FARGO, N.D. (AAA) – AAA expects a record 115.6 million Americans will travel this holiday season, an increase of 4.3 million people (3.9 percent) over last year.

The holiday period is considered to run from Saturday, Dec. 21 through Wednesday, Jan. 1. AAA began tracking holiday travel in 2000.

More than 104 million of the holiday travelers will drive to their destinations and INRIX, a global transportation analytics company, expects delays to be the longest on Thursday, Dec. 26, with afternoon delays reaching nearly double congestion-free drive times in major U.S. cities.

“Holiday cheer is at an all-time high this year, with unemployment at historically low levels, and noted improvements in both disposable income and household net worth,” said Paula Twidale, vice president, AAA Travel. “Travelers should be getting used to crowded highways and airports, as this marks the eighth straight year of new record-high travel volumes for the year-end holidays.”

Visit AAA.com/Travel for travel planning resources to book your trip today. If you don’t currently have a federally-required REAL ID, AAA suggests making a New Year’s resolution to obtain one. You may not be able to fly without one after Oct. 1, 2020.