Are your California Christmas plans during the ‘worst time to travel’? See where you land

More than 109 million Americans — an almost 34% increase from 2020 — will travel 50 miles or more by car, plane or another mode of transportation between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2, according to the American Automobile Association.

The 27.7 million more people expected to travel will bring this year’s numbers to 92% of 2019 levels.

Only roughly 7% fewer people are prepared to travel this year by car, compared to 2019 pre-pandemic levels. And about 13% fewer people will travel by plane this year, compared to 2019.

The trend continues in California. Roughly 14.2 million Californians will travel this Christmas, according to the AAA Southern California Automobile Club news release. That’s a 37% increase from 2020 and only a 6% decrease from 2019. More people are expected to travel by air than in 2019, up less than 1%.

Best and worst times to travel

Here are the best and worst times to travel this holiday, according to AAA:

BEST TRAVEL TIMES

Dec. 23: After 7 p.m.

Dec. 24: Before 1 p.m.

Dec. 25: Minimal congestion is expected.

Dec. 26: Before noon.

Dec. 27: Before 1 p.m.

Dec. 28: Before noon.

Dec. 29: Before 11 a.m.

Dec. 30: Before noon.

Dec. 31: Before 1 p.m. or after 5 p.m.

Jan. 1: Minimal congestion is expected.

Jan. 2: Before 1 p.m.

WORST TRAVEL TIMES

Dec. 23: Noon to 6 p.m.

Dec. 24: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Dec. 25: Minimal congestion is expected.

Dec. 26: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Dec. 27: 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Dec. 28: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Dec. 29: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Dec. 30: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Dec. 31: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Jan. 1: Minimal congestion is expected.

Jan. 2: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

COVID-19 travel restrictions

Use AAA’s interactive map to check your destination’s COVID-19 U.S. travel restrictions.

If you’re planning to travel internationally, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s interactive map for recommendations and information about restrictions for international travel.

Masks are still required for everyone on planes, buses, trains and other forms of U.S. public transportation — and within transportation hubs like airports and stations.

The CDC recommends everyone wear a mask indoors in public places in an area of high transmission. In California, wearing a mask within indoor public areas is required, as of Dec. 15.

This story was originally published December 20, 2021 at 1:13 PM.