BBQS AND TRAFFIC - HELLO, SUMMER IT'S THE TIME TO TRAVEL: IS YOUR FAMILY PREPARED?

Byline: JASON KANDEL Staff Writer

As the summer travel season kicks off today, drivers will grapple with sky-high gas prices, air travelers will fight long lines and nightmarish parking, and outdoor enthusiasts will compete for campsites at beaches and forests.

Makes you want to just stay home.

The Southern California Auto Club estimates that nearly 3.1 million Southern Californians will travel during the Memorial Day weekend, a slight uptick from last year. Nearly 2.5 million of them will drive, more than 450,000 are expected to fly and more than 154,000 will go by ship, bus or train.

Rising gas prices -- currently averaging $3.37 a gallon in the Los Angeles area -- are to blame for tight travel budgets this weekend, prompting many families to stay closer to home. Hot spots include Las Vegas, San Diego, San Francisco, the Grand Canyon and Yosemite, said Carol Thorp, a AAA spokeswoman.

The California Highway Patrol will be out in force on the freeways across the state, on the lookout for drunken drivers, speeders and those eschewing seat belts. Last Memorial Day weekend, nine people died in car crashes on county freeways, and the CHP made 320 DUI arrests.

``Eighty percent of available personnel will be enforcing rules of the road,'' CHP Lt. Andria Witmer said. ``We're telling people to get an early start, and make sure their vehicles are well-maintained so they don't have to suffer any breakdowns.''

LAX officials are expecting the busiest summer travel season since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, with an expected 18.7 million people going through the airport between the Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day -- 200,000 more than last summer and nearing the 19 million record of 2001. Some 800,000 are expected this weekend alone, LAX spokesman Tom Winfrey said.

The hope is that a new valet parking service and some 2,000 screeners will help ease the burden of long lines this weekend, but officials are also encouraging travelers to give themselves enough time.

``We're glad that traffic is returning, which means the economy is better and people are using the airport,'' Winfrey said. ``They feel more confident taking trips, which means to us they feel that the airport is secure and safe.''

At Bob Hope, officials are girding for an expected 1.6 million travelers this summer, a jump of 100,000 from last summer, spokesman Victor Gill said. Long lines in front of the terminal are expected, with motorists dropping off and picking up passengers. But the biggest challenge will be parking.

Record numbers of passengers fueled by new flights from JetBlue and Delta Airlines have exacerbated the parking situation, as travelers are more frequently filling up the airport's 6,500 spaces, Gill said. Officials are searching for options off airport property, but no plans will be in place in time to fix the summer crunch.

Meanwhile, the airport's Web site warns of the potential parking nightmare, and advises visitors to hitch rides with family or friends.

``What we're hoping is that people will be aware that they are traveling in a more crowded period and will build more time to compensate for it,'' Gill said.

On Thursday morning, Gary L. Turner, a metals salesman from Woodland Hills, decided to use Bob Hope's $20-a-day valet option for an overnight trip to San Francisco to see his daughter.

A frequent business traveler through Bob Hope, he is familiar with the parking problems and chooses the valet service because it's hassle-free.

``It's easier,'' he said. ``I like to go in and out.''

Anita and Sid Berneger chose to park at the Hilton across the street for $9 a day and take the shuttle to the terminal for a flight to the Bay Area to visit family. They chose Thursday morning to head out to get a jump on the Memorial Day weekend throngs.

``And we're not coming home until next Thursday,'' said Anita Berneger, 81. ``I heard that the parking situation is quite frenetic here.''

For those venturing to local beach and mountain campsites, spaces are filling up, despite the potential tinderbox conditions in the hillsides.

``Conditions will only get worse as we go into the summer months,'' said Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. Mark Savage.

But that won't deter the true weekend warriors determined to camp at the 278 state parks statewide.

``This is the major kickoff for the summer camping season,'' said Sheryl Watson, spokeswoman for the state parks system. ``Camping is really popular right now.''

jason.kandel(at)dailynews.com

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5 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- 2 -- color) Above, Elliot Fleck, 3, of Granada Hills gets an early start on the holiday weekend, camping with his family at Leo Carrillo State Beach on Thursday. Mike Krussel, below, also loses no time firing up the grill for lunch at the beach.

(3 -- color) Getting a head start on the weekend, Dave Fleck sets up a tent at Leo Carrillo State Park Thursday. An expected high volume of campers could mean fighting for spots this weekend.

(4 -- color) Braden and Megan Linge play in the sand Thursday afternoon along Thornhill Broome Beach at Point Mugu State Park in Malibu, where they are camping with their family.

(5 -- color) Having already set up her Stars and Stripes, Cindy Angula reads a book outside her RV at Leo Carrillo State Park on Thursday. For those venturing to local beach and mountain campsites, spaces are filling up, despite the potential tinderbox conditions.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer

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Travel tips

Source: Automobile Club of Southern California