If your phone is buzzing with boarding passes and gas‑station alerts, you’re not alone. This year’s year‑end crush is shaping up to be one of the busiest on record: AAA estimates roughly 122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles between Dec. 20 and Jan. 1, with roughly 109–110 million driving and about 8 million flying.
A couple of snapshots make the numbers feel real. At LAX, traveler Tim Fox told reporters he arrived way ahead of schedule and walked through smooth check‑in — luck that some didn’t have. The Peterson family from Camarillo wasn’t so lucky: stuck for hours on the 405 through the Sepulveda Pass, they missed a flight to Hawaii and had to be rebooked onto two separate flights the next day. Those anecdotes underline a blunt truth: higher volumes plus local disruptions equal stress.
When and where will crowds peak?
Airlines for America and carriers point to specific choke points. The busiest days to fly this stretch are expected to cluster before and after Christmas — Dec. 19, 20 and 21 leading into the pre‑holiday exodus and Dec. 26 and 28 for the post‑holiday returns. Airports across major hubs will see heavy traffic; U.S. screening numbers during recent busy days already rival historic TSA peaks.
On the roads, Saturday, Dec. 20 was widely flagged as one of the heaviest driving days. Popular short‑haul destinations for Southern Californians include San Diego, Las Vegas and Anaheim, and national parks remain a magnet for families and outdoor types.
Local factors matter. In Los Angeles, a repaving project through Sepulveda Pass has reduced lanes on the 405 between Van Nuys and Westwood, turning a routine drive into an unpredictable slog. Add a forecast storm for parts of Southern California next week and a single crash or stalled vehicle can ripple into hours of delay.
What’s making this season unusually busy?
A few simple supply‑and‑demand dynamics: cheaper gas than last year (national averages dipped below $3 a gallon in many places), steady airline schedules, and growing appetite to travel after a couple of quiet holiday seasons. AAA reports travel is up a few percentage points from last year — small on paper, big in airports and on interstates.
Air travel is also seeing record daily throughput; airlines expect roughly 52.6 million passengers through U.S. airports during the holiday window. The combination of more people moving and fixed airport capacity is why lines, delays and rebookings are more likely.
Practical moves that actually help
You can’t erase crowds, but you can tilt the odds in your favor.
- Check flight and road conditions before you leave. Sign up for airline alerts and the airport’s notifications; they’ll tell you about gate changes, cancellations and rebooking windows.
- Give yourself time. For domestic flights, arrive at least two hours early; if you travel internationally, plan for three. For road trips, leave earlier than you think you need to and expect slower speeds through major corridors.
- Pack the essentials in your carry‑on: medications, chargers, a change of clothes and copies of confirmations. A good pair of headphones helps with long waits — consider options like the Apple AirPods if you haven’t got a go‑to set.
- Know your ID. Many airports are seeing better REAL ID compliance, but bring an acceptable alternate if you don’t have one; extra screening can add time.
- Watch for scams. Lawmakers and consumer groups warn of phony sites and texts impersonating airlines or hotels. If a rebooking link arrives from an unfamiliar source, open your airline’s official app instead of clicking.
TSA recommends travelers learn what can and can’t go in carry‑on bags to speed checkpoint processing; a little packing discipline saves a lot of time.
Tech that helps (and privacy to consider)
If you rely on mapping and planning tools, expect them to be busier too. New conversational navigation features and AI planning tools can help you reroute around traffic or suggest alternate airports and times. If you want smarter directions and voice help while driving, keep an eye on recent advances in navigation tech — they’re making in‑car rerouting easier than ever. See how tools like Google Maps’ AI copilot aim to change navigation, and read about the broader implications of AI pulling data from your inbox and calendar in the Gemini Deep Research piece.
A quick privacy note: the same AI features that make travel planning smoother can raise questions about what data is being pulled and stored. Weigh convenience against how much personal information you want tied into those services.
If something goes wrong
Airlines tend to rebook passengers, but the sooner you act after a delay or cancellation, the more options you’ll have. Keep airline apps and customer‑service numbers handy; many carriers now allow same‑day rebooking through apps with fewer fees. For road incidents, patience and courtesy are practical tools — move over for emergency responders, and keep your phone charged so you can get alternate directions or roadside help.
This holiday stretch will be busy — perhaps record‑busy in places. But with a bit of prep, realistic timing and the right tech in your pocket, you can dodge the worst of it. And if you do find yourself stuck on the shoulder of the 405, at least there’s a story (and maybe a rebooked flight) at the other end.