FRESNO, California -- AAA says more Americans are planning to travel this year than ever before. More than 103 million people, that's 1.5 million more traveling, compared with last year. This comes despite one fewer travel day this holiday season because Christmas and New Year are both on a weekend.
The year-end holiday travel period is defined as Friday, December 23 to Monday, January 2, 2017.
Low gas prices and increased consumer optimism will prompt more Americans than ever to set out on road trips, take to the skies, or board trains, buses and cruise ships to celebrate the holidays. AAA estimates that New Year's gas prices are the second-cheapest in nearly a decade.