Traveling to or from SLO County this Thanksgiving? Here’s everything you need to know
The busiest travel time of the year is here.
If you’re planning to travel from San Luis Obispo County for Thanksgiving or visit the Central Coast, we’ve got you covered.
According to AAA, almost 55 million Americans are expected to travel this week for the holiday, making it the third busiest Thanksgiving in terms of travel since the automobile association started tracking that in 2000.
That’s up about 1.5% from 2021, and very close to “pre-pandemic volumes,” according to AAA.
“Families and friends are eager to spend time together this Thanksgiving, one of the busiest for travel in the past two decades,” AAA senior vice president of travel Paula Twidale said in a news release. “Plan ahead and pack your patience, whether you’re driving or flying.”
As you prepare to hit the road or the skies, here’s an easy guide for everything you need to know about local holiday travel — from gas prices and road conditions to airport tips.
Happy holidays, SLO County!
SLO County Regional Airport flights, travel tips
For those planning to fly from San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport, deputy director Courtney Pene said the airport’s busiest travel day is expected to be Wednesday “with individuals wanting to get to their destinations before the Thursday holiday.”
Pene advised for all travelers using the SLO airport to arrive two hours in advance of their airplanes’ departures “to allow for ample time to check-in their baggage and process through security prior to their flight times.”
There is some pavement work going on at the airport, making parking options limited, according to the airport website.
Alternative modes of transportation to the airport are encouraged.
“If our passenger numbers continue to be on trend, it is likely that this will be a banner year for us, surpassing our highest passenger count in 2019,” Pene said.
To help keep up with demand, the San Luis Obispo airport rolled out new larger planes for its Dallas connection in October, nearly doubling the number of people it can transport between California and Texas.
2022 is expected to be “the busiest year in the airport’s history,” airport administration said in October.
Meanwhile, major airports throughout the state are also planning for holiday crushes.
More than 200,000 passengers are expected to go through Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) each day through Monday, with as many as 97,000 vehicles expected per day.
That’s up roughly 20,000 passengers per day compared with the same time the previous year, LAX said in a Facebook post.
Passengers are encouraged to arrive early, plan parking at parking.flylax.com, and order food and drinks ahead of time on LAXOrderNow.com.
Meanwhile, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is expecting its busiest holiday travel season since before the coronavirus pandemic hit, according to KTVU.
SFO expects about 140,000 travelers to pass through the airport by the end of the week, KTVU reported on Nov. 18.
Where to find the cheapest gas in SLO County
The majority of holiday travelers plan to drive to their destinations this year, AAA said, with nearly 49 million people expected to hit the road.
Though the number is up about 0.4% from 2021, car travel remains about 2.5% below 2019 levels, according to AAA.
This year, lower gas prices across the country are likely contributing to the number of people planning to drive for the holidays.
In San Luis Obispo County, drivers can expect some relief at the pump — though prices are still higher than other areas around the United States.
As of Tuesday, SLO County was the third most expensive metropolitan statistical area in the United States, with an average price of $5.39 per gallon of gas, according to GasBuddy.
That’s behind Napa ($5.42 a gallon) and Santa Cruz ($5.40), but still more expensive than the rest of the Central Coast.
According to GasBuddy, Ventura and Santa Barbara are the next most pricey locations, with stations charging $5.30 and $5.28 per gallon for fuel, respectively.
Gas prices in the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas were $5.25 and $5.18 per gallon, respectively, as of Tuesday.
Though SLO County gas prices are among the most expensive, the current average represents a significant drop from highs this summer and even a minor uptick in October, according to GasBuddy.
Though most gas stations are charging upwards of $5 per gallon, there were several spots in SLO County charging less as of Tuesday. Those are:
- San Paso Truck Stop, 81 Wellsona Road, Paso Robles: $4.69
- Costco, 1540 Froom Ranch Way, San Luis Obispo: $4.85
- Speedway Express, 1244 24th St., Paso Robles: $4.99
- Spirit, 1637 Spring St., Paso Robles: $4.99
- 7-Eleven, 2331 Spring St., Paso Robles: $4.99
- One Stop Food, 703 Spring St., Paso Robles: $4.99
- Oceano Market, 1711 Front St., Oceano: $4.99
- Valero, 2340 Spring St., Paso Robles: $4.99
When to drive and when to avoid car traffic in California
As part of its travel forecast, AAA examined the best and worst times for car travel through the holiday weekend.
If you plan to drive on Wednesday, you’ll want to get up early if you can to beat the rush.
According to AAA, the worst time to drive that day is between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. — leaving only early morning and late night as recommended times to hit the road.
The traffic forecast is better on Thanksgiving Day and the following days.
For Thursday, AAA recommends hopping in your vehicle anytime before 11 a.m. or after 6 p.m., with peak traffic forecast for between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. The best time to drive on Friday and Sunday is before 11 a.m. or after 8 p.m., and on Saturday before 2 p.m. or after 8 p.m.
Peak travel times those three days will likely be between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., according to AAA.
For those driving in California, expect traffic in major metro areas such as Los Angeles and San Francisco.
In Los Angeles, peak congestion will likely be along Interstate 5 South, from Colorado Street to Florence Avenue on Wednesday between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., according to AAA.
Traffic on that stretch of I5 is expected to be more than double normal volume, at 144% of normal.
In San Francisco, the most congested corridor is expected to be Interstate 80 West between Maritime Street and San Pablo Dam Road on Wednesday between 4 and 5 p.m. There will likely be roughly 80% more traffic in that area than normal, according to AAA.
How to check local road conditions
As thousands of travelers hit the road for the holiday, Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol are urging people to drive safely and be aware of road conditions around the state.
There were no major roadwork or lane closures scheduled in San Luis Obispo County between Tuesday and Nov. 28 as of 8 a.m. Tuesday, according to a news release from Caltrans.
Emergency conditions may arise however, so motorists can stay notified by downloading the agency’s traffic monitoring app, Caltrans QuickMap or by calling the automated California Highway Information Network at 800-GAS-ROAD.
Caltrans also operates a network of traffic cameras where the public can view current conditions along major roadways. That’s available at video.dot.ca.gov.
SLO County weather forecast
Leave that holiday sweater at home this Thanksgiving. SLO County’s forecast is calling for warm winter weather through the weekend.
According to meteorologist John Lindsey, daytime temperatures are expected to gradually warm through Thanksgiving Day on the Central Coast, with most locations reaching the low to mid-70s with mostly clear and dry skies.
By the end of the weekend, a marine layer with pockets of fog and mist could develop along the coastline and move inland overnight, according to Lindsey.
Temps could also begin cooling down early next week.
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