, California – house to Disneyland – and Honolulu, Hawaii.

These taking worldwide journeys are additionally going south to tropical locales, equivalent to Cancun, Mexico; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Cozumel, Mexico; and San Jose, Costa Rica.

What are the very best instances to drive for the vacations?

As typical, the least quantity of visitors will probably be on the vacations themselves: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Yr’s Eve and New Yr’s Day.

To bypass the worst congestion, keep away from driving after 9 p.m. on Dec. 20 and earlier than 1 p.m. on Dec. 21 by way of Dec. 23.

After Christmas, visitors will probably be lighter earlier than 11 a.m. from Dec. 26 by way of Dec. 28 and earlier than 10 a.m. on Dec. 29 and Dec. 30.

What are the worst instances to drive for the vacations?

Christmas week is anticipated to have extra visitors than New Yr’s, with the busiest days anticipated to be the Saturday and Sunday earlier than Christmas and the day after the vacation, in line with INRIX.

As many embark on their Christmas journeys, the worst visitors will probably be between midday and eight p.m. on Dec. 20, after which 1 p.m. and seven p.m. on Dec. 21 by way of Dec. 23.

Drivers can count on heavy visitors between 11 a.m. and eight p.m. on Dec. 26 and Dec. 28; midday and eight p.m. on Dec. 29; and midday and seven p.m. on Dec. 30.

Peak congestion instances for routes in or out of main US cities

Atlanta

Worst route: Atlanta to Augusta by way of I-20 E
Worst day: Dec. 22
Worst time: 3:15 p.m.
Estimated journey time: 3 hours, 12 minutes
Journey time enhance: 51%

Boston

Worst route: Boston to Portsmouth by way of I-95 N
Worst day: Dec. 20
Worst time: 3:30 p.m.
Estimated journey time: 3 hours, 43 minutes
Journey time enhance: 126%

Denver

Worst route: Fort Collins to Denver by way of I-25 S
Worst day: Dec. 26
Worst time: 12:45 p.m.
Estimated journey time: 2 hours, 40 minutes
Journey time enhance: 97%

Houston

Worst route: Galveston to Houston by way of I-45 North
Worst day: Dec. 23
Worst time: 5:45 p.m.
Estimated journey time: 1 hour, 33 minutes
Journey time enhance: 82%

Los Angeles

Worst route: Los Angeles to Palm Springs by way of I-10 E
Worst day: Dec. 26
Worst time: 5:45 p.m.
Estimated journey time: 3 hours, 25 minutes
Journey time enhance: 89%

New York

Worst route: New York to the Hamptons by way of Lengthy Island Expressway East
Worst day: Dec. 22
Worst time: 4:15 p.m.
Estimated journey time: 2 hours, 23 minutes
Journey time enhance: 90%

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The Most Difficult Journey Days for Christmas and New Yr’s 2025

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