{"id":163225,"date":"2025-08-07T12:12:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-07T12:12:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/blog\/?p=163225"},"modified":"2025-08-28T07:19:34","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T07:19:34","slug":"holiday-travel-costs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/journal\/holiday-travel-costs\/","title":{"rendered":"Holiday Travel Ain&#8217;t Cheap: What to Expect in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>You&#8217;ve been dreaming of it, planning and saving for it, and yet sometimes, the costs just get away from you. You know what we&#8217;re talking about. Millions of Americans travel during the holidays, but how much is it really costing us? Some costs, like airplane tickets and hotel reservations, are obvious. What you might be missing are the hidden costs, the ones that sneak up on you. We&#8217;ll break down the cost of traveling during the holidays so you can plan smarter this year.<\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">What you&#039;ll read about<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #e71346;color:#e71346\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #e71346;color:#e71346\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/journal\/holiday-travel-costs\/#How_much_does_it_cost_to_travel_within_the_US_during_the_holidays\" >How much does it cost to travel within the U.S. during the holidays?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/journal\/holiday-travel-costs\/#What_does_the_average_American_spend_on_travel_during_the_holidays\" >What does the average American spend on travel during the holidays?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/journal\/holiday-travel-costs\/#Why_everything_costs_more_during_the_holidays\" >Why everything costs more during the holidays\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/journal\/holiday-travel-costs\/#Flying_vs_driving_vs_train_Whats_cheaper_and_whats_not\" >Flying vs driving vs train: What&#8217;s cheaper (and what&#8217;s not)\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/journal\/holiday-travel-costs\/#Whats_the_smartest_way_to_travel_for_the_holidays\" >What&#8217;s the smartest way to travel for the holidays?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_much_does_it_cost_to_travel_within_the_US_during_the_holidays\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">How much does it cost to travel within the U.S. during the holidays?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559685&quot;:360,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80,&quot;335559991&quot;:360}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Flight ticket prices start to go up around 50 days before departure, <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">according to Google Flights<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. Similarly, in the weeks before Christmas and New Year&#8217;s, hotel prices in the U.S. <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">go up by about 2%<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> or more compared to the same time the year before, even when hotels aren&#8217;t packed.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">And that&#8217;s just the big stuff. What often gets missed are the smaller, last-minute expenses you don&#8217;t even factor in. This includes airport parking, seat selection, baggage fees, food at the terminal, rideshare surges, or even pet boarding fees back home. They may not show up on your airline confirmation, but they&#8217;ll put a dent in your holiday budget.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Holiday travel expenses breakdown<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Take airport parking, for instance. It&#8217;s one of the most overlooked travel expenses and one that sees a price spike during the holidays. Based on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/airport-parking\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Way&#8217;s<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\"> airport parking<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> reservation data, average offsite parking prices increase by 8% during the week of Thanksgiving compared to the week before. For Christmas week, prices climb even higher, around 12% above the prior week&#8217;s average. This means if you&#8217;re flying out of airports like LAX, DEN, LGA, JFK, ORD, or EWR, which already have very <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">ex<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">pensive parking<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> rates, you can expect to shell out quite a bit. Onsite lots are often priced even higher, and they fill up quickly, leaving late-bookers with fewer and more expensive options.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If you&#8217;re planning to take a train to your destination, surge pricing can impact how much you&#8217;ll end up spending. Amtrak also uses dynamic pricing, and users have reported fare <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">inc<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">reases before Thanksgiving and Christmas<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Driving might seem like a good idea because average U.S. retail gasoline prices dipped to just above $3.00 per gallon in late 2024, about 20 cents lower than in 2023. What you must consider, however, is how many other people have the same idea. AAA projected 71.7 million people would travel by car during the Thanksgiving holiday week in 2024. This is about 1.3 million more than in 2023. And if you&#8217;re in a city like NYC, Boston, Seattle, or DC, you can expect double the traffic, according to <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">INRIX<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. They forecast that December 22<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">nd<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> would be the worst day for road travel in 2024.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_does_the_average_American_spend_on_travel_during_the_holidays\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">What does the average American spend on travel during the holidays?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559685&quot;:360,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80,&quot;335559991&quot;:360}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It might be the season to be jolly, but traveling during the holidays takes a serious chunk of change. <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Research<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> shows that people in America spend an average of $3,294 on their longest holiday trip. That&#8217;s around three-quarters of the annual average travel spend, which the <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Savvy Nomad<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> puts at $4,600 (for three domestic trips).\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Now consider all those unexpected expenses you don&#8217;t usually factor in: airport parking, tolls, pet-boarding, extra gas because of all the traffic. We&#8217;re sure there&#8217;s more. If your wallet ends up feeling a little lighter in January, you&#8217;re not imagining it!\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_everything_costs_more_during_the_holidays\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Why everything costs more during the holidays<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559685&quot;:360,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80,&quot;335559991&quot;:360}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">No, you aren&#8217;t imagining it. Travel does get costlier during the holidays, thanks to two reasons:\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Everyone&#8217;s got the same idea as you, and therefore, travel surges during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year&#8217;s. A <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">stud<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">y conducted by Talker for IHG Hotels &amp; Resorts<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> revealed that almost 8 in 10 Americans travel to be with family during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year&#8217;s. Due to this increase in demand, airlines and travel accommodation providers see it fit to increase their prices.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Most airlines, hotels, reservation platforms, and ride apps now use dynamic pricing to adjust their prices during peak periods to increase their revenue. This means that as the holiday season gets closer, the combination of high demand and limited supply will drive up room and airline costs. Not just that, companies may also increase the cost of ancillary services like seat selection or baggage.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Google Flights data<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> from 2024 shows that the cheapest time to book flights before the holidays is 58 days before the departure date. For instance, in late 2024, the average round\u2011trip Christmas airfare was $406, <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">4% higher<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> than at the same time in 2023. What this means is that you must book your flight at least by the end of October; if you wait till November or December to finalize your holiday travel plans, you may end up spending more on flight tickets.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Flying_vs_driving_vs_train_Whats_cheaper_and_whats_not\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Flying vs driving vs train: What&#8217;s cheaper (and what&#8217;s not)<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559685&quot;:360,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80,&quot;335559991&quot;:360}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">When it comes to holiday travel, the cheapest option depends on distance, group size, and how early you book. Here&#8217;s how the numbers stack up.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"3\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Driving<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Driving is often the most cost-effective option for families or a group.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">According to <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">AAA<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, the average cost per mile for a mid-size sedan is 70.38\u00a2\/mile, which includes gas, maintenance, insurance, depreciation, etc. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">For a 500-mile round trip, that totals about $352. Split between four passengers, it comes to just $88 per person.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Fuel alone for the same trip would cost $69\u2013$86, based on July 2025 <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">national gas prices<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> of $3.46 per gallon\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Best value:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Families or small groups traveling regionally (under 600 miles round trip).<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"3\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Flying<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Flights can be quite cost-efficient for solo travelers but tend to be the priciest during peak holiday season; more so for families and large groups.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The average <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">domestic ticket<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> was $830 in 2024, while international flights averaged $1,630 a ticket.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Add-ons like checked bags, seat selection, and airport parking can raise costs by another $75\u2013$125 per traveler.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This means that a family of four&#8217;s total airfare can easily exceed $3,000, especially in the two weeks before Christmas.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Best value:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Solo travelers or couples booking well in advance on competitive domestic routes.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"3\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Train<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Train travel is priced slightly more reasonably with fewer hidden fees, especially for solo or city-to-city travel.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">On the <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Amtrak<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Northeast Corridor, the fare from Boston to Washington, DC, ranged from $110 (business) to $260 (first).<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ticket prices for longer routes, like Chicago to Los Angeles, ranged from $200 (coach) to $1,150 (private room) for a round trip. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Train pricing tends to increase closer to departure, but is typically more stable than airfare.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Best value:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Solo travelers or duos on short-to-medium city routes with flexible travel windows.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We&#8217;ll break down the pros and cons of each of these modes of travel in the table below:\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-163228\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.way.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Holiday-Travel-Pros-and-Cons-by-Mode-.png\" alt=\"Holiday Travel Pros and Cons by Mode\" width=\"3500\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/journal.way.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Holiday-Travel-Pros-and-Cons-by-Mode-.png 3500w, https:\/\/journal.way.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Holiday-Travel-Pros-and-Cons-by-Mode--300x171.png 300w, https:\/\/journal.way.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Holiday-Travel-Pros-and-Cons-by-Mode--1024x585.png 1024w, https:\/\/journal.way.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Holiday-Travel-Pros-and-Cons-by-Mode--768x439.png 768w, https:\/\/journal.way.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Holiday-Travel-Pros-and-Cons-by-Mode--1536x878.png 1536w, https:\/\/journal.way.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Holiday-Travel-Pros-and-Cons-by-Mode--2048x1170.png 2048w, https:\/\/journal.way.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Holiday-Travel-Pros-and-Cons-by-Mode--1568x896.png 1568w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3500px) 100vw, 3500px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Whats_the_smartest_way_to_travel_for_the_holidays\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">What&#8217;s the smartest way to travel for the holidays?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559685&quot;:360,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80,&quot;335559991&quot;:360}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">There&#8217;s no one-size-fits-all mode of travel when it comes to the holidays. It all depends on what your priorities are and what your specific situation is. If it&#8217;s a last-minute trip with your family and the dog, then a road trip would be ideal. If it&#8217;s just you and your partner traveling to Hawaii, you have to catch a plane and start planning and booking now! <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">At the heart of it, the best choice for you depends on three basic factors: your budget, your distance, and how flexible you need your schedule to be.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What matters most is planning as early as possible and choosing what fits your version of a peaceful holiday journey. If your holiday plan includes a flight or a long drive, the Way app can take a few things off your plate. This includes reserving airport parking, getting gas cashbacks, or locating EV chargers near you, making your trip much smoother. Because getting there shouldn&#8217;t cost more energy than the trip is worth.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>Data sources<\/h4>\n<ul data-start=\"102\" data-end=\"2227\">\n<li data-start=\"102\" data-end=\"267\">\n<p data-start=\"105\" data-end=\"267\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em>Google. 2024. \u201cHoliday Travel Trends &amp; Insights 2024.\u201d Google Blog, October 9, 2024. <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.google\/products\/search\/holiday-travel-trends-insights-2024\/\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"192\" data-end=\"264\">https:\/\/blog.google\/products\/search\/holiday-travel-trends-insights-2024\/<\/a>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"269\" data-end=\"429\">\n<p data-start=\"272\" data-end=\"429\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em>HospitalityNet. 2022. \u201cUS Hotel Prices Increase during the Holidays.\u201d HospitalityNet, December 6, 2022. <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hospitalitynet.org\/news\/4125683.html\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"378\" data-end=\"426\">https:\/\/www.hospitalitynet.org\/news\/4125683.html<\/a>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"431\" data-end=\"532\">\n<p data-start=\"434\" data-end=\"532\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em>Way.com. 2025. \u201cAirport Parking.\u201d Accessed August 11, 2025. <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/airport-parking\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"494\" data-end=\"529\">https:\/\/www.way.com\/airport-parking<\/a>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"534\" data-end=\"684\">\n<p data-start=\"537\" data-end=\"684\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em>Reddit. 2023. \u201cHoliday Fare Increases.\u201d r\/Amtrak, September 30, 2023. <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Amtrak\/comments\/16zqhy5\/holiday_fare_increases\/\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"609\" data-end=\"681\">https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Amtrak\/comments\/16zqhy5\/holiday_fare_increases\/<\/a>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"686\" data-end=\"842\">\n<p data-start=\"689\" data-end=\"842\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em>INRIX. 2024. \u201cChristmas Forecast: AAA 2024.\u201d INRIX Press Releases, December 17, 2024. <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/inrix.com\/press-releases\/christimas-forecast-aaa-2024\/\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"777\" data-end=\"839\">https:\/\/inrix.com\/press-releases\/christimas-forecast-aaa-2024\/<\/a>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"844\" data-end=\"1111\">\n<p data-start=\"847\" data-end=\"1111\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em>PR Newswire. 2024. \u201cDeloitte: Holiday Travel Goes the Distance as Americans Plan More and Longer Trips.\u201d November 18, 2024. <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/deloitte-holiday-travel-goes-the-distance-as-americans-plan-more-and-longer-trips-302301938.html\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"971\" data-end=\"1108\">https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/deloitte-holiday-travel-goes-the-distance-as-americans-plan-more-and-longer-trips-302301938.html<\/a>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1113\" data-end=\"1264\">\n<p data-start=\"1116\" data-end=\"1264\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em>Savvy Nomad. 2024. \u201cUS Domestic Travel Statistics.\u201d Savvy Nomad Blog, March 21, 2024. <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.savvynomad.io\/us-domestic-travel-statistics\/\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"1204\" data-end=\"1261\">https:\/\/blog.savvynomad.io\/us-domestic-travel-statistics\/<\/a>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1266\" data-end=\"1485\">\n<p data-start=\"1269\" data-end=\"1485\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em>Talker News. 2024. \u201cWhen, Where, How: Study Finds Trends of Holiday Travel This Year.\u201d Talker News, October 30, 2024. <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/talker.news\/2024\/10\/30\/when-where-how-study-finds-trends-of-holiday-travel-this-year\/\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"1389\" data-end=\"1482\">https:\/\/talker.news\/2024\/10\/30\/when-where-how-study-finds-trends-of-holiday-travel-this-year\/<\/a>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1487\" data-end=\"1629\">\n<p data-start=\"1490\" data-end=\"1629\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em>Hopper. 2024. \u201c2024 Holiday Travel Outlook.\u201d Hopper Media, October 2024. <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/media.hopper.com\/research\/2024-holiday-travel-outlook\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"1565\" data-end=\"1626\">https:\/\/media.hopper.com\/research\/2024-holiday-travel-outlook<\/a>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1631\" data-end=\"1791\">\n<p data-start=\"1635\" data-end=\"1791\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em>AAA. 2024. \u201cYour Driving Costs 2024.\u201d AAA Newsroom, September 2024. <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/newsroom.aaa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/YDC_Fact-Sheet-FINAL-9.2024.pdf\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"1705\" data-end=\"1788\">https:\/\/newsroom.aaa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/YDC_Fact-Sheet-FINAL-9.2024.pdf<\/a>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1793\" data-end=\"1885\">\n<p data-start=\"1797\" data-end=\"1885\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em>Way.com. 2025. \u201cGas Prices.\u201d Accessed August 11, 2025. <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/gas\/prices\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"1852\" data-end=\"1882\">https:\/\/www.way.com\/gas\/prices<\/a>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1887\" data-end=\"2127\">\n<p data-start=\"1891\" data-end=\"2127\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em>Kelleher, Suzanne Rowan. 2024. \u201c119 Million Americans to Travel for the Holidays in 2024: AAA.\u201d Forbes, December 12, 2024. <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/suzannerowankelleher\/2024\/12\/12\/119-million-americans-travel-holidays-2024-aaa\/\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"2016\" data-end=\"2124\">https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/suzannerowankelleher\/2024\/12\/12\/119-million-americans-travel-holidays-2024-aaa\/<\/a>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2129\" data-end=\"2227\">\n<p data-start=\"2133\" data-end=\"2227\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em>Amtrak. 2025. \u201cAmtrak Homepage.\u201d Accessed August 11, 2025. <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amtrak.com\/home.html\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"2192\" data-end=\"2224\">https:\/\/www.amtrak.com\/home.html<\/a>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You&#8217;ve been dreaming of it, planning and saving for it, and yet sometimes, the costs just get away from you. You know what we&#8217;re talking about. Millions of Americans travel during the holidays, but how much is it really costing us? Some costs, like airplane tickets and hotel reservations, are obvious. What you might be&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/journal\/holiday-travel-costs\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Holiday Travel Ain&#8217;t Cheap: What to Expect in 2025<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":163288,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1857],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-163225","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tips-and-trips","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v20.3 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Holiday Travel Ain&#039;t Cheap: What to Expect in 2025<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Why on earth does holiday travel always end up costing an arm, a leg, and your sanity? We broke it all down so you can plan better.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/journal\/holiday-travel-costs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Holiday Travel Ain&#039;t Cheap: What to Expect in 2025\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Why on earth does holiday travel always end up costing an arm, a leg, and your sanity? 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