AAA is projecting more than 128,000 Wilkes-Barre area residents will travel over the year-end holiday period from Saturday, Dec. 20, to Thursday, Jan. 1.
This year’s travel projections represent a 2.3% increase in travel volume over last year.
As usual, the great majority of those travelers will be driving to their holiday destinations.
AAA is projecting that more than 115,000 Wilkes-Barre area residents (90% of local travelers) will be hitting the road — up 2% over last year.
Gas prices have dropped to levels not seen in more than four years — a gift to those filling up for their holiday road trips.
AAA projects nearly 9,000 Wilkes-Barre area residents — nearly 7% of local travelers — will travel to their year-end holiday destination by air — an increase of nearly 1.6% over last year and making airports the busiest they’ve ever been.
Other modes of travel — cruise ships, busses, and trains — will see a nearly 12% increase over last year, as more than 4,300 Wilkes-Barre residents utilize those modes of travel during the year-end holidays.
“With extra days off from work thanks to the holidays just a week apart, the end of the year is a time when many can get in some travel,” said Jana Tidwell, manager of public and government affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “While most travelers may be getting together with family or loved ones to celebrate, others may be saying goodbye to 2025 and ringing in 2026 at a favorite vacation destination. As we embark on some of the busiest travel days of the year, on the roads and in airports, AAA urges travelers to plan ahead and pack plenty of patience for a safe and stress-free travel experience.”
AAA’s national travel projections
Nearly 90% of holiday travelers will be driving to their destinations, making it the most popular way to travel. Nearly 110 million people are expected to travel by car.
AAA expects more than 8 million passengers to fly to their holiday destination — up more than 2% over last year. AAA booking data shows flights are 7% more expensive this holiday season compared to last year.
The number of Americans traveling by bus, train, and cruise this holiday season is up more than 9% compared to last year. AAA expects 4.9 million people will travel by other modes.
AAA’s road trip safety tips
With nearly 90% of all holiday travelers going by car, AAA urges drivers to prioritize safety with the following tips:
• Follow posted speed limits: While it’s tempting to speed to save time, the facts don’t support it. Even minor increases in speed can make crashes deadly.
Driving 80 mph instead of 75 mph over 100 miles saves only 5 minutes, hardly worth the risk. Speeding may feel faster but often leads to tragedy.
• Drive only when alert and refreshed: Driving on four or five hours of sleep is as dangerous as driving with a 0.08 BAC (legal intoxication). Have less than four hours of sleep? The risk doubles.
Travel during hours you’re normally awake and avoid overnight drives. Steer clear of heavy meals, drowsy medications, and alcohol.
For long trips, take breaks every two hours or 100 miles. Use these breaks to switch drivers if possible, or park at a safe location and nap for 20-30 minutes to recharge.
• Slow down, move over: A roadside worker is killed every other week in the U.S. To help prevent these tragedies, AAA asks drives to slow down, move over.
When you see an emergency responder on the side of the road assisting a stranded driver, reduce your speed. If possible, change lanes to give those crews room to do their jobs safely.
All 50 states and the District of Columbia have Move Over laws in place.
