Despite $1.25 increase in gas prices, 109 million expected to travel for the holidays

Traffic exiting Interstate 15 at Exit 16, Hurricane, Utah, Feb. 7, 2019 | File photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News

SALT LAKE CITY — Travelers who canceled getaways and get-togethers last year because of the pandemic are making up for lost time. More than 109 million people will head out of town between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2. That dramatic bounce-back will bring this year’s travel numbers to 92% of 2019 levels.

Travel volume comparisons | Image courtesy AAA, St. George News | Click to enlarge

“With vaccines widely available, conditions are much different and many people feel a greater level of comfort traveling but travelers will still be mindful of the pandemic and the new omicron variant,” AAA Utah spokesperson Aldo Vazquez said in a press release.

More than 100 million on the roads and 6 million in the skies

Road trips will remain the top mode of travel during the holidays, with over 100 million planning to head to their destinations in cars, despite gas costing $1.25 per gallon more than a year ago. AAA also predicts crowded skies, with air travel nearly tripling over 2020.

Navigating the new travel landscape

Whether travelers plan to do so by car or plane, AAA offers the following tips to avoid unnecessary stress and challenges on the way to your holiday destination:

  • Be proactive. Book flights, car rentals, accommodations and other activities as early as possible.
  • Be patient. The roads and airports will be busy so plan ahead. For domestic air travel, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of departure time and three hours for international flights.
  • Be prepared. The over 100 million Americans planning to drive over the holidays need to be prepared for slowdowns and breakdowns. AAA expects to respond to as many as 1.3 million calls for help. Check out AAA Utah’s Stress Less Checklist and AAA Digital TourBook to prepare.
  • Be protected. AAA’s COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Map and AAA.com are free resources travelers can use to understand recommendations and requirements when traveling in the U.S.

Forecast methodology

In cooperation with AAA, IHS Markit developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes. The methodology includes factors such as employment, output, household net worth, asset prices including stock indices, interest rates, housing market indicators and variables related to travel and tourism, including prices of gasoline, airline travel and hotel stays.

The travel forecast is reported in-person trips. In particular, AAA and IHS Markit forecast the total U.S. holiday travel volume and expected mode of transportation. The travel forecast presented in this report was prepared the week of Nov. 15.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2021, all rights reserved.

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