Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

AAA: Record Number of People Traveling During the Holidays

AAA projects 94.5 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the year-end holiday season, an increase of 0.6% from the 94 million people who traveled last year. This upward trend marks the fifth consecutive year of increases and the highest travel volume recorded for the season

by Staff
December 23, 2013
2 min to read


America’s highways will be more crowded than ever before this holiday season, according to a new forecast.

AAA projects 94.5 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the year-end holiday season, an increase of 0.6% from the 94 million people who traveled last year. This upward trend marks the fifth consecutive year of increases and the highest travel volume recorded for the season.

Ad Loading...

The year-end holiday period is defined as Dec. 21 to  Jan. 1.

Ninety-one percent of travelers or 85.8 million people are expected to travel by automobile, an increase of 0.9% from last year. while almost 30% of all Americans will take a trip this holiday, with more than one in four taking a road trip.

“While economic growth has stagnated and consumer confidence has fallen Americans will not be Scrooges when it comes to traveling this year,” said AAA CEO Marshall L. Doney.

Only once in the past decade has there been a change in travel volume greater than five and that was a decline in 2007 as the recession was just getting started, according to AAA.

“Of all the travel holidays, the year-end holiday season remains the least volatile as Americans will not let economic conditions dictate their travel plans to celebrate the holidays,” said Doney.

Ad Loading...

AAA says with the holidays also comes a greater number of drivers getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol

According to the latest data from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety one in five of all licensed drivers, that drink at least occasionally, reported having driven when they thought their alcohol level might have been close to or possibly over, the legal limit in the past year. T

The survey also reveals that 96% of drivers consider impaired driving to be unacceptable with 50% reporting that drunk drivers are a bigger problem today versus three years ago.  

More Drivers

SponsoredFebruary 1, 2026

Stop Watching Footage, Start Driving Results

6 intelligent dashcam tactics to improve safety and boost ROI

Read More →
DriversJanuary 23, 2026

What FMCSA’s New Enforcement Push Means for Fleets in 2026 [Podcast]

Listen as transportation attorney and TruckSafe Consulting President Brandon Wiseman joins the HDT Talks Trucking podcast to unpack the “regulatory turbulence” of last year and what it means for trucking fleets in 2026.

Read More →
DriversJanuary 20, 2026

How Pilot Is Using AI in Truck Maintenance

A practical look at how artificial intelligence is helping Pilot's trucking fleet move from reactive maintenance to a more proactive approach.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
SponsoredJanuary 19, 2026

3 New Ways Fleet Software Pays: ROI opportunities for modern fleet managers

Safety, uptime, and insurance costs directly impact profitability. This eBook looks at how fleet software is evolving to deliver real ROI through proactive maintenance, AI-powered video telematics, and real-time driver coaching. Learn how fleets are reducing crashes, defending claims, and using integrated data to make smarter operational decisions.

Read More →
SponsoredJanuary 19, 2026

Basic Tracking vs Next Generation Fleet Technology

Fleet software is getting more sophisticated and effective than ever, tying big data models together to transform maintenance, safety, and the value of your existing tech stack. Fleet technology upgrades are undoubtedly an investment, but updated technology can offer a much higher return. Read how upgrading your fleet technology can increase the return on your investment.

Read More →
Graphic showing smart truck parking technology with a highway sign reading “Spaces Available” and the Streetline logo.
Driversby News/Media ReleaseJanuary 16, 2026

Streetline Expands Smart Truck Parking System on West Coast

Streetline is expanding smart truck parking tools, including a new I-5 deployment in Washington and a no-upfront-cost pilot model for state DOTs.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Truck parked at night
Driversby Deborah LockridgeJanuary 15, 2026

Third 'Jason's Law' Truck Parking Survey Under Way

The Federal Highway Administration is asking motor carriers and truck drivers to give input on where and when drivers have difficulty finding truck parking, and on how drivers prefer to get information on available parking.

Read More →
Driversby StaffJanuary 8, 2026

FMCSA Continues Focus on State Issuance of Non-Domiciled CDLs

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration continues a crackdown on an increasing number of states it says have been issuing non-domiciled CDLs improperly.

Read More →
Driversby Deborah LockridgeDecember 30, 2025

Will FMCSA’s Driver-Oriented Enforcement Initiatives Affect Capacity?

The Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration took several actions in 2025 to tighten enforcement of regulations for commercial drivers. Will those affect trucking capacity in 2026?

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Driversby Deborah LockridgeDecember 15, 2025

Q&A: Lisa Kelly Explains Ice Road Trucking, Reality TV Editing, and Life as a Female Driver

Lisa Kelly talks to HDT about the return of the show Ice Road Truckers, what really happens on the ice roads, how reality TV shapes drivers’ stories, and the career she’s built beyond the show.

Read More →