The Real Cost of Holiday Travel: Parking, Gas, Congestion and More
The holiday season is one of the few times a year when many families gather, but doing so often means traveling. For some, that can incur significant costs.
In this study, we looked at major airports with the highest parking costs, the cost to drive popular routes, the metros with the highest downtown street parking costs and more.
Key findings
- New York metro airports have the highest economy parking costs. LaGuardia Airport ($40), John F. Kennedy International ($39) and Newark Liberty International ($30) rank among the five most expensive major airports for daily economy parking. The daily average across the 62 large or medium hubs is $16.44.
- For those traveling on key routes beginning or ending in major metros, Lafayette, La., to Houston induces the steepest holiday travel bills, but shorter California routes hit wallets the hardest per mile. Of the 16 routes involving major metros with available data, the 217-mile Lafayette-to-Houston route costs $56.40 in gas and wear and tear. However, routes involving California metros Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco have far higher fuel and wear-and-tear costs per 10 miles driven — $3.67, compared with $2.60 for the Houston route.
- New York has the highest hourly downtown street parking costs, more than five times those of other major metros. Among the prominent city in each of the 50 largest metros, parking in New York costs the most at $5.50 an hour. Chicago ($4.75) and Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Tampa, Fla. (all $4.00), are the closest. To compare, the hourly average across the 50 major metro downtowns is $2.24.
- Many Americans will hit the road — not the skies — for the holidays. 40% of Americans plan to drive in a personal vehicle for their main holiday trip this year, while 15% plan to fly. Among the top reasons travelers plan to drive instead of fly are enjoying road trips or scenic drives (23%) and saving money on airfare or baggage fees (16%).
- Higher travel costs are changing plans but not stopping them. Nearly 4 in 10 travelers (39%) are traveling as planned despite higher prices, while 29% are shortening or cutting back their trips. Another 23% will drive instead of fly to save money.
New York metro airport economy parking is most expensive
At airports, economy parking may not always live up to its name. Unfortunately for New York-area travelers, airports in the metro have the highest economy parking costs.
According to our analysis of daily economy parking rates listed on official airport websites, LaGuardia Airport ranks first, at a whopping $40 a day. (We ranked the 62 airports labeled as large or medium hubs by the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, using the lowest long-term economy parking option.) Fellow New York metro airport John F. Kennedy International ($39) ranks second, with Newark Liberty International ($30) taking the fifth slot.

Meanwhile, Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Neb., and Bradley International in Hartford, Conn., tie for the lowest rate, with daily economy parking costing just $7. Jacksonville International and Palm Beach International in Florida and Albuquerque International Sunport in New Mexico tie for the second-lowest at $8.
Across the 62 airports analyzed, the average daily cost of economy parking is $16.44.
Matt Schulz — LendingTree chief consumer finance analyst and author of “Ask Questions, Save Money, Make More: How to Take Control of Your Financial Life” — says airport parking may not be top of mind when people plan their travel, but it matters, especially if you’ll be away for a long time.
“Those costs can add up in a big hurry, so sometimes people need to consider other options,” he says. “Simply taking the time to do some basic math can lead to big savings. Can you save by taking an Uber instead of parking at the airport? Does it make sense to take the train? Might someone be willing to drive you to the airport? The more options you have, the better, because it doesn’t take much time for airport parking to add up to equal the price of a hotel.”
Full rankings: Major airports with highest economy parking rates
| Rank | Airport | Metro | Daily cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LaGuardia Airport | New York, NY | $40 |
| 2 | John F. Kennedy International Airport | New York, NY | $39 |
| 3 | San Diego International Airport | San Diego, CA | $38 |
| 4 | Seattle-Tacoma International Airport | Seattle, WA | $37 |
| 5 | Newark Liberty International Airport | New York, NY | $30 |
| 6 | Boston Logan International Airport | Boston, MA | $29 |
| 7 | Daniel K. Inouye International Airport | Honolulu, HI | $27 |
| 8 | George Bush Intercontinental Airport | Houston, TX | $25 |
| 8 | Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport | Washington, DC | $25 |
| 8 | San Francisco International Airport | San Francisco, CA | $25 |
| 11 | Kahului Airport | Kahului, HI | $24 |
| 12 | Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport | Minneapolis, MN | $23 |
| 13 | Nashville International Airport | Nashville, TN | $21 |
| 14 | John Wayne Airport | Los Angeles, CA | $20 |
| 14 | Ontario International Airport | Riverside, CA | $20 |
| 16 | Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport | San Francisco, CA | $19 |
| 17 | Harry Reid International Airport | Las Vegas, NV | $18 |
| 17 | Tampa International Airport | Tampa, FL | $18 |
| 17 | Dallas Love Field | Dallas, TX | $18 |
| 17 | Oakland International Airport | San Francisco, CA | $18 |
| 21 | Denver International Airport | Denver, CO | $17 |
| 21 | Cleveland Hopkins International Airport | Cleveland, OH | $17 |
| 23 | Chicago O’Hare International Airport | Chicago, IL | $16 |
| 23 | Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport | Phoenix, AZ | $16 |
| 23 | Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport | Detroit, MI | $16 |
| 23 | Hollywood Burbank Airport | Los Angeles, CA | $16 |
| 27 | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport | Atlanta, GA | $15 |
| 27 | Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport | Miami, FL | $15 |
| 27 | Philadelphia International Airport | Philadelphia, PA | $15 |
| 27 | Washington Dulles International Airport | Washington, DC | $15 |
| 27 | Chicago Midway International Airport | Chicago, IL | $15 |
| 32 | Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport | Dallas, TX | $14 |
| 32 | Orlando International Airport | Orlando, FL | $14 |
| 32 | Portland International Airport | Portland, OR | $14 |
| 35 | Los Angeles International Airport | Los Angeles, CA | $13 |
| 35 | Pittsburgh International Airport | Pittsburgh, PA | $13 |
| 35 | Charleston International Airport | Charleston, SC | $13 |
| 38 | Charlotte Douglas International Airport | Charlotte, NC | $12 |
| 38 | Miami International Airport | Miami, FL | $12 |
| 38 | Salt Lake City International Airport | Salt Lake City, UT | $12 |
| 38 | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport | Austin, TX | $12 |
| 38 | Raleigh-Durham International Airport | Raleigh, NC | $12 |
| 38 | Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport | New Orleans, LA | $12 |
| 38 | Buffalo Niagara International Airport | Buffalo, NY | $12 |
| 45 | Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport | Washington, DC | $11 |
| 45 | Sacramento International Airport | Sacramento, CA | $11 |
| 45 | Southwest Florida International Airport | Cape Coral, FL | $11 |
| 45 | General Mitchell International Airport | Milwaukee, WI | $11 |
| 49 | St. Louis Lambert International Airport | St. Louis, MO | $10 |
| 49 | San Antonio International Airport | San Antonio, TX | $10 |
| 49 | Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field | Boise, ID | $10 |
| 49 | Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport | Cincinnati, OH | $10 |
| 53 | William P. Hobby Airport | Houston, TX | $9 |
| 53 | Indianapolis International Airport | Indianapolis, IN | $9 |
| 53 | Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport | Anchorage, AK | $9 |
| 53 | Kansas City International Airport | Kansas City, MO | $9 |
| 53 | John Glenn Columbus International Airport | Columbus, OH | $9 |
| 58 | Palm Beach International Airport | Miami, FL | $8 |
| 58 | Albuquerque International Sunport | Albuquerque, NM | $8 |
| 58 | Jacksonville International Airport | Jacksonville, FL | $8 |
| 61 | Bradley International Airport | Hartford, CT | $7 |
| 61 | Eppley Airfield | Omaha, NE | $7 |
Costs to travel key routes vary widely
Not all Americans are flying. Instead, some are driving.
Utilizing major metro routes as highlighted by AAA, we combined fuel and wear-and-tear estimates to capture the impact of holiday congestion. (For full details on how we calculated this, see our methodology.)
In some cases, gas and wear-and-tear costs may rival (or exceed) metros’ daily parking rates. In fact, Lafayette, La., to Houston induces the steepest holiday travel bills, costing $56.40 in gas and wear and tear. Detroit to Cleveland follows at $45.64 in gas and wear and tear, though it’s important to note these routes are the two longest among those highlighted by AAA.
Most expensive holiday driving routes by metro
| Metro | Route | Length of route, in miles | Total cost due to congestion (fuel plus wear and tear) | Cost per 10 miles driven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | Lafayette (La.) to Houston via I-10 W | 217 | $56.40 | $2.60 |
| Detroit, MI | Detroit to Cleveland via I-75 S | 169 | $45.64 | $2.70 |
| San Diego, CA | San Diego to Palm Springs via I-15 N | 123 | $45.15 | $3.67 |
| Atlanta, GA | Atlanta to Augusta via I-20 E | 148 | $40.04 | $2.71 |
| Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles to Palm Springs via I-10 E | 107 | $39.28 | $3.67 |
| Seattle, WA | Seattle to Ellensburg via I-90 W | 108 | $38.49 | $3.56 |
| Tampa, FL | Gainesville to Tampa via I-75 S | 134 | $37.19 | $2.78 |
| Portland, OR | Portland to Eugene via I-5 S | 110 | $36.92 | $3.36 |
| New York, NY | New York to Hamptons via Long Island Expy E | 100 | $28.71 | $2.87 |
| Philadelphia, PA | Philadelphia to Baltimore/DC via I-95 S | 98 | $28.61 | $2.92 |
| Chicago, IL | Chicago to Milwaukee via I-94 W | 92 | $26.41 | $2.87 |
| Minneapolis, MN | Eau Claire to Minneapolis via I-94 W | 92 | $25.04 | $2.72 |
| Boston, MA | Boston to Hyannis via Pilgrim Hwy S | 71 | $19.93 | $2.81 |
| Denver, CO | Fort Collins to Denver via I-25 S | 65 | $17.90 | $2.75 |
| San Francisco, CA | San Francisco to Napa via I-80 E | 47 | $17.25 | $3.67 |
| Washington, DC | DC to Annapolis via US-50 E | 41 | $11.88 | $2.90 |
However, routes involving California metros Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco have far higher fuel and wear-and-tear costs per 10 miles. Across each of the corresponding routes, the cost per 10 miles driven is $3.67. That’s significantly higher than the $2.60 per 10 miles driven for the Lafayette-to-Houston route.
This shows that even moderate drives in California can rival or exceed per-mile expenses of much longer trips elsewhere.
So before you hit the road, consider taking your car for a checkup.
“Getting the oil changed, rotating the tires, topping off the fluids and completing other basic maintenance can make it less likely that you’ll face mechanical issues, which could derail your trip’s schedule and budget,” he says. “A gas credit card can also help extend. Even if you’re only getting a small amount of cash back or gas discounts, every cent counts on a long, pricey trip.”
Downtown street parking costs can be as high as $5.50/hour
Whether renting a car or driving to a location, consumers shouldn’t just consider fuel and/or wear and tear — parking costs can add up, too.
Among downtowns in the 50 largest metros (defined as the first metro listed in the full metropolitan statistical area), New York has the highest hourly downtown street parking costs, at $5.50 an hour. Chicago ($4.75) and Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Tampa, Fla. (all $4.00), are closest. (Rates are from official city and state transportation department websites, municipal announcements and Parkopedia listings, as compiled by LendingTree analysts.)

Meanwhile, seven downtown metros tied with the lowest rate of $1.00: Dallas; Orlando, Fla.; San Francisco; Kansas City, Mo.; Cleveland; Columbus, Ohio; and Detroit.
Across the 50 major metro downtowns, the average hourly cost of street parking is $2.24.
More Americans plan to drive than fly
When it comes to the most popular travel methods this holiday season, 40% of Americans plan to drive in a personal vehicle for their primary trip — the most common response. Meanwhile, 15% plan to fly. A whopping 35% don’t plan to travel at all this year.

Of those who plan to travel, 54% say they’re at least somewhat more likely to drive this year than they were last year.
As for why they’re driving, those who plan to do so this year say they’re likely to enjoy road trips or scenic drives (23%), enjoy the convenience and comfort of driving (18%) or save money on airfare or baggage fees (16%).
Generally, though, most travelers aren’t going far. Whether flying or driving, 29% of travelers plan to go less than 100 miles one way for their main holiday trip. Meanwhile, 25% plan to travel 100 to 249 miles and 23% plan to travel 250 to 499 miles.
Costs cutting plans short
Higher travel costs are certainly a concern, but Americans are keen on making the holidays happen. In fact, 39% of travelers aren’t changing their plans despite higher prices, while 29% are shortening or cutting back their trips.

Nearly a quarter (23%) will drive instead of fly to save money.
Most travelers (44%) plan to pay for their holiday travel with a debit card — the most common response. That’s followed by:
- Using a credit card and paying it off immediately (32%)
- Using savings or cash (31%)
- Using a credit card and expecting to carry a balance (25%)
- Using credit card reward points or miles (24%)
- Using a buy now, pay later loan (13%)
- Using a gift card or travel voucher (12%)
Travelers are expecting to pay a decent chunk of cash, with 41% planning to spend $250 to $999 for transportation, lodging and other travel costs. Meanwhile, 25% plan to spend less than $250.
Travelers are realistic about prices
Most travelers won’t spend a lot on parking, and their expectations aren’t far off. Across all Americans, 34% say the most they’re willing to pay for parking at major holiday events is under $10 an hour. That aligns with meter rates in major metros like New York, Chicago and Philadelphia.
Saving on holiday travel: Top expert tips
If you’re struggling to fit holiday travel in your budget, you’re not alone. However, there are a few things you can do to help make it work. Schulz offers the following advice:
- Leverage credit card rewards. “Whether you’re saving on gas, hotels, airfare or something else, credit card rewards can help you extend your budget,” Schulz says. “Just make sure you don’t see the card as an excuse to spend more than you need to on the road.”
- Be flexible. “Flexibility can generate significant savings for travelers,” he says. “Being willing to make an extra stop on a flight, fly out of a different airport, consider different arrival and return dates, take a basic economy seat, wake up at the crack of dawn to take an early flight, carpool with family or friends or another compromise can make a big difference in the total cost of your trip.”
- Set price alerts and shop around. While it may be too late to do so this year, it’s important to remember that holiday travel prices change constantly in the months leading up to it. Using price-tracking tools or fare alerts can help you catch dips you might otherwise miss.
Methodology
LendingTree researchers in November 2025 analyzed holiday-related parking and driving costs across major U.S. metros to understand how parking rates, gas prices, wear and tear, and congestion affect travel budgets during the year-end holiday period.
Researchers collected daily economy parking rates from official airport websites, focusing on each airport’s lowest long-term economy parking option. The airports evaluated included those labeled as large or medium hubs by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). When multiple parking tiers were listed, the lowest economy option was used for consistency.
Downtown street parking data came from official city and state transportation department websites, municipal announcements and Parkopedia listings. The metros evaluated included the 50 biggest in population in 2024. When ranges were provided, researchers used the midpoint. All parking data reflects rates available as of November 2025.
To estimate driving expenses, LendingTree analysts evaluated major routes included in AAA’s 2024 holiday travel forecast. Route distances were verified through Google Maps. A baseline fuel efficiency of 25 mpg was used under normal conditions, with a 25% reduction (18.75 mpg) applied to simulate heavy congestion based on U.S. Department of Energy data via FuelEconomy.gov.
State gas prices were pulled from LendingTree’s U.S. gas prices page as of November 2025. Wear-and-tear costs per trip were estimated using figures from AAA’s “Your Driving Costs” report published in September 2025. Total trip costs combined fuel spending and wear-and-tear estimates to capture the full impact of holiday congestion.
Additionally, LendingTree commissioned QuestionPro to conduct an online survey of 2,015 U.S. consumers ages 18 to 79 from Nov. 5 to 10, 2025. The survey was administered using a nonprobability-based sample, and quotas were used to ensure the sample base represented the overall population. Researchers reviewed all responses for quality control.
We defined generations as the following ages in 2025:
- Generation Z: 18 to 28
- Millennial: 29 to 44
- Generation X: 45 to 60
- Baby boomer: 61 to 79
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