- AAA forecasts 122.4 million Americans will travel during the year-end holiday period (Dec. 20–Jan. 1).
- Cancun tops international bookings; Orlando is the most popular U.S. destination.
- Driving remains dominant: about 109 million will travel by car, 8 million by air.
H2: AAA holiday travel forecast for 2025
AAA’s latest booking data shows Americans are choosing warm-weather and festive escapes for the 2025 year-end holidays. The travel company estimates about 122.4 million U.S. residents will travel at least 50 miles from home between Dec. 20 and New Year’s Day — a 2.2% rise from last year’s 119.7 million.
“Year-end travel is a mix of family road trips, friend getaways, and tropical vacations,” said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel. “Holiday celebrations look different for everyone, but a common thread is the desire to travel, whether it’s returning to your hometown or exploring new destinations.”
H3: Top international destinations (bookings)
According to AAA’s ranking of international bookings for the holiday period, the most popular overseas spots are:
- Cancun, Mexico
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- Cozumel, Mexico
- San José, Costa Rica
- Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Nassau, Bahamas
- Rome, Italy
- Oranjestad, Aruba
- Sydney, Australia
Cancun leads as Americans seek sun and beaches, while Caribbean resorts and Mexican Pacific coast cities also rank high for families and couples looking to escape winter.
H3: Top U.S. destinations
Stateside travel skews strongly toward Florida and warm-weather cities. The top U.S. destinations for the period are:
- Orlando, Florida
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Miami, Florida
- Anaheim/Los Angeles, California
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Tampa, Florida
- New York City, New York
- Maui, Hawaii
- Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
- Las Vegas, Nevada
Orlando’s continued popularity reflects both theme-park demand and easy family travel during school breaks.
H4: How Americans are traveling
Driving remains the dominant mode: AAA projects about 109 million people will travel by car. Air travel is expected to carry roughly 8 million passengers, while about 4.9 million people will use other modes such as buses, trains, or cruise ships.
Lower costs and convenience keep road trips popular, while international bookings reflect growing demand for sunny escapes.
H5: Data and economic context
AAA produced the forecast in partnership with S&P Global Market Intelligence, using economic indicators such as employment, household net worth, stock indices, interest rates, housing-market data, gasoline prices, airline travel, and hotel stays. The combined analysis aims to estimate how macroeconomic and travel-sector factors influence year-end travel volumes.
What this means for travelers: if you plan to travel during the Dec. 20–Jan. 1 window, expect busy roads and airports in top markets. Bookings for popular warm-weather destinations remain strong, and driving continues to be the most common choice for holiday travel.
Image Referance: https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2025/12/10/top-travel-destinations-december-2025-aaa/87686073007/
