San Diego is Top 3 Destination for Holiday Travel

Hope your guest room is ready—San Diego is a top three destination for holiday travel this year, according to The Automobile Club of Southern California.

"America's Finest City" comes behind Las Vegas and San Francisco in Southern Californians' travel plans for the holiday season in a survey of AAA travel agents.

Overall, 11.7 million Californians are expected to go more than 50 miles away from home for the holidays this year, including 7.3 million from Southern California. That's a 1.8 percent increase over 2011 for both traveling groups.

After San Diego, the Grand Canyon and the Central Coast (Santa Barbara to Monterey) round out the top five travel targets, according to the poll.

The roads and airports are likely to be packed with 88 percent of travelers expected to drive, and more than 590,000 locals taking to the skies—up 4.4 percent over last year.

Local gas prices have been dropping in recent months, saving drivers a bit of cash, but overall holiday travel spending is projected to increase 6 percent over 2011 to top $1,000 per household.

Statewide Holiday Projections, By the Numbers (and % Change from 2011)

• Taking Trips: 11.7 million (+1.8 percent)
• Driving: 10.4 million (+1.4 percent)
• Flying: 950,000 (+4.4 percent)
• Bus, Train, Ship, RV or Other: 400,000 (+1.4 percent)

If you're heading out this season, where are you going?