FORT MILL, S.C. — Spring break is kicking off for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, so you can expect a busy airport throughout the weekend. In fact, Charlotte Douglas Airport officials are encouraging flyers to get to the airport at least 3 hours before their scheduled departure time. Sunday is expected to be the busiest day this weekend.
You can also expect more travelers on the roads.
“The kids are on break, I’m on break. So everybody gets a break this week,” said Emma McCabe, who is driving to Florida with her family.
Many families like Naomi Philippi's are choosing to hit the road over flying.
“For me, it’s easier because I get to have a lot more flexibility about where we go. We get to visit more friends and family along the way. And it’s cheaper for us,” said Philippi.
During the pandemic, road trips rose as a more popular way for families to travel because it is considered safer and more convenient. Tiffany Wright with AAA Carolinas expects that trend to continue with the majority of Carolinians choosing to drive over the break.
However, folks are going to come across some of the highest gas prices they’ve seen during spring break in the past few years.
“I’m crying a little bit every time I put some at the pump,” said McCabe.
Right now, the average cost of gas in North Carolina is about $3.88 per gallon for regular unleaded fuel. In South Carolina, it’s $3.77 per gallon and the national average is $4.12 per gallon.
But don’t expect higher gas prices to make families pump the brakes on their adventures. After years of restrictions, delays, and canceled plans, families are excited to get out and back to normal.
Wright adds all it’s about planning ahead.
“We have a great app that you can plan ahead,” said Wright. “You can't really control what you're going to see at the pump, but you can control your stops and, and map your route ahead of time,” said Wright.
Beyond planning ahead, some families are cutting travel costs in other ways.
“In order to be frugal for this trip, I packed a lot of food and snacks,” said Philippi, “so we haven’t been stopping to eat all the time.”
And as always with long-distance travel, you may need some entertainment.
“We have a whole DVD case of movies, plus the candy my mom packed for us,” said Zackery Philippi.
“A lot of singing and a lot of Cocomelon this time,” said McCabe.
Contact Jesse Pierre at jpierrepet@wcnc.com or follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.