In the U.S., AAA predicts that about 85 million people will travel between Dec. 23 and Jan. 3, most of them by car. It’s too early to calculate how much of that increase is due to travel and gatherings over Thanksgiving, but experts believe they are a factor. “We felt this was one of the very few safe choices we can make if we are going to travel,” Watterson said. Airports and planes will be far less crowded this year in what is normally a high travel season. Operators of both lodges blamed travel restrictions, especially quarantine requirements that are triggered by crossing state lines.