AURORA, Ill. – AAA is anticipating more people traveling for the Christmas holiday than last year.
The auto club projects 109,000,000 Americans traveling for the Christmas holiday, and 5,500,000 Illinoisans — increases of 34 percent both nationally and in Illinois.
At least, that is what AAA WAS projecting.
“When we pulled these numbers and statistics, it was during the week of November 15,” said Molly Hart, AAA spokesperson. “With the new variant out there, Omicron, these numbers could be dropping because of people not travelling as a precaution.”
Hart says while estimates may be skewed now, people still want to get out.
“Last year, many people did not travel during the holiday season as a precaution,” said Hart. “As more people are vaccinated or have gotten the booster, they’ve been feeling more comfortable traveling.”
Hart says the vast majority of travelers will drive rather than fly or take the bus or train. And if you do drive, she says try to avoid road congestion by hitting the road after 7 p.m. Thursday, or before 1 p.m. Friday.
And for those who are travelling, the price of gas, on average, is lower than Thanksgiving — $3.43 in the Peoria area — but other costs like air travel and hotel stays are much higher.
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