SACRAMENTO, California — With Thanksgiving gatherings nearing, travelers are preparing to hit the roads.
Wednesday is the busiest day for the roadways as millions of people head out to get their weekend started.
On Tuesday, ABC10 found drivers filling up their gas tanks as they prepared to reach their destinations for Thanksgiving.
"The worst part is just dealing with the Sacramento drivers, al the traffic," said Davaughn White, who plans to drive to Natomas to spend the holiday with family.
"Hopefully leaving tomorrow morning and heading out. Going down south and so just got to get my stuff and be ready. It's gonna be nuts tomorrow," added Jim Gleim, who was ready to drive the following day.
According to AAA, most travelers will drive to their destinations, with about 49.1 million people getting behind the wheel this year.
"You really want to get out early, and we're not saying 5 or 6 in the morning. Certainly, if you're willing to do that, go for it, but before 11 a.m. in the morning, that lunchtime, early afternoon rush is one you really want to avoid, because you could be seeing lengthy stays on freeways," said John Treanor, AAA Spokesperson.
AAA said there are a few things to keep in mind before you get on the road. This includes the following:
- Plan your route ahead of time, with the first stop being the gas pump
- Prepare for inclement weather by checking your tire tread and fluids
- Know the worst time to travel is Wednesday from 2 to 8 p.m.
"The busiest (roads) we're seeing, the 80 east between San Fransico and Sacramento Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. So that's a little bit later, but that's one we're going to see kind of peak traffic hours there. We're gonna see the San Francisco to Monterey Santa Cruz highway south. That's where we're really seeing the biggest delays," said Treanor.
Drivers who spoke with ABC10 shared their own advice on how to arrive safely and on time.
"Just pay attention, because literally one blink of an eye, somebody could just be veering off to you... just pay attention, that's all it is," said White, adding that people should also be patient and prepared.
AAA said they actually get a lot of people calling in about a dead battery around this time when people are traveling far. So, they recommend getting it tested before hitting the road.
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