Holiday travel is again expected to hit record levels in 2025, with AAA estimating that more than 122 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home over the last few weeks of the year.
Nearly 3 million more people will travel for the holidays this year than did in 2024, according to AAA. Most are expected to travel by car.
If you’re one of those people ready to hit the road, AAA also has projections for the best and worst times to drive during the busy holiday season.
Here’s what to know about traveling for the holidays, whether you’re staying in Wisconsin or venturing farther.
How many people are expected to travel by car and plane for the 2025 holiday season?
More than 109 million Americans, or 89% of holiday travelers, will travel by car between the end of December and New Year’s Day, AAA says.
An additional 8 million are expected to fly domestically, and nearly 5 million will use different forms of transportation, including buses, trains and cruises. The number of domestic air travelers could exceed 8 million during the holiday period for the first time in 2025.
This holiday season is also the second in a row in which travel numbers are expected to recover to pre-pandemic levels. After a record 119.3 million travelers in 2019, travel numbers dipped sharply in 2020 and have been steadily rising since.
It could be a welcome rise in traffic for the Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, which has seen a dip in passenger activity this year, as Americans have scaled back travel plans due to rising costs and economic uncertainty.
As of October 2025, the airport had logged just under 5 million passengers for the year, compared to about 5.4 million passengers by the same point in 2024, according to airport passenger data.
What are the best times to drive during the 2025 holiday period?
Here are the best times for holiday season road trips, according to AAA:
- Saturday, Dec. 20: After 9 p.m.
- Sunday, Dec. 21: Before 11 a.m.
- Monday, Dec. 22: Before 10 a.m.
- Tuesday, Dec. 23: Before 10 a.m.
- Wednesday, Dec. 24: Minimal traffic impact expected
- Thursday, Dec. 25: Minimal traffic impact expected
- Friday, Dec. 26: Before 11 a.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 27: Before 11 a.m.
- Sunday, Dec. 28: Before 11 a.m.
- Monday, Dec. 29: Before 10 a.m.
- Tuesday, Dec. 30: Before 10 a.m.
- Wednesday, Dec. 31: Minimal traffic impact expected
- Thursday, Jan. 1: Minimal traffic impact expected
What are the worst times to drive during the 2025 holiday period?
Here are the worst times for holiday season road trips, according to AAA:
- Saturday, Dec. 20: Between noon and 8 p.m.
- Sunday, Dec. 21: Between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Monday, Dec. 22: Between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Tuesday, Dec. 23: Between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, Dec. 24: Minimal traffic impact expected
- Thursday, Dec. 25: Minimal traffic impact expected
- Friday, Dec. 26: Between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 27: Between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.
- Sunday, Dec. 28: Between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.
- Monday, Dec. 29: Between noon and 8 p.m.
- Tuesday, Dec. 30: Between noon and 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, Dec. 31: Minimal traffic impact expected
- Thursday, Jan. 1: Minimal traffic impact expected
Will gas prices be high in Wisconsin for 2025 holiday travel?
There is good news for those taking holiday road trips: The national average gas price is expected to be at its lowest since 2020, according to a Dec. 16 report from GasBuddy.
The average on Christmas Day is projected to be $2.79 per gallon, down from $3 in 2024, the report says.
You can find the most up-to-date gas prices in Wisconsin on Gas Buddy’s website.
When is Christmas 2025?
Christmas Eve falls on Wednesday, Dec. 24 and Christmas is on Thursday, Dec. 25.
When is New Year’s Eve 2025?
This year, New Year’s Eve falls on Wednesday, Dec. 31.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: A record number of people are expected to travel for the holidays. Here’s what to know in Wisconsin
Reporting by Cailey Gleeson and Maia Pandey, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
