C.O. hits the gas on busiest travel weekend in years

Thanksgiving weekend is the busiest travel weekend of the year.

“The airport is really busy right now. Flights inbound, in particular, are very full right now,” Nicole Jurgensen, security coordinator at the Redmond Airport, said Wednesday.

“Travel has really increased this year, probably the most since 2007,” said Cecilia Lee, office supervisor at AAA in Bend.

AAA expects around 46 million people to travel on the roads nationwide and 7.5 million in the Northwest, making it the biggest travel day since the beginning of the recession.

Falling gas prices are putting even more travelers on the roads.

“Gas prices are at a four-year low right now. In Central Oregon. they are running around $3.01 (a gallon), all of Oregon about $3.04,” Lee said.

While the Northeast is forecast to get slammed by a snowstorm over the weekend, driving conditions on the West Coast are looking fairly good.

“It’s going to be warm at the beginning (of the holiday weekend) and then it’s going to turn a little colder,” said Peter Murphy with ODOT. “Motorists can expect probably an easy drive out of the Bend area on Wednesday or Thursday. But come the return trip, it might be a little different.”

ODOT also reminds everyone to be prepared for anything:

– Drive with a full gas tank

– Keep some food and water in the car

– Carry snow chains and blankets

“Hopefully, people will be driving safely. Get plenty of rest. Don’t drive tired,” Lee said.