Utahns were getting ready to take to the road, rails or airways to get to Grandma's house on Wednesday - America's busiest travel day of the year.
Millions of Americans were expected to travel over the Thanksgiving weekend. Most are expected to make trips by car or truck, while a lesser percentage will travel by commercial bus, train and plane.Motorists can expect to pay between $1.13 and $1.40 for a gallon of unleaded regular gas around the West. Statewide, the price at the pump remained relatively stable with prices for regular unleaded ranging from $1.139 in Vernal to $1.159 in St. George. Around the West, the gas prices ranged from $1.229 in Las Vegas to $1.389 per gallon in West Yellowstone.
Those traveling by car throughout Utah on Wednesday should be prepared for snow showers, while clear and cold weather is forecast for Thanksgiving Day. Many canyon roads were reported snow-packed in northern Utah, including those in Big and Little Cottonwood canyons and in Sardine Canyon from Brigham City to Logan.
For more specific information here are numbers for road condition recordings throughout the West:
- Utah. 801-964-6000.
- Idaho. 208-336-6600.
- Wyoming. Jackson Hole area, 307-733-9966; Evanston area, 307-789-9966; and Rock Springs area, 307-382-9966.
- Southern Nevada. 702-486-3116.
- Colorado. Denver area, 303-639-1111 and statewide, 303-639-1234.
Louis E. Miller, Salt Lake International Airport director, said the airport - a major hub for Delta Air Lines - will be packed with local and national travelers.
Starting Tuesday, he said, travelers can expect longer lines at the check-in counters and may experience some delays. The holiday jam should continue through next Monday. So far flights are running on schedule with no slowdowns reported despite the light snowfall on Tuesday night.
Miller encouraged air travelers to arrive at least an hour early. The canceled American Airlines flight attendants strike and work slowdown at United Airlines should have little effect on holiday operations at the Salt Lake Airport, Miller said.
American Airlines hopes to fly up to 70 percent of its flights Tuesday and up to 85 percent of them by Wednesday. The airline has rerouted travelers for the seven to eight flights it has out of Salt Lake International during the strike, Miller said.
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The cost of a gallon of regular unleaded gas on Nov. 22-23, 1993 was:
Utah:
Location Price
St. George $1.159
Moab 1.249
Blanding 1.349
Vernal 1.399
The West
Las Vegas $1.229
Los Angeles 1.159
Flagstaff 1.329
Denver 1.199
Jackson Hole 1.239
W. Yellowston 1.389
Lake Tahoe 1.279
Boise 1.179
Burley 1.189
San Fransico 1.239
Rock Springs 1.109