Pack Some Patience: Travel Tips For Those Hitting The Road This Thanksgiving Holiday
SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) -- Before you head over the river and through the woods to your grandmother's house this Thanksgiving, make sure to leave early and pack your patience. The day before the holiday is a major day for travel. Seven million Californians are traveling for the holiday this year, and six million of them will be hitting the roads.
Sergio Avila, Public Relations Specialist for AAA Northern California, spoke to KPIX Traffic anchor Gianna Franco about the best time to hit the road to avoid the holiday traffic jam. One major tip: leave as early as you can.
"The worst time to leave the San Francisco Bay Area is going to be roughly around 1 p.m. to 5-6 p.m.," said Avila. "We're talking traffic that may take up to five times the amount to get you between certain corridors on 680 North, or 37 East or 101."
More tips to navigate the holiday travel chaos include: getting a car maintenance check before hitting the road, pack extra food and water and make sure you're well-rested.
Thanksgiving holiday travel also is coinciding with the first major storm in Northern California in nearly six months, beginning on Tuesday, triggering a flash flood watch for the fire-charred areas of Sonoma County, a high surf advisory, and a hurricane force wind warning for the Mendocino coast.
KPIX 5 Weather Center: Current Conditions, Maps, Forecast
For those heading toward the Sierra, forecasters warned of possible blizzard conditions and near-zero visibility overnight Wednesday because of blowing snow and gusty winds.
The storm was expected to crest the mountains Tuesday afternoon and last until Wednesday, affecting Thanksgiving holiday travel on key highways including Interstate 80.
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