With flight prices climbing and airport delays becoming the new normal, more American families are choosing to spend the holidays on the highway instead of the runway. The open road offers flexibility, affordability, and freedom, three things air travel can't always guarantee

A new Extreme Terrain survey of 1,000 families reveals how and why road trips are replacing flights this season, from cost savings and convenience to rising interest in EV and hybrid travel.

Key Takeaways

• Nearly 3 in 4 American families (71%) plan to drive for the upcoming holidays.
• More than half of Americans plan to drive for Christmas (52%), followed by Thanksgiving (44%) and New Year's (16%). 
• Want to avoid traffic this holiday season? Hit the road on the least popular travel days: Saturday, Nov. 22, for Thanksgiving, Thursday, Dec. 18, for Christmas, and Sunday, Dec. 28, for New Year's. 
• About 1 in 20 Americans (6%) plan to travel in an EV this holiday season.

Families Are Choosing the Open Road

• 71% plan to drive for the upcoming holidays, including Christmas (52%), Thanksgiving (44%), and New Year's (16%).
• Over 1 in 5 plan to drive a hybrid car for their holiday travel, while around 1 in 20 (6%) plan to drive an EV.

• Nearly 3 in 4 Americans (72%) say holiday travel is stressful.
• New Year's is the most stressful holiday to travel for, with 72% of people saying it causes them stress, edging out Thanksgiving (71%) and Christmas (69%).

Most and Least Popular Days To Start a Holiday Road Trip This Year

Thanksgiving

• Most popular day to start travel: Wednesday, Nov. 26
• Least popular day to start travel: Saturday, Nov. 22

Christmas

• Most popular day to start travel: Tuesday, Dec. 23
• Least popular day to start travel: Thursday, Dec. 18

New Year's

• Most popular day to start travel: Friday, Dec. 26 
• Least popular day to start travel: Sunday, Dec. 28

One-Way Holiday Travel Time Breakdown (By Car)

Christmas

• Less than 2 hours: 19%
• 2–4 hours: 28%
• 4–6 hours: 23%
• 6–8 hours: 15%
• More than 8 hours: 15%

Thanksgiving

• Less than 2 hours: 22%
• 2–4 hours: 27%
• 4–6 hours: 24%
• 6–8 hours: 13%
• More than 8 hours: 15%

New Year's

• Less than 2 hours: 10%
• 2–4 hours: 28%
• 4–6 hours: 26%
• 6–8 hours: 21%
• More than 8 hours: 15%

Top 5 Metro Areas Americans Are Driving From:

1. Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CA
2. New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
3. Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Alpharetta, GA
4. Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
5. Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TX

Top 5 Metro Areas People Are Driving To:

1. Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Alpharetta, GA
2. New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
3. Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia, NC-SC
4. Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TX
5. Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

Top Factors Influencing Family Holiday Travel Decisions

• Cost: 65%
• Time off from work: 47%
• Family traditions: 37%
• Comfort or convenience: 35%
• Kids' schedules: 33%
• Weather: 18%
• Pet accommodations: 13%
• Safety concerns: 10%

America's Most Road Trip-Ready States

Top 10 States Most Interested in Family Road Trips (Per Capita):

1. Ohio 
2. Michigan 
3. Arizona
4. Colorado
5. Indiana 
6. Nevada 
7. Illinois 
8. California 
9. New Mexico 
10. Oregon 

Bottom 10 States Most Interested in Family Road Trips (Per Capita):

1. Massachusetts 
2. South Dakota
3. Louisiana 
4. Hawaii
5. Vermont 
6. Rhode Island 
7. Mississippi 
8. New York 
9. Montana
10. Alaska

Top Search Terms for Family Road Trips

1. Google Maps road trip planner: 97,730
2. Tesla road trip planner: 57,920
3. Family adventure travel: 42,530
4. Road trip route planner: 35,040
5. Family road trip: 33,810
6. Best apps for road trip: 22,950
7. Fuel cost calculator road trip: 21,380
8. Printable road trip games: 20,080
9. EV road trip planner: 18,090
10. Gas cost for road trip: 14,260
11. Short road trips near me: 11,120
12. Best fuel-efficient family cars: 10,950
13. Family road trip ideas: 9,470
14. Travel games for family: 8,810
15. Family road trip checklist: 8,280

Methodology

We surveyed 1,000 Americans to explore why so many families are opting for the open road over the airport terminal. The average age of the respondents was 41; 62% were female, 37% were male, and 1% identified as non-binary. Generationally, 40% were baby boomers and Gen X combined, 53% were millennials, and 7% were Gen Z. The percentages in this study may not total exactly 100% due to rounding.

Additionally, we analyzed Google Trends search volume data from October 2024 to October 2025 to explore how family travel habits are shifting across the U.S. Our analysis examined more than 200 search terms related to road trips, family travel, and fuel prices. To ensure consistency, we only included keywords that demonstrated sustained search activity throughout the year.

We then performed a per capita calculation to normalize search volume data across all 50 states, allowing for accurate state-by-state comparisons that account for population size. This approach revealed which regions show the strongest relative interest in driving-based travel. 

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Fair Use Statement

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