Holiday Travel Rush Underway Across the Coachella Valley

The holiday travel rush is officially underway across the country—and it’s already being felt here in the Coachella Valley.

According to AAA, more than 109 million Americans are expected to travel during the year-end holiday season, making this one of the busiest holiday travel periods on record. The surge began over the weekend and is expected to continue through Sunday.

AAA says the busiest travel days will be today, Friday, and Sunday, as families head out to their holiday destinations. Locally, gas stations are already seeing increased traffic, with dozens of drivers stopping to fill up before hitting the road.

We spoke with holiday travelers about what they’re experiencing so far and what they’re expecting once they’re on the road.

There is some good news for those driving: for the first time in four years, the national average price for gas has dipped below $3 a gallon, offering some relief to millions of Americans planning road trips this holiday season.

In addition to the record number of drivers, AAA expects more than 8 million domestic air travelers, the highest number ever recorded for year-end holiday flights.

Whether you’re driving, flying, or using another mode of transportation, AAA recommends allowing extra travel time, packing patience, and checking weather and road conditions before heading out.