Best Days and Times to Travel for the Winter Holidays

More than half of Americans plan to travel for Christmas and the winter holidays this year, according to research from Deloitte. With that many people on the move, roads and airports will feel extra busy, especially in the days just before Christmas and around New Year’s. The good news is that you can avoid a lot of the stress by choosing your travel day and departure time carefully. From when to get behind the wheel to which days are smarter for flying, here is what savvy holiday travelers should keep in mind.

Best (and Worst) Times to Drive for Christmas and New Year’s

AAA expects more than 104 million people to travel by car over Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. That kind of volume guarantees some slowdowns, but not all days are equally bad. AAA has outlined which dates and time windows are likely to be the most congested and when you will have a smoother drive.

Christmas Week Driving Outlook

If you are hitting the road before Christmas, timing your departure makes a big difference.

• Saturday, Dec. 23: Expect the heaviest traffic from late morning through the evening, roughly 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Leaving before 10 a.m. gives you a much better chance of a smooth drive.
• Sunday, Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve): Traffic impacts should be minimal, as many travelers will already be at their destinations or staying close to home.
• Monday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day): Road conditions are also expected to be calm, making it one of the easiest days to drive if you do not mind traveling on the holiday itself.

Post-Christmas Return and Late December Rush

Once Christmas has passed, traffic ramps back up as people head home or continue on to New Year’s plans.

• Tuesday, Dec. 26: The busiest period is expected between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. If you can, plan to be on the road before noon to dodge the thickest traffic.
• Wednesday, Dec. 27: Similar to the day before, the heaviest congestion is likely from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. An early start before midday will help you stay ahead of the pack.
• Thursday, Dec. 28: AAA anticipates the worst traffic between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Travelers who leave before noon should see lighter conditions.
• Friday, Dec. 29: Another late afternoon crunch is expected, with 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. as the peak window. Again, leaving in the morning is your best bet.
• Saturday, Dec. 30: Drivers will see the biggest slowdown a bit later, between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Hitting the road before noon will make your day easier.

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day

If your trip overlaps with New Year’s, you are in luck from a traffic standpoint.

• New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31): AAA expects minimal traffic impact overall.
• New Year’s Day (Jan. 1): Traffic should remain light, making it another good option for those comfortable traveling on the holiday.

In short, if you want to avoid frustration behind the wheel, aim for morning departures on busy days and consider traveling on Christmas Day or New Year’s when many people are staying put.

Smartest Days to Fly for the Holidays

For travelers heading to the airport instead of the highway, picking the right flight day can help you save both time and money.

Personal finance site NerdWallet points to Thursday, Dec. 18 as one of the best days to fly before Christmas, calling it the least crowded day in the preholiday period. If you can schedule your trip a few days earlier than the main rush, you are more likely to find shorter lines and slightly better fares.

If you do not mind being in the air on special days, NerdWallet also highlights New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day as typically lighter for air travel. Many people avoid flying on those dates, which can translate into less congestion at the airport and more breathing room on your flight.

How Flying on Christmas Can Save You Money

Flying close to Christmas can actually work in your favor, especially if your main goal is to cut costs. Travel resource SmarterTravel analyzed more than 40,000 flights and found that:

• Christmas Eve fares run about 75% above normal baseline prices, which still makes them cheaper than many peak dates in the days surrounding the holiday.
• Christmas Day fares stand out as the best value of the entire Christmas travel period, at only about 27% above typical prices.

In other words, while prices are still higher than they are in nonholiday weeks, flying on Dec. 24 or 25 often costs less than flying on the most popular travel days right before Christmas.

Security wait times may also be more manageable. SmarterTravel, citing TSA data from years when Christmas fell on a Thursday, notes that Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 have historically seen 400,000 to 500,000 fewer passengers than the busiest peak days. Fewer people passing through checkpoints means you are more likely to move through security without long, stressful lines.

The Bottom Line for Holiday Travelers

If you are driving, early morning departures and travel on the holidays themselves will usually give you the smoothest experience. If you are flying, shifting your plans to less popular days like Dec. 18, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, or New Year’s Day can reduce crowds and help you keep airfare costs under control. With a little flexibility and smart timing, you can enjoy your Christmas and winter holiday plans without feeling like you are battling the entire country to get there.

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This article was written by Hunter and edited with AI Assistance