PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The busy holiday travel season rolled into another day on Monday. About 1.3 million Philadelphia-area residents are expected to hit the roads, rails and air during the end-of-year travel period between Dec. 21 and Jan. 1 — a 3% increase from last year.
Of those projected travelers, 1.2 million are expected to drive, which is 2.5% more than in 2023.
AAA estimated one of the busiest times for drivers will be Monday, Dec. 23 during the afternoon and evening rush.
“You’ll see those last-minute commuters — people who are working, holiday shoppers and holiday travelers,” said Jana Tidwell, AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson.
The lines were also long at the Terminal D/E checkpoint for the early flights at Philadelphia International Airport on Monday morning. Because Christmas and New Year’s Day are on Wednesdays, Tidwell said people who had two full weeks off from school or work were able to plan extended trips for the holidays.
AAA Mid-Atlantic said the busiest air travel days at Philadelphia International will likely be after Christmas — Dec. 26, 27, 29 and 30.
AAA projects a record-setting travel volume this year in the Philadelphia region and across the U.S. Nationally, 119.3 million people are expected to travel for the holidays.