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Planning to drive this Christmas? Here’s a guide on avoiding the busiest traffic to make your holiday travel smoother

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The holiday season is expected to be bustling, especially for those embarking on road trips. AAA predicts a significant number of travelers – 115.2 million between Dec. 23 and New Year’s Day, with 90% opting for car travel. This represents the second-highest volume of drivers, trailing the record established in 2019.

Senior vice president of AAA Travel noted that this year’s forecast aligns with the travel patterns observed throughout 2023, showing an additional 2.5 million travelers compared to the previous year.

Despite the expected congestion, there is a silver lining: Expectations are that gas prices will either remain the same or decrease compared to last year.

For those hitting the road, driving times might be up to 20% longer, particularly in major metro areas like Denver, Minneapolis, and Washington, D.C., where delays could be almost double the norm, according to transportation analysts.

Best Times to Travel by Car: If your travel arrangements offer flexibility, consider hitting the road on Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day to avoid peak traffic. Early birds leaving before 10 a.m. on Dec. 23 will experience less congestion.

The days between Christmas and New Year’s (Dec. 26-30) will be busiest, with the least traffic before noon.

Worst Times to Travel by Car: Anticipate the worst traffic on Dec. 23 between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Before Christmas, roads are forecasted to be packed on Dec. 27 (1-7 p.m.) and on Dec. 28-29 (2-8 p.m.). As people head to their New Year’s destinations, expect the worst traffic on Dec. 30 between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Peak Congestion Times in Major US Cities: To steer clear of congested traffic, strategize your routes and timing thoughtfully. Use traffic apps, local DOT notifications, and 511 services to minimize travel frustrations, advises Pishue.

Here are the peak congestion times in major US cities:

  • Atlanta:
    • Worst route: Augusta to Atlanta via I-20 West.
    • Worst day: Dec. 30.
    • Worst time: 7:15 p.m.
    • Estimated travel time: 1 hour, 56 minutes.
  • Boston:
    • Worst route: Boston to Portsmouth via I-95 North.
    • Worst day: Dec. 23.
    • Worst time: 4:15 p.m.
    • Estimated travel time: 1 hour, 41 minutes.
  • Denver:
    • Worst route: Fort Collins to Denver via I-25 South.
    • Worst day: Dec. 29.
    • Worst time: 2 p.m.
    • Estimated travel time: 1 hour, 40 minutes.
  • Los Angeles:
    • Worst route: Bakersfield to Los Angeles via I-5 South.
    • Worst day: Dec. 27.
    • Worst time: 6:15 p.m.
    • Estimated travel time: 2 hours, 41 minutes.
  • Minneapolis:
    • Worst route: Eau Claire to Minneapolis via I-94 West.
    • Worst day: Dec. 28.
    • Worst time: 10:15 a.m.
    • Estimated travel time: 2 hours, 7 minutes.
  • New York:
    • Worst route: New York to Hamptons via Long Island Expy East.
    • Worst day: Dec. 23.
    • Worst time: 2:30 p.m.
    • Estimated travel time: 2 hours, 8 minutes.
  • San Francisco:
    • Worst route: San Francisco to Sacramento via I-80 East.
    • Worst day: Dec. 23.
    • Worst time: 5:15 p.m.
    • Estimated travel time: 1 hour, 49 minutes.
  • Washington:
    • Worst route: Baltimore to Washington, D.C., via Balt/Wash Pkwy South.
    • Worst day: Dec. 29.
    • Worst time: 3:45 p.m.
    • Estimated travel time: 1 hour, 1 minute.


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