Traveling for holidays? Here’s what to know about SLO County flights, gas prices and more
This week, San Luis Obispo County residents will hit the roads and take to the skies to travel for the holidays.
And they’ll likely face some inclement weather in the process, with rain forecast over the coming four days and next week as well.
Whether you’re driving to a nearby holiday gathering or catching a flight to see family, plan in some extra time so you aren’t rushing in wet and stormy conditions.
Here’s a look at how the holiday travel season is shaping up, from airport conditions and COVID regulations to local gas prices.
SLO County airport seeing steady traffic of holiday travelers
San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport Deputy Director Craig Piper said the airport has seen a steady number of travelers this week as people depart for far-away holiday destinations.
“It’s been busy,” Piper said Tuesday. “We’re not obviously at pre-COVID levels, but we are getting right back up there. So there’s a lot of passengers going through.”
Piper said those flying out of the regional airport should expect flights to be “fairly full,” though not as packed as during the Thanksgiving holiday.
He did not have an estimate of what might be the most hectic day this week, other than to say Sunday, the day after Christmas, will likely be pretty busy as a number of travelers return home before the start of the work week.
Piper said the time it takes to get through security has been around 10 minutes, except at exceptionally busy times of day like the very early morning — between 5:20 and 6:30 a.m. — when a larger number of flights are scheduled.
He said people should attempt to arrive at the airport about one hour ahead of their flight if they are being dropped off, and slightly earlier if they are planning on parking a car in the airport lot.
No matter what, Piper said people should avoid arriving with less than 30 minutes before their flight, as many of the airline desks won’t check in travelers at that point.
For COVID restrictions, Piper said masks are still required to be worn at all times while in the airport.
Those who need to get COVID tests (if they are traveling internationally or to a place with restrictions like Hawaii) can do so at the rapid testing clinic in the parking lot next to the old airport terminal, he added.
SLO County gas prices lower than Thanksgiving height
As of Tuesday, San Luis Obispo County gas prices are significantly lower than their post-Thanksgiving high.
According to GasBuddy.com, the average cost of a gallon of gas was $4.73 as of Tuesday, down 10 cents from the Dec. 9 peak of $4.83.
The county also had the sixth highest gas prices in the nation, behind San Francisco, Napa, San Rafael, San Jose and Santa Rosa. Those areas reported gas prices of between $4.74 and $4.82 per gallon.
SLO County gas prices on average are higher than the rest of the Central Coast, and much of California as a whole. According to gas prices, the average price of a gallon of regular gas in Santa Barbara was $4.56 on Tuesday, and $4.66 per gallon in Ventura.
The average cost of a gallon of gas in California was $4.65 as of Tuesday.
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