U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Vehicle Technologies Office
Fact #308: February 23, 2004
Holiday Travel 2001
According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the number of long-distance trips increased by 54% during the Thanksgiving holidays and 23% during the Christmas–New Year holidays in 2001. The chosen mode of travel for those holidays, however, did not change much from the remainder of the year. The share of trips made by personal vehicles was about 90%.
Average Person Trips per Day during Holiday and Non-Holiday Periods 
Share of Long-Distance Travel by Mode 2001 
Note: Long distance trips are defined as trips of 50 miles or greater, one-way. Thanksgiving holiday period is defined as November 20–25, 2001. Christmas–New Year holiday period is defined as December 21, 2001–January 2, 2002.
Supporting Information
Holiday Travel 2001
| |
Average Person Trips per Day |
| Remainder of Year |
6,694 |
| Thanksgiving |
10,304 |
| Christmas |
8,243 |
Holiday Travel Modes for Trips over 50 Miles (One-Way) 2001
| Principle Mode of Transport |
Thanksgiving |
Christmas |
Remainder of Year |
| Personal vehicle |
91.7% |
91.1% |
89.4% |
| Air |
5.3% |
6.5% |
7.5% |
| Bus |
2.0% |
1.3% |
2.1% |
| Train |
0.8% |
1.0% |
0.8% |
| Other |
0.1% |
0.1% |
0.2% |
|
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, America on the Go..., Findings from the National Household Travel Survey, "U.S. Holiday Travel," November 2003. |
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