The Best and Worst Times to Travel for Christmas 2026

Holiday travel is often synonymous with crowded airports, long lines, and the chaos of last-minute planning. But it doesn't always have to be this way. By taking a closer look at historical travel data and understanding the patterns of Christmas travelers, you can dodge the busiest crowds and make your festive journey as stress-free as possible.

Best time to travel for Christmas

If you don't mind spending part of your holiday in transit, flying on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve can be a great way to avoid the rush during the last two weeks of the year. Plus, think of the bragging rights of spending your Christmas at 30,000 feet!

While airport traffic tends to spike in the days leading up to and following the holiday, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day generally have fewer travelers. 

In fact, according to 2025 TSA data there were 31% more travelers flying on the day after Christmas compared to Christmas Day itself. Passenger drop-off from 23rd December to Christmas Eve is only 21%, enough to definitely make airports easier to pass through.

Blacklane's historical ride data backs this up too. Over the past two Christmas periods, our premium airport transfers peaked on the Thursday and Friday before the holiday, as air passengers pick a reliable, stress-free option to get themselves and their loved ones home.

So, if you want some peace and quiet on your flight, Christmas Day is the way to go. For return flights, the further away you can schedule your trip from Christmas Day, the better. In 2025, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day followed the annual trend and turned out to be the least crowded days for post-Christmas travel. 

So, to put it shortly, the least busy days for traveling during Christmas 2026 are:

• December 25 (Christmas Day)

• December 24 (Christmas Eve)

Best days to travel for Christmas 2026

As mentioned, to have the smoothest trip, consider extending your holiday by leaving a bit earlier or coming back a bit later. Recent data shows that the following are the least crowded days for flying in the week before and after Christmas:

Best dates to fly before Christmas

• December 17

• December 24

Best dates to fly after Christmas 2026

• January 1 (New Year's Day)

• December 31 (New Year's Eve)

Worst days to travel for Christmas 2026

Typically, the weekend right before Christmas is when most people are flocking to their holiday destinations. In 2026 however, with Christmas taking place on a Friday, that travel is broken up over the week before. To avoid the biggest crowds (and the longest security lines), it's best not to fly during these dates:

• Sunday, December 20

• Wednesday, December 23

• Sunday, December 27

The Sunday after Christmas tends to be the absolute worst day for travel in the US. While it didn't beat the post-Thanksgiving high of 3.1 million travelers a month earlier, TSA recorded 2.9 million travelers on Sunday Dec 28 2025. With Christmas Day on the Friday this year, expect that traveler bump to be even more acute.

Best time to drive to the airport during Christmas

Looking at internal Blacklane airport pickup data in the US over the past two festive seasons, a clear pattern emerges if you're planning when to arrive. Mid-morning or evening are the quietest times for picking up your loved ones.

Early afternoon is the busiest time for airport pickups, with the majority between 1 and 2pm. After that, 4pm and the early morning slot of 8am are hectic outside US terminals and in the Arrivals hall.

How to get through heavy Christmas traffic safely

• Prepare your vehicle: Before setting off for the holidays, make sure your car is ready for the journey. Check your tire pressure and windshield-wiper fluid, and pack an emergency kit with essentials such as jumper cables, a flashlight, and basic tools. Being prepared can make it easier to handle the unexpected and keep your Christmas travel on track.

• Be patient: Christmas roads can be busy, so give yourself plenty of time and enjoy the journey. Avoid aggressive driving, including speeding and tailgating. Keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead, and always signal when changing lanes or turning. You’re on your way to spend time with loved ones—so take a breath and enjoy the ride.

• Plan around peak congestion: Major metro areas will inevitably experience severe congestion during the Christmas travel period. If you can, avoid late-afternoon and evening travel when possible and choose routes with fewer delays.

• Consider off-peak times: Start your journey early in the morning or after 7 p.m. to avoid the heaviest traffic. Navigation apps such as Waze and Google Maps can also help you find the best routes using real-time traffic information.

• If you can make your life easier, do: This is the main thing I like to hold in mind. If you can put a chore off as it's not essential until after the holiday, do it. Consider your future holiday self and if a bit of planning beforehand will help, make the time to do it. Better yet, if you don't need to drive, don't! That can include using a car service to organise a festive shopping trip instead of agonising over parking and traffic. Sometimes it's best to leave it to the professionals.

Tips for finding reasonably priced flights for Christmas

Best time to book international flights for Christmas

On average, the best deals are found 101 days before departure—because nothing says "holiday spirit" like planning three months in advance. Solid options are generally available 50 days or more ahead of time, but fair warning: prices rise steadily as you get closer, like they know you've started to sweat the details.

With air fares rising steadily in 2026 because of air fuel prices, booking early this year is going to make more of a difference than ever.

Cheapest days of the week to fly for Christmas

The cheapest days to fly are typically Monday or Tuesday, which are 13% cheaper than traveling on the weekend. For domestic flights, the savings can be even larger—up to 20%.

Best method of finding cheaper Christmas flights

Lastly, if you're flexible with your travel plans, choosing flights with layovers can help you save even more. Sure, you might spend an extra hour bonding with an airport terminal, but nonstop flights tend to be 25% more expensive, according to a Google Flights analysis.

The best way to deal with Christmas traffic

We’ve shared some useful planning tips for avoiding Christmas chaos. But if you want to make your holiday travels even more relaxing, why not replace your short-haul flight with a Blacklane journey? Choose from our range of high-quality vehicles—including sedans, SUVs, and vans—to suit your needs and preferences.

All our rides are carbon offset, ensuring a responsible choice for your travel footprint. Simply pick the time that works best for you, and let our professional chauffeurs take care of the rest. And if your plans change? No problem—you can modify or cancel any pre-booked ride for free up to 1 hour before your scheduled pickup.

Book Now