There will be a lot more Christmas and New Year’s holiday travelers this year compared to a year ago when COVID had us all hunkered down. Triple-A’s Don Redman says his group predicts a 34 percent increase in those hitting the highways, many of them beginning their trips today. “I think more people are feeling more confident about COVID, about their status in terms of vaccinations and boosters,” said Redman.
Nationwide, he says 109 million people are expected to travel 50 miles or more for the holidays.
Redman says while gas prices are significantly higher than a year ago, averaging more than a buck higher, that’s not likely to be the lone determining factor for folks opting for holiday travel. “It’s not just the price of gasoline that determines whether people travel, but it’s the state of the economy or how people interpret their personal economies,” said Redman.
Redman says patience will be key to getting to your holiday destination safely. He tells LRN.com, “looking regionally, where Louisiana is, about ten million will be traveling by car, so we encourage you to exercise a lot of patience in your destination.”
As for airline travel, he says it’s expected to increase 184 percent compared to last year.
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