Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Highest Travel for Year-End Holidays Predicted

More than 103 million Americans — the most on record — are expected to travel for the year-end holidays, an increase of 1.5% or 1.5 million more people traveling compared with last year.

by Staff
December 19, 2016
Highest Travel for Year-End Holidays Predicted

Infographic courtesy of AAA

2 min to read


Infographic courtesy of AAA

More than 103 million Americans — the most on record — are expected to travel for the year-end holidays, an increase of 1.5% or 1.5 million more people traveling compared with last year, according to the “AAA/IHS 2016 Year-End Holidays Travel Forecast.”

This increase comes despite one fewer travel day this holiday season. The year-end holiday travel period is defined as Friday Dec. 23 to Monday Jan. 2.

Ad Loading...

The increase in holiday travel this year is being driven by additional consumer spending, a result of improvements in the labor market, and rising wages, according to AAA.

“’Tis the season for holiday travel, and this year more Americans will travel to celebrate the holidays and ring in the new year than ever before,” said Marshall Doney, AAA’s president and CEO. “Rising incomes and continued low gas prices should make for a joyous holiday travel season.”

The majority of travelers (93.6 million people) will take a road trip this holiday, an increase of 1.5% over last year, according to AAA. Air travel is expected to increase by 2.5%.

Today’s national average for a gallon of gasoline is $2.23, 23 cents more than the average price on New Year’s Day 2016 ($2.00), according to AAA. Most U.S. drivers will pay the second-cheapest New Year’s Day gas prices since 2009, when the national average was $1.62.

Daily car rental rates will average $66, slightly lower than last year’s holiday season travel ($68), according to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index.

Ad Loading...

This year’s most popular holiday destinations include Las Vegas, Orlando, New York City, San Diego, and Anaheim, Calif.

AAA’s projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Markit, a business information provider.

More Rental Operations

Two execs hold up a sign with Southwest and CarTrawler logos

Southwest Airlines Selects CarTrawler For Its Car Rental Booking Platform

The platform is designed to allow customers to compare and book rental vehicles more easily during the travel booking process.

Read More →
Speaker John Healy on stage with a podium, screen, and red curtains in the background.
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueMay 27, 2026

Cross-Pressures, Evolving Trends Drive 2026 Rental Car Industry

A combination of cautious economic behavior, shifts in the rental vehicle market, and technological influences are shaping car rental operator decisions.

Read More →
Award winner on stage with presenters in front of yellow curtain.
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueMay 27, 2026

Government Affairs Executive Wins Leading Rental Car Industry Award

Robert Muhs started in the car rental industry with Avis Budget Group two years before the first International Car Rental Show.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
The rental car team at the Green Motion franchise office near the Maputo International Airport in Mozambique.

Green Motion Expands Its African Presence with Mozambique Launch

This new rental car outlet reflects the growing demand for reliable transportation and the emphasis on sustainable travel across the continent.

Read More →
Photos of CEOs Colm Brady and Francois Kruger on a blue background and above a headline.
Telematicsby News/Media ReleaseMay 22, 2026

RentalMatics, GeoInt Partner On Rental Car Speed Tracking Tech

Rental operators can now detect and act on speeding while vehicles are still on rent, thereby reducing fines, admin workload, vehicle wear, and safety risks.

Read More →
NextPass 407 ETR

NextPass Expands Toll Payment Service to Highway In Toronto

Fleets and consumer can use a transponder-less option when traveling between Canada and the U.S.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A black Jeep is displayed at the Zubie-Bosch-TSD exhibit during the International Car Rental Show.

Zubie, PurCo Integrate Rental Damage Detection With Telematics

The combination brings actionable vehicle insights into PurCo’s PurInspect platform, improving damage detection and operational efficiency for rental fleets.

Read More →
50 states map showing LOR rates for each state with different shades of light to dark green

U.S. Length Of Rental (LOR) Declines Slightly in Q1 2026

LOR related to insurance claims overall continues to trend downward, but ongoing market and economic conditions could affect future results while the industry deals with staffing and productivity challenges.

Read More →
Illustration of a driverless futuristic front seat/dashboard view of other cars on a freeway with city skyline on horizon.

Hertz, Uber Deepen Roles In Self-Driving And Driver-Led Fleet Services

The business arrangement connects demand with scalable fleet management services and supports a range of mobility uses.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A tech collage of electronic devices against a computer chip blueprint map.
Rental OperationsMay 1, 2026

Why Car Rental Can No Longer Run On Workarounds

The shift from branch-based software to connected operations is turning rental technology into strategic infrastructure.

Read More →
Ad Loading...