Thanksgiving Travel Guide: Gas, Terror Threat, Snow

By BETH DALBEY (Patch Staff)

Prices at the pump are headed to levels that haven’t been seen in years, and just in time for the estimated 46.9 million Americans — most of them on the nation’s highways — who plan to travel 50 miles or more this Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving gas prices haven’t been this low in seven years, the AAA said in its 2015 Thanksgiving travel forecast. That may be one of the reasons an estimated 300,000 more people will travel during the holiday period, compared with 2014. The holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday, Nov. 25, to Sunday, Nov. 29.

Holiday travel has been creeping up for the past seven years, and this Thanksgiving, more Americans will travel than at any time since 2007, Marshall Doney, AAA president and CEO, said in a news release.

Of the nearly 47 million Americans who plan to travel for the holiday, 42 million of them will take a road trip, an increase of 0.7 percent over last year. Air travel is expected to increase by 0.1 percent, with 3.6 million Americans flying to their Thanksgiving destination. Other modes of transportation, including cruises, trains and buses, will decrease by 1.4 percent this Thanksgiving to 1.4 million travelers.

Search for Snow

In the wake of a dismal ski season in 2014, thousands from around the East Bay, eager to make use of the fresh snow, are headed to Tahoe for the holiday. Are you one of them? We have the most current weather, ski conditions and gas prices to help make your trip to the snow a breeze.

• Latest weather updates for the trip to Truckee and Tahoe
  
• Current road conditions
  
• Ski resort information
  
• Ski and snow report

Find the Lowest Gas Prices

Need to top off the tank? We can help you find the best gas prices in town. Need chains for the trip? Information about chain requirements can be found here.

Find the lowest gas prices in your area, or wherever you’re planning to travel, using this Patch tool. Just enter the location in the search bar with the magnifying glass.

Arrive Extra Early at Airports

With airfares down about 10 percent this Thanksgiving, landing an average of $169 per round trip across the top 40 domestic flight routes, the nation’s airports will be busy.

It’s a good idea to arrive early — even earlier than you would have a week ago as airport security tightens after renewed threats from ISIS extremists and last week’s attacks in Paris and Beirut. That concern is likely to translate into longer lines on Thanksgiving, the top U.S. holiday for travel, analysts say.

“The chances are good that you’re going to see longer waits because of security,” Christopher Elliott, a travel writer and consumer advocate, told Reuters. “If there is another terrorism event, all bets are off then.”

He advised travelers to add another 30 minutes to the time airports advise them to arrive in order to make their flights.

To check the status of your flight, go to a site like Flightstats.com or Flightaware.com.

Other Stuff You Need to Know

Rates for rental cars and hotels will increase modestly, according to AAA. Its Three Diamond Rated lodgings are expected to remain relatively flat, with travelers spending an average of $155 per night, but the average rate for a AAA Two Diamond Rated hotel has risen 4 percent with an average nightly cost of $118.

Daily car rental rates will average $60, 8 percent higher than last Thanksgiving, AAA said

And if you don’t want to be among the estimated 360,000 motorists AAA projects it will have to rescue this Thanksgiving, check your batteries and tires before you leave. Dead batteries, flat tires and lockouts are the primary problems motorists report to AAA.

More Thanksgiving coverage on Patch:

• Turkey Talk-Line Can Help Newark Cooks This Thanksgiving
• 5 (Surprising) Tips to Help Beat the Holiday Bulge

» Photo by Eric Demarcq / Flickr