As the holiday season swings into full gear, Georgia is bustling with travel plans, setting the stage for a record-breaking number of residents hitting the roads, skies, and rails. According to a recent report by AAA, obtained by WABE, an estimated 3.7 million Georgians are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home between December 21 and January 1, surpassing last year's record of 3.6 million.
This surge, AAA suggests, is due in part to "competitive" gas prices, with current costs hovering around $2.90 per gallon compared to $2.96 to $3.01 during the same period last year. A majority of these travelers—about 3.3 million—will opt for the flexibility of auto travel, setting a new state record. Close to 198,366 individuals will fly, while alternatives such as buses, trains, and cruises will account for another 176,164 travelers. Montrae Waiters, a AAA spokesperson, highlighted on WABE, "Many travelers, particularly families with young children, prefer the flexibility and lower cost of road trips." The preference for road trips appears strengthened by cooler weather, the rise of remote work, and the convenience of online shopping, all contributing to a decrease in gas demand in December.
Nationally, it's not just Georgia witnessing this uptrend. AAA anticipates around 119.3 million Americans will journey away from their homes during the festive period, marginally breaking the previous record set in 2019. Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA, advised those planning their excursions to "finalize your travel plans now and give yourself extra time to get to your destination." She also recommended travel insurance, a prudent safeguard against winter weather or other unforeseen disruptions.
The motivations behind this year’s brisk travel projections stem from a robust economy with higher consumer spending, strong employment numbers, rising wages, and steady growth. With a heavy influx of drivers set to converge on Georgia roads, INRIX, a transportation data service, anticipates the heaviest traffic on the weekends leading into Christmas and New Year's Day. They predict the single most congested day will be December 22. The impact will be felt most acutely in the metro Atlanta area, where the journey from Atlanta to Augusta via Interstate 20 East could take nearly 3 hours at peak times.
