Justin Koehler’s Thanksgiving trip plans won’t be derailed by the deluge of rain that has flooded Northern California.
To spend the holiday with his family, the San Rafael resident will travel about 350 miles north to Crescent City, just like he does every year. Winter storms won’t stop him, he added, even if the travel takes more than six hours.
I’m simply waiting for the weather to clear up for the time being,” he remarked. Avoid driving in the north. For me, there is less traffic.
Nearly 80 million people are expected to travel this week for Thanksgiving, surpassing pre-pandemic travel numbers and establishing new records, according to AAA, previously the American Automobile Association. California will account for almost 10.7 million of the travelers.
According to Cyndi Zesk, a vice president at AAA Northern California, Thanksgiving is the largest travel holiday, and this year we’re on course to shatter records across all modes, from planes and cruises to road trips. Reuniting and celebrating with loved ones is the main goal of Thanksgiving, and these figures demonstrate that dedication to family.
According to the agency, there will be 1.7 million more travelers this year than there were last year and 2 million more than there were in 2019. During the seven days between Tuesday and December 2, the majority of people—79.9 million, according to projections—will travel 50 miles or more from their homes for the holiday.
Of those, 9.32 million Californians, or 71.7 million individuals, will be behind the wheel, a 1.3 million increase over the previous year. 1.1 million Californians, or 5.84 million individuals, are expected to take flights, a 2% rise over the previous year. It is anticipated that 296,000 Californians, or over 2.3 million people, will use the bus, boat, or train, a 9% increase over the previous year.
According to AAA spokesperson John Treanor, the state’s northern region’s recent torrential downpour is thought to be the largest possible travel barrier.
“We don’t think it will have a big impact on the total number of travelers nationwide,” Treanor said, adding that it might cause delays at airports. I have no idea why travelers would postpone their trips due to the extreme weather.
Fairfax resident Michelle May said she intends to stick close to home, making the short trip to Novato to pick up her 25-year-old son before cooking dinner with her daughters.
According to May, the family will also spend some time serving the less fortunate at St. Vincent de Paul in San Rafael.
“I am so thankful that I see the community coming together this year more than any other year,” she remarked.
Domenico Bartolozzi, who lives in San Rafael, typically celebrates with his wife’s family in Marin or Petaluma. However, he stated that there were no urgent intentions because the children were grown.
“I may or may not go if someone invites me,” he said. Affordability exists. Everything costs more. The cost of veggies is higher than that of turkeys.
Putting food inflation aside, Treanor stated that reduced fuel costs might allow passengers to spend their money elsewhere. In California, a gallon of gas costs $4.44 on average. The price was $4.94 a year ago. The average fuel price in Marin is $4.55, down from $5.05 the previous year. The average price of gas nationwide is $3.05.
It’s half a buck less. According to Treanor, that will make traveling a little less expensive for people. It’s less expensive, which puts a little more money in people’s pockets.
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