Traveling for the holidays? See airports near Modesto with domestic, international flights
Planning to travel this holiday season?
Amid the holiday travel surge, 10.7 million California residents are expected to join the nationwide rush, according to AAA.
About 9.3 million Californians will hit the road, while 1.1 million will fly domestically. Another 296,000 will opt for alternative modes of transportation, including buses, trains and cruises.
If air travel is in your plans for the holidays, here are the airports nearest to Modesto for domestic and international flights:
Where are airports near Modesto for domestic flights?
Although Modesto has its own airport, the Modesto City-County Airport does not offer any commercial flights, according to the city of Modesto website.
For commercial air travel, the city website says, Modesto residents can head to either Merced Regional Airport or Stockton Metropolitan Airport.
Both are roughly 40 miles away from Modesto.
What about international air travel?
The closest airports to Modesto that offer both domestic and international flights are Oakland International Airport and Sacramento International Airport.
Oakland International Airport is about 75 miles away from Modesto.
Sacramento International Airport is roughly 86 miles away from Modesto.
What are the best days to fly for Thanksgiving?
According to AAA, you can expect massive airport crowds and sky-high plane ticket prices around Thanksgiving on Tuesday, Nov. 26, and Wednesday, Nov. 27.
For a smoother experience, AAA said the best days for flights are on Monday, Nov. 25, or Thanksgiving Day itself, Thursday, Nov. 28.
“Both ... experience lighter traffic levels,” AAA said. “As an added bonus, those days typically have some of the lowest prices on tickets around the Thanksgiving holiday.”
If avoiding crowds is your top priority, Sunday, Nov. 24, is typically the quietest travel day at airports during Thanksgiving week.
However, “You’ll likely pay more for the lack of crowds,” AAA said.
What are the best days to fly for Christmas?
Unlike Thanksgiving, which always falls on the fourth Thursday of November, Christmas shifts to a different day of the week each year.
“Despite that, the busiest pre-Christmas travel days are generally two to four days before the holiday, regardless of what days they are,” AAA said.
In 2024, that means airports will see the heaviest traffic on Saturday, Dec. 21, through Monday, Dec. 23.
“In particular, Dec. 22 is the busiest travel day of the Christmas season, with high fares to match,” AAA said.
However, the priciest day for airfare will be Thursday, Dec. 26.
For those looking to avoid crowds and save on travel costs, AAA said, Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, offers a quieter airport experience and the lowest ticket prices of the season.
What are some holiday travel tips?
If you’re planning a flight this holiday season, you should arrive at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international departures, according to AAA.
If you’re driving yourself to the airport, reserving a parking spot in advance can save you from last-minute stress.
Downloading your airline’s app and checking in from home can help you avoid long lines at terminal kiosks, AAA said.
