Record-setting holiday travel rush underway

(CNN, KYMA) - It may be the "most wonderful time of the year," but it can also be stressful on various levels.

The holiday travel season is underway so expect to see lots of traffic, lines in between big meals and football on TV.

The year 2025 is ending on a historic note. AAA estimates a record-setting 122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50-miles from home.

"You've got this two-week period when people are coming and going during different times," said Aixa Diaz, a spokeswoman for AAA.

AAA says nearly 110 million will drive, just over eight million will fly and close to five million will take other forms of travel like buses or trains.

For those getting behind the wheel this holiday season, a basic rule of thumb: The sooner you leave, the better.

"Early mornings are the best, those are the times you're going to have the lighter traffic. Also you don't have the buildup and more opportunities for there to be crashes or construction later in the day," Diaz shared.

If you're heading to the airport, be proactive before pulling up to front doors.

"Do everything you can before you get to the airport. Reserve that parking, check into that flight, pre-pay for checked baggage. It's really going to save you time and heartache when you get there," said Melanie Fish, Vice President of Global PR for Expedia.

As for the procrastinators who may still be looking for a last-minute bargain on a plane ticket, Fish says, "There's always weird things going on with airfare. So you can probably find a cheap deal to fly but is there value in that flight. Is the layover three times longer than it normally would be. Is it going to take you three times longer to get to your destination.

The top three domestic destinations this holiday season are Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Miami respectively, according to AAA booking data.

The top three international spots are Cancun and Cozumel in Mexico and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.