Record number of holiday travelers expected in SC

The number of year-end holiday travels could top 100 million for the first time on record, according to projections from AAA. Prices are expected to continue to decline through the start of the new year due to an abundant supply domestically and fewer people driving during the winter months, AAA said in a news release.

Locally, 1.2 million Oregonians will travel over the holiday period, which is considered to be December 23 to January 3.

“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”, said Marshall Doney, AAA President and CEO.

The increase of 1.4 percent over last year’s figure is being driven by gasoline prices that are at their lowest in years and rising income for many consumers.

“Here in Wisconsin we’re expecting a little over 2 million folks will be traveling for the holiday season”. That represents an increase of 41,000 over a year ago.

More than 90 percent of travelers will drive at least 55 miles from home while about 6 percent will fly to their destination.

Most plan to be driving for the holidays, including Christmas and New Year’s Day.

The roads will also be busy as AAA Texas projects that 8.3 million Texans will travel for the holidays. More than 272,000 residents are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, such as boats or trains. Now sprinkle in the Pennsyvlania average price for a gallon of gas of $2.20 as of Tuesday morning, and travel becomes desirable during the holiday season. “Fuelgaugereport.aaa.com shows that the only major cities with lower averages in the nation right now are Kansas City and Wichita”. In Florida, the average price on Monday was around $2.03. Weekend auto rental rates will average $68 per rental, a 3 percent increase from year. Meanwhile, two-diamond hotel rooms are up by 11 percent to an average of $119 per room.