AAA projects a record number of people will travel between Dec. 21 and Jan. 1. Here’s what you can expect for the nation, Indiana and Bloomington.
How many people does AAA expect to travel over the holidays?
AAA Hoosier Motor Club said in a news release it expects 119.3 million people to travel at least 50 miles or more during the period. In Indiana, the club said, about 2.8 million people will travel that distance during the holiday period, surpassing the record set in 2019, which was 2.6 million.
“This year, Christmas falls on a Wednesday, which could contribute to the increase of travelers. More people can travel either the weekend before or after the holiday,” said Christina Griffiths, spokeswoman for the AAA Hoosier Motor Club.
What’s the most popular mode of transportation?
Motor vehicles. Nearly 90% of the travelers across the country will be driving, AAA said.
Gas prices may be a contributing factor: The national average price is lower than last year, and AAA said prices “may continue to drop until January.”
However, while the national average, at $3.03, was lower on Friday than a year ago, when it was $3.12, prices in Indiana and Bloomington were higher, according to AAA.
The Indiana average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.06 on Friday, up from $2.84 a year ago. In Bloomington, Friday’s average price was $3.17, up from $2.96 a year ago.
What kind of holiday traffic can you expect in Bloomington?
Mike McAfee, executive director of Visit Bloomington, said the biggest draw in Bloomington will be Indiana University’s winter commencement, on Dec. 20. That event will happen on the same day as the IU football game at Notre Dame. McAfee said despite the playoff being in South Bend, it may bring additional visitors to Bloomington.
McAfee said Bloomington also has some tourist events that will draw visitors, including Straight No Chaser at the IU auditorium on Dec. 17 and the Monroe County Fairgrounds’ holiday light driving tour, a new event that runs into January.
“Holiday shopping is wonderful and will be on-going right up until Christmas and there are many fantastic options for holiday dining,” he said.
What about hotel prices and availability in Bloomington?
McAfee said holidays typically mean people spend time with friends and relatives, which can depress revenue in the hospitality industry, but also may offer some good deals.
“Dining out plus live music at places such as The Bluebird, Orbit Room, and Blockhouse Bar will draw some out-of-town folks for New Year’s Eve,” he said.
McAfee said lodging occupancy in Monroe County usually drops to about 40% in December.
As of Friday, many local hotels still had rooms for the night of Christmas to Dec. 26, according to hotels.com. The Graduate was charging $128, less than half of what it was charging over Thanksgiving. The Hyatt Place was asking $95 for the night, about a tenth of what it was charging for homecoming.
“It’s a great time to visit if you are looking for low rates and no wait times,” McAfee said.
Boris Ladwig can be reached at [email protected].
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