Southern Californians can expect to see high waiting times at airports and congestioned traffic on highways during the holidays this year.
And because Christmas and New Year's Days land both in the middle of the week, weekends before the holidays should be the busiest moments to travel.
But the good news for road warriors is that the prices of gasoline are decreasing on a national scale.
According to the American Automobile Assn Assn. About 107 million travelers – or 90% – should lead to their destinations, 2.5 million more than last year.
This year's overall travel projection breaks the latest travel record in 2019 pre-countryic of 64,000 people, according to AAA. The agency awaits 3 million more travelers in this holiday season than last year.
“This is the time of year when memories for life are made with dear beings, and Travel plays a big role on this subject,” said Stacey Barber, vice-president of Aaa Travel. “This year, Christmas Day falling on Wednesday, we are planning record travel numbers on weekends and weekends after the holidays.”
Interstate 10 from Los Angeles to Palm Springs should take two hours and 53 minutes on Sunday if travelers leave around 7:45 p.m. – an increase of 81% compared to typical driving time, according to a press release from AAA .
The 113 mile trek from San Diego in Palm Springs could take more than three hours on Friday if drivers leave around 6:15 p.m., according to AAA.
For the Bay region, he could take up to three hours to travel from San Francisco to Sacramento using Interstate 80. From San Francisco to Napa, he should take almost two and a half hours for travelers who leave on December 21, which represents an increase of 82% compared to typical driving time.
“With a record number of car travelers expected in this holiday season, drivers are expected to expect delays in and around large metropolitan areas on Sunday, December 22 should be the worst day of the nation,” said Bob Pishue, transport analyst at Ingix, in a press release from AAA. “Our advice is to avoid traveling during peak turnipping hours during the week. If the schedules allow it, leave brilliant and early or after the evening trip.
Gas prices should be lower this year compared to last year, when the national average was around $ 3.12, according to AAA. Gas demand tends to decrease in December due to the icy temperature, more distant work and the rise in online purchases. On Friday, the national average is $ 3.05 the Gallon, according to the automotive club. In Los Angeles, it is $ 4.36 per gallon, against $ 4.70 a year ago.
Los Angeles is one of the cities with the highest rental demand for the holidays, the busiest days for the collection of the car being December 20 and December 21, according to a AAA car rental partner Hertz.
Northern California should see a series of atmospheric river storms starting during the weekend that could further complicate vacation trips.
“It will be quite messy, especially Monday and Tuesday if you are trying to travel during these days,” said National Weather Service Dial Hoang meteorologist. “In North Bay in particular, we expect fairly intense rains, increased flood concerns and possibilities to damage wind gusts, mainly on coasts and higher altitudes.”
