WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) — The holiday travel period is upon us, with tens of millions of Americans expected to hit the road or take flight over the next two weeks.

To help make your experience as painless as possible, 12 News has gathered some helpful information and resources, no matter your mode of travel.

Skip to a Section: Weather Forecast | Best & Worst Times to Drive | Flying Tips & Safety

Weather Forecast

The final week of the year is expected to be cold to start, followed by a warming trend and a rainy start to 2023.

Tune in to 12 News for live updates on the weather and travel conditions.

Plus – be sure to download the free Pinpoint Weather App. You can set your location to receive customized weather reports and alerts wherever you travel.

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On the Road

AAA predicts this will be the third busiest holiday travel season since 2000, with an estimated 112 million Americans traveling 50 miles or more from home between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2. Of those, roughly 102 million are expected to travel by car, especially with gas prices on the decline.

Here are the best and worst times to travel by car, according to AAA:

Date	Worst Travel Time	Best Travel Time
12/28	3 p.m. – 7 p.m.	Before 2 p.m., after 8 p.m.
12/29	3 p.m. – 7 p.m.	Before 2 p.m., after 8 p.m.
12/30	3 p.m. – 7 p.m.	Before 2 p.m., after 8 p.m.
12/31	Minimal traffic	Minimal traffic
1/1	Minimal traffic	Minimal traffic
1/2	4 p.m. – 7 p.m.	Before 3 p.m., after 8 p.m.

In addition to avoiding peak travel times, AAA advises drivers to prepare for delays and keep an eye on the local weather and traffic conditions.

Skip to a Section: Weather Forecast | Best & Worst Times to Drive | Flying Tips & Safety

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In the Sky

If you haven’t booked your flight yet, experts say the best odds of finding a good deal is by flying on New Year’s Day.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says the next busiest day at the airport is expected to be Dec. 30. To save time, the agency recommends taking advantage of TSA PreCheck, having proper identification handy, and leaving prohibited items like firearms at home.

Storms across the country have been canceling and delaying flights in recent days. Be sure to check with your airline for the most up-to-date information on your flight.

With cases of the flu, RSV and COVID-19 going around, health officials urge fliers to consider masking up at the airport and on their flights.

Other recommended precautions include getting your COVID-19 and flu shots and getting tested before and after travel.

For information on aviation consumer protection, travelers can reference the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Airline Customer Service Dashboard.