Many Modestans hitting the road for Thanksgiving

MODESTO -- With Thanksgiving a day away, gas prices are heading down and the number of Californians traveling is going up.

An estimated 5.4 million Californians will travel 50 miles or more from home during the four-day Thanksgiving holiday, an increase of about a half percent over last year, according to AAA Northern California.

“This year the fog of ongoing economic uncertainty will not be a deterrent for those planning to travel for a Thanksgiving celebration,” said AAA spokeswoman Cynthia Harris.

Gas prices have continued to fall. In Modesto, unleaded can be had for $3.29 a gallon, according to ModestoGasPrices.com.

More than 4.7 million Californians are expected to travel by motor vehicle.

Locally, those driving this morning could find conditions complicated by rain. Showers are expected throughout the earlier part of the day in Modesto, tapering off by afternoon for a dry weekend.

While most travelers heading to out-of-town turkey dinners will be going by car, the holiday is long enough to travel out of state — and that typically means getting into a plane. Despite higher air fares, more than 548,000 holiday travelers are expected to fly, a 1.8 percent decrease when compared to 2011, according to AAA.