Worst 2018 Holiday Travel Times In North Carolina: AAA Report

CHARLOTTE, NC — Holiday travel is about to begin for those who plan on having some festive fun away from home. In fact, AAA reports one in three Americans will travel this holiday season — a new record — so you might want to avoid these certain dates and times when it comes to traveling.

The holiday travel period officially begins Saturday, Dec. 22 and runs through Tuesday, Jan. 1, according to AAA. That means the worst time to be on roads in North Carolina are during morning commuting hours or in major cities during peak travel times. “The best times to leave are typically early morning or after the morning commute because the roads should be less congested and motorists will have more time to reach their destinations safely,” AAA Carolinas said. For drivers looking for the least traffic congestion possible, consider hitting the road on Christmas Day, AAA said.

AAA predicts that 4.7 million Carolinians will travel by car, planes and trains this holiday season, breaking a record and representing a 4.4 percent increase over last year's travel numbers. Most of those travelers in North Carolina and South Carolina will be driving.

The auto club is expecting a record number of Americans to travel during the year-end holiday period. Some 112.5 million Americans will hit the roads, air and tracks heading to their destinations, the group said in its report. (For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)

“Strong economic growth fueled by robust consumer spending continues to drive strong demand for seasonal travel. With a record-breaking one-third of the country choosing to travel this holiday, roadways and airports are sure to be busy,” said said Bryan Shilling, managing director, AAA Travel products and services.

Fueling the record numbers are Gas prices, which have recently dropped to the lowest averages of the year, AAA said. In North Carolina, the average gallon of gas cost $2.28 in mid-December, which is 6 cents cheaper than last year.

If you're one of the nearly 5 million North Carolina drivers hitting the road this holiday, AAA offers the following holiday road survival tips:

• Map your route in advance and be prepared for busy roads.
• Keep valuables in the trunk or covered storage area.
• Have your roadside assistance contact information on hand in case an incident occurs on the road.
• Keep a cell phone and charger with you at all times, in case of emergency.
• Obey traffic safety laws: Wear your seatbelt. Don't speed. Don't drink and drive. Eliminate distractions behind the wheel, such as mobile devices. Disconnect and drive.
• Before hitting the road, make sure your vehicle is road-trip ready. Stop by a trusted repair shop for an inspection.

For travelers looking for warmer, year-end holiday destinations, here’s the Top-10 places vacationers are headed based on AAA Carolinas traveling bookings:

• Orlando, Florida
• Cancun, Mexico
• Anaheim, California (Disneyland)
• Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
• Montego Bay, Jamaica
• Honolulu, Hawaii
• New York, New York
• Kahului, Hawaii (Maui)
• Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Miami, Florida

Patch Editor Rebecca Bream contributed.

Photo via Shutterstock