The holiday season is well underway. Why not spend it with Mickey Mouse, Harry Potter, or some humanoid Legos?
Many Americans take advantage of the holidays to travel, especially to Florida’s theme parks. According to AAA, a record-breaking 122.4 million Americans are heading out for holiday cheer over the 13-day year-end holiday period, from Dec. 20 to Jan. 1, a 2.2% increase from 2024’s record.
“Year-end travel is a mix of family road trips, friend getaways, and tropical vacations,” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. “Holiday celebrations look different for everyone, but a common thread is the desire to travel, whether it’s returning to your hometown or exploring new destinations.”
For wanting to spend the holidays at Disney World, Universal Orlando, or any of Florida’s theme parks, here’s what to know about traveling.
What are the top travel destinations for 2025 holidays? Orlando ranks high
Once again, Orlando unsurprisingly ranked in first place on AAA’s list of the top 10 most popular holiday destinations in the United States for 2025.
Here’s AAA’s list of the top 10 most popular holiday destinations in the United States this year:
What are the worst times to drive for Christmas and New Year’s 2025?
INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, expects Saturday, Dec. 20, and Sunday, Dec. 21, to be the most congested period as travelers hit the road ahead of the holiday. Friday, Dec. 26, is also expected to be swamped.
Christmas Day and New Year’s Day are expected to have the lowest traffic volumes. According to INRIX, the worst times to load up the family and head out will be:
Remember that construction, crashes, or severe weather can also impact travel times.
Renting a car?
For travelers who are renting cars, AAA car rental partner, Florida-based Hertz, said Saturday, Dec, 20 is expected to be the busiest pick-up day.
The top five markets with the highest demand are:
Where are Florida’s main theme parks located?
Before you head out on your road trip, make sure you know where you’re going. From Orlando to Tampa, here are the official addresses for each of the top theme parks in Florida:
Walt Disney World
Universal Orlando Resort
SeaWorld Orlando – 7007 Sea World Drive, Orlando, FL 32821
Legoland Florida – 1 Legoland Way, Winter Haven, FL 33884
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay – 10165 McKinley Drive, Tampa, FL 33612
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Heading to Disney World during holidays? See best, worst travels day in Florida
Reporting by Samantha Neely, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
