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AAA Says Good Weather, Low Gas Prices Will Drive Record Holiday Travel

In its latest travel forecast, AAA anticipates more than 100 million travelers during the peak of the holiday season, most of them getting to their destinations by cars. Even better? Gas should be below $2 per gallon before Christmas.

Gas is cheap, the weather’s a little warmer than usual for this time of year, and—best part—Santa’s still on his way.

The result, says the American Automobile Association (AAA) is that the roads are going to be busier than ever this holiday season. The association, best known for its roadside assistance offerings, says 100.5 million people will be en route between Wednesday, December 23, 2015, and Sunday, January 3, 2016—with more than 90 percent of travelers using cars to get to their final destinations.

The association says that the anticipated growth in travel comes as a result of the improving economy, particularly falling gas prices. AAA says that the national average for gas prices is set to fall below $2 per gallon by Christmas.

“The holidays are a time for joining with friends and family, and the record number of people traveling this holiday should make for a joyous travel season,” AAA President and CEO Marshall Doney said in a news release. “Rising incomes and low gas prices are helping to fill stockings this year, and more people than ever will choose to spend those savings on travel this year.”

Want to learn more? Check out AAA’s graphic below:

AAA Year-End Travel Forecast

(iStock/Thinkstock)

Ernie Smith

By Ernie Smith

Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. MORE

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