The basics:
- Nearly 2.8M NJ residents expected to travel 50+ miles for holidays
- Car travel dominates, with 2.5M New Jerseyans driving
- Air travel, bus, train, cruise trips see year-over-year gains
- Airports, bridges and tunnels brace for record holiday volumes
As the holiday travel season gets into full swing, AAA projects that almost 2.8 million New Jersey residents will travel 50 miles or more for the holidays – while the organization estimates a record 122.4 million people will do so nationally.
That New Jersey figure is up 1.7% over 2024 – and marks the second highest on record. AAA defines the year-end holiday travel period as the 13-day period between Dec. 20, 2025, to Jan. 1, 2026. Nationally, that number posted a 2.2% increase from last year.
“This year-end holiday forecast, with a 1.7% increase in New Jersey travelers, mirrors what AAA Travel has been observing throughout 2025,” said Tracy Noble, spokesperson for AAA Club Alliance. “Despite the cost, more people are investing in travel to make memories with loved ones and celebrate the holidays.”
AAA estimates that 2.5 million (90%) of New Jerseyans will travel to their holiday destinations by car (up 1.3%) – along with 109.5 million Americans nationally (up 2%).
“Many travelers, particularly families with young children, prefer the flexibility and lower cost that road trips provide,” said Noble.
Fill ‘er up
As of Dec. 22, AAA reported the average price at the pump in New Jersey at $2.87 per gallon – down from $2.92 per gallon last year at this time. The trend comes as the national average is around $2.86 per gallon – also down from $3.04 last year.
“For the first time in four years, the national average dropped below $3 a gallon this month, and prices could continue dropping as 2025 comes to a close,” said Noble.
For the first time in four years, the national average dropped below $3 a gallon this month, and prices could continue dropping as 2025 comes to a close.
— Tracy Noble, AAA Club Alliance
Over 193,000 New Jerseyans are expected to travel by air to their holiday destination (up 1.9%) – with a roundtrip domestic flight 7% more expensive this year (averaging nearly $900 a ticket). Nationally, AAA projects a record 8.03 million travelers taking domestic flights to their holiday destination (up 2.3%). This marks the first time that number has exceeded 8 million during the year-end holiday period.
AAA says that other modes of transportation are also seeing their biggest increases for the year-end holidays in New Jersey, with over 97,000 travelers going by bus, cruise or train this year (up 11.5%). Nationally, that number is 4.9 million (up 9.1% — and the highest it’s been in 20 years).
Bridge and tunnel crowd
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey projects a record 14.8 million travelers using its airports and vehicular crossing during this year-end holiday travel period, which the agency defines as Dec. 22, 2025, to Jan. 4, 2026.
That includes about 5.7 million passengers through Newark Liberty International, JFK, LaGuardia and New York Stewart International airports (up 1% from the previous record in 2024). The agency says it expects the busiest travel days at airports on Dec. 22 and Dec. 28 – with significant volume also anticipated for Dec. 23 and Dec. 29.
Because of that expected volume, the Port Authority encourages anyone using the airports to plan ahead and allow for additional travel time.
On the roads, an estimated 9.1 million vehicles will use the Port Authority bridges and tunnels, consistent with last year’s volume.
And to accommodate these travelers, the Port Authority will suspend all ongoing repairs and construction at crossings from 5 a.m. Dec. 23, 2025, until 5 a.m. Jan. 2, 2026.
United Airlines says it expects to fly about 10.3 million people between Dec. 18, 2026, to Jan. 6, 2026 – the most its has ever flown during the winter holiday travel season.
Of that total, 1.3 million will travel to/through Newark Liberty International Airport – with Dec. 20, marking the busiest day at EWR. Over the travel period, United expects to fly almost 520,000 passengers and operate around 4,700 daily flights.
United’s busiest day is expected Dec. 27, with some 560,000 passengers taking to the skies.
The most popular international destinations over the holiday period include Cancun, London and Frankfurt. Meanwhile, the most popular New Year’s Eve destinations include Orlando, Las Vegas and Honolulu.
All aboard! Full details on NJ Transit holiday offerings and schedules are available here.
On Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, the PATH will operate on a modified Saturday schedule. You can check out the planned holiday changes to PATH service here.
And NJ Transit is offering extra service during the holiday season – along with its SuperSaver fare this entire month (through Jan. 5 at 2 a.m.), which allows up to two children 11 and younger to travel free with each fare-paying adult.
NJBIZ wishes all of our readers a happy and healthy holiday season ahead – and best wishes for 2026. Safe travels!
