“Go bright and early:” Southern Californians are bracing for crowded airports and highways during holiday travel

Southern Californians can expect long wait times at airports and traffic jams on highways during the holidays this year.

And with both Christmas and New Year falling in the middle of the week, the weekends leading up to the holidays are likely to be the busiest travel times.

But the good news for road warriors is that gas prices are down across the country.

Between Saturday and Jan. 1, about 119.3 million people will travel at least 50 miles from their homes using all modes of transportation, according to the American Automobile Assn. Around 107 million travelers – or 90% – are expected to drive to their destinations, up 2.5 million from last year.

This year’s total travel forecast exceeds the last travel record set before the pandemic in 2019 of 64,000 people, according to AAA. The agency expects 3 million more travelers this holiday season than last year.

“This is the time of year when lifelong memories are made with loved ones, and travel plays a big role in that,” said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel. “With Christmas Day falling on a Wednesday this year, we expect record-breaking travel numbers on the weekend before and the weekend after the holiday.”

Read more: Opinion: With Christmas and Hanukkah coinciding, is it time for holiday lights for everyone?

According to a news release from AAA, the drive on Interstate 10 from Los Angeles to Palm Springs on Sunday is expected to take two hours and 53 minutes with travelers departing around 7:45 p.m. — an 81% increase over typical travel time.

AAA said the 113-mile trek from San Diego to Palm Springs could take more than three hours on Friday when riders leave around 6:15 p.m.

For the Bay Area, the drive from San Francisco to Sacramento via Interstate 80 could take up to three hours. San Francisco to Napa is expected to take nearly two and a half hours for travelers departing Dec. 21, an 82% increase over typical travel time.

“With near-record numbers of car travelers expected this holiday season, motorists can expect delays in and around major metropolitan areas, with Sunday, Dec. 22, expected to be the worst travel day in the country,” Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, said in a statement AAA press release. “Our advice is to avoid traveling during peak weekday commute times. If schedules allow, go bright and early or after your evening commute.

According to AAA, gas prices are expected to be lower this year than last year, when the national average was about $3.12. Gasoline demand tends to decline in December due to freezing temperatures, increased remote work and an increase in online shopping. The national average as of Friday is $3.05 per gallon, according to the Auto Club. In Los Angeles, the price is $4.36 a gallon, down from $4.70 a year ago.

According to AAA car rental partner Hertz, Los Angeles is one of the cities with the highest rental demand for the holidays. The busiest days for car pickup are December 20th and 21st.

A series of atmospheric river storms are expected to hit Northern California over the weekend, which could further complicate holiday travel.

“It’s going to be pretty chaotic, especially on Monday and Tuesday if you try to travel on those days,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Dial Hoang. “Particularly in the North Bay, we expect fairly heavy rain, increased flooding risks and the possibility of damaging wind gusts, particularly along the coasts and at higher elevations.”

Sign up for Essential California to get news, features and recommendations from the LA Times and beyond delivered to your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.