What will Holiday Travel be end of 2025?
This overview was prepared by the Travel Insights Team in collaboration with Chicago’s leading limousine companies.
It starts quietly. One extra suitcase by the front door. A calendar reminder for a flight time. A note that the kids’ winter coats need to be in the carry-on, not the checked bag. Then, almost overnight, the season flips. Parking lots fill. Group texts light up. And suddenly it feels like everyone in America is trying to move at the same time.
AAA’s latest year-end holiday travel forecast puts a number on that feeling: 122.4 million Americans are projected to travel at least 50 miles from home during the 13-day year-end holiday period, beginning December 20 and ending January 1. The forecast is a 2.2% increase over last year and would surpass 2024’s record, according to AAA’s release. If you are traveling through Chicago—by air, by car, or some mix of both—those figures are not abstract. They show up as longer lines, tighter schedules, and less margin for error.
This story walks through what record holiday travel means in real life: what to expect on the road, what to expect at airports, and how to build a plan that holds up even when weather and crowds do not cooperate. It also highlights dependable ground transportation resources from three long-time local partners who help Chicago travelers stay on schedule: LimoChicagoland.com, GoChicagoLimo.com, and LimoChicago.com.
What AAA is forecasting—and why it matters
AAA’s year-end holiday forecast is built for the messy reality of holiday travel: family visits, last-minute getaways, warm-weather escapes, and the business trips that still happen even when everyone wants to be home. In its December 10, 2025 release, AAA projects 122.4 million travelers will take trips of at least 50 miles from home during the year-end holiday window. That total is higher than last year’s record 119.7 million.
Here is the part travelers feel most: the forecast points to crowded roads and busy airports at the same time. AAA projects 109.5 million people will travel by car, and it notes that 89% of holiday travelers will take road trips. In addition, several million travelers will fly, and the remaining group will use other options such as trains, buses, and cruises. When those streams overlap, the system gets tight. Therefore, planning the “last mile” in Chicago becomes just as important as booking the flight itself.
If you want to read the original release, the AAA newsroom post is here: AAA’s Year-End Holiday Travel Forecast. This article is an independent, reader-focused summary designed to help travelers plan.
Chicago turns holiday travel into a “two-system” challenge
Chicago is one of the best cities in the country to connect through. It is also one of the easiest places to lose time during peak periods. The reason is simple: Chicago is both an airport hub and a highway hub. When the holiday season hits hard, both hubs get pressure at once.
On the air side, Chicago travelers rely heavily on O’Hare (ORD) and Midway (MDW). During peak days, terminals feel compressed: longer lines at bag drop, heavier TSA checkpoints, and crowded gate areas. On the road side, the city is surrounded by routes that stack up when people drive out to visit family: I-90, I-94, I-290, I-55, I-294, and the surrounding tollways. Add lake-effect snow, freezing rain, or even just a windy day that slows operations, and a short trip can feel longer than planned.
Because of that mix, holiday travel planning in Chicago works best when you treat ground transportation as a key part of the itinerary—like a flight segment that you can control. In other words, you want a ride plan that does not depend on luck, surge pricing, or a packed pickup lane at the curb.
What to expect at the airports
During record holiday travel, airports do not “break,” but they do tighten. Every small delay—one late inbound aircraft, one gate change, one weather hold—has fewer open seats in the schedule to absorb it. As a result, the day can feel like a chain reaction.
Here’s a practical way to think about it. You have three time zones on a travel day: (1) the airline schedule, (2) the airport reality, and (3) the city streets. The airline schedule is what you booked. The airport reality is what happens when everyone shows up early. The city streets are what happens when pickup lanes are full and parking is sold out. When travel volume is high, those time zones drift apart.
Therefore, the most reliable move is to build slack into the segments you control. Arrive earlier than you normally would. Pack so you can move quickly through the terminal. And if you are landing in Chicago, line up your ride in advance so you are not competing with a crowd that just landed with you.
Why pickup logistics matter more than usual
Holiday airport curbside areas can turn into bottlenecks. That does not mean you cannot get picked up; it means the pickup plan should be clear. Professional limousine services build routines around terminal flow, flight tracking, and driver communication. The goal is simple: avoid that “now what?” moment when you step outside into a packed lane.
For Chicago-area travelers who want pricing transparency before they book, these partner pages show rates and common routes:
- LimoChicagoland rates (regional Illinois and suburb coverage)
- GoChicagoLimo rates (airport and city travel)
- LimoChicago rates (business and executive travel)
Driving is still king—and that comes with its own risks
AAA expects the overwhelming majority of travelers to drive. That lines up with lived experience: driving is flexible, it supports family travel, and it can be cheaper for groups. At the same time, record road travel means more congestion and more roadside incidents. AAA notes that during the 2024 year-end holiday period, it responded to more than 860,000 emergency roadside assistance calls, including dead batteries, flat tires, and empty fuel tanks.
So, holiday road travel is partly about schedule and partly about readiness. The schedule side is choosing your departure window and avoiding known choke points. The readiness side is getting the vehicle prepared and building a simple emergency kit. If you are driving out of Chicago, you will feel congestion before you even reach the interstate. Therefore, “leave early” is not just advice—it is strategy.
Simple prep that prevents long delays
- Check tire pressure and tread depth before you travel.
- Top off washer fluid and make sure wipers are in good shape.
- Charge your phone and keep a car charger accessible.
- Bring water, snacks, and a warm layer even for short trips.
- Plan a rest stop for longer drives so you are not pushing fatigue.
In addition, if you are traveling with kids or older family members, consider whether driving is truly the best option in winter weather. Sometimes the smartest choice is a professional driver in a larger, more comfortable vehicle—especially if the trip involves airports, multiple stops, or late-night returns.
Holiday travel is different for families, visitors, and business travelers
Holiday travel is not one thing. A family hauling gifts to a grandparent’s house has a different plan than a couple flying in for a weekend show. A consultant racing from O’Hare to a morning meeting has different pressure than a visitor headed to a hotel downtown. That is why “one-size-fits-all” advice often fails.
The good news is that ground transportation can be tailored. When it is arranged in advance, it can match the traveler, not just the route. This is where a three-partner model is useful. The same standards—professional chauffeurs, flight monitoring, dispatch support—can serve very different needs.
For families
Families tend to need space, time, and patience. In practice that means room for luggage, room for car seats, and a pickup plan that is not rushed. Airport travel is hard enough without adding a curbside scramble. Many families use services like GoChicagoLimo.com for airport transfers and city travel because it keeps the experience straightforward: a clear pickup plan, a comfortable vehicle, and a direct ride.
For visitors and leisure travelers
Visitors often want a Chicago trip to feel easy. That can be difficult in late December when weather changes fast and traffic patterns shift. For leisure travelers, a pre-arranged ride can also turn into a mini-tour: a calm trip from the airport, a simple route to the hotel, and less time spent learning local transportation under pressure.
For business and executive travelers
Holiday season does not stop business travel. Deals still close. Meetings still happen. In fact, December can be the month when teams try to “finish strong.” For this group, reliability is not a preference; it is the requirement. LimoChicago.com is typically positioned around business and executive travel: coordinated pickup timing, discreet service, and the ability to run a day with multiple stops without losing control of the schedule.
For executive travelers who want a direct resource list, these pages outline service and pricing:
- LimoChicago.com (business-focused coverage)
- LimoChicago rates (common business routes and pricing)
Practical Chicago holiday travel tips that actually help
When travel volume is record-high, you do not need complicated advice. You need simple moves that reduce risk. These tips are built for Chicago realities: snow, congestion, and crowded terminals.
- Pick your departure windows: If you can leave before mid-day, do it. Morning travel is usually less chaotic.
- Build a curbside plan: Know which terminal you are landing at and how pickup works. Confirm it before you land.
- Don’t gamble on last-minute rides: Holiday surges can price out rideshare options and delay pickups.
- Pack for weather changes: Keep gloves and a warm layer accessible—even if you are only walking to a pickup lane.
- Keep the return trip realistic: The way out is often easier than the way back. Plan for longer arrivals and heavier traffic.
Also, remember that travel stress compounds. If the first segment of your day is unstable, the rest of the day feels worse. In contrast, a stable pickup and a calm ride can reset the entire trip. That is why many travelers treat professional ground transportation as a holiday “insurance policy” that saves time, energy, and patience.
How to choose the right limo partner in the Chicago area
Choosing transportation during the holidays is not about luxury. It is about reliability. Here are practical criteria that matter when the travel system is under pressure.
- Flight tracking: The service should monitor your flight and adjust pickup time.
- Dispatch support: A real dispatcher helps when schedules change.
- Coverage area: Make sure the provider serves your suburb, venue, or interstate route.
- Vehicle fit: Sedans for solo travelers, SUVs for luggage-heavy trips, and larger vehicles for groups.
- Transparent rates: Confirm pricing before the travel day so there are no surprises.
For easy comparisons, you can start with the rate pages for each partner: LimoChicagoland, GoChicagoLimo, and LimoChicago.
About the Chicago Limousine Network
The Chicago Limousine Network is an informal collaboration among three established local providers—LimoChicagoland.com, GoChicagoLimo.com, and LimoChicago.com. Each company maintains its own fleet and dispatch, yet the group shares a simple goal: consistent, professional ground transportation coverage across Chicago, the suburbs, and common regional routes during high-demand periods.
As AAA’s holiday forecast suggests, this year will test schedules. The best plan is the one with fewer unknowns. If you are traveling during the year-end rush, consider reviewing rates and booking early: LimoChicagoland rates, GoChicagoLimo rates, and LimoChicago rates.
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