Leaving Royal Oak For Thanksgiving? Here's What You Need to Know

It's almost Thanksgiving, and for many, that means packing up the family and celebrating with relatives across the state, the country or across the globe. According to AAA, 42.5 million Americans are expected to hit the road this Thanksgiving, the highest number since the start of the recession.

Before you head out of Royal Oak, here's what you need to know:

Weather: Most sunny in Michigan, snowy in the Pacific Northwest

In and around Royal Oak on Wednesday through Friday, the National Weather Service is calling for partly sunny skies, with high temperatures in the lower to mid-40s.

Around Michigan, the weather stays mostly clear all weekend long with a chance of showers. In Grand Rapids, temperatures will hover around 45 degrees with a chance of showers Saturday. In Traverse City, it's much of the same, with a 60 percent chance of rain on Saturday.

Heading out of Michigan? According to weather.com, the East Coast and Pacific Northwest are presenting the biggest potential travel headaches on Nov. 23. There's a threat of rain and mountain snow for much of Oregon, Washington State and northern California, with rain possibly spreading as far south as the Bay area.

Meanwhile, along the East Coast and throughout much of the South, there's a chance of rain all day, with snow possible for parts of Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampsire, Maine and Massachusetts. In the South, there's also the possibility of thunderstorms.

On Thanksgiving, the threat of snow and rain grows larger in the Pacific Northwest, expanding to parts of Idaho, Montana, Colorado and Utah. However, the rain on the East Coast dissipates on Thanksgiving, concentrating instead along the coast of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

Fuel report: Prices down, watch for speed traps

If you're like the 90 percent of Americans who are driving this holiday, you may get a little break at the pump this year. According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of gas across the state is $3.28, down from $3.43 a week ago. The average price in Metro Detroit on Tuesday is $3.26 a gallon

Here are Tuesday's prices at gas stations in Royal Oak and the surrounding area:

• Royal (28610 Woodward Ave. & Sunset) $3.19
• Sunoco (12 Mile and Crooks) $3.19
• CITGO (12 Mile and Crooks) $3.19
• Marathon (12 Mile and Crooks) $3.19
• Speedway (4727 Crooks and 14 Mile Road) $3.22
• Mobil (12 Mile and Campbell) $3.22
• Meijer (5150 Coolidge Hwy. near Meijer Drive) $3.22

If you're driving out of town, though, you might want to watch out for Thanksgiving speed traps. According to the National Motorists Association, Livonia holds the record for the most speed traps, coming in at 27.9 total traps in 2010, ahead of Orlando, Las Vegas, Denver and Reno.

For more traffic information from around Michigan, visit www.michigan.gov/mdot/.

Heading to the airport?

According to AAA, one in seven Americans typically travels more than 50 miles from home during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Not surprisingly, Wednesday is the peak travel day.

ABC News asked Genevieve Shaw Brown, senior editor at Travelocity, for tips on Thanksgiving air travel. According to Brown, here are the most frequently asked questions:

• Can I bring my turkey on the plane? "The short answer here is yes, though you might get some strange looks at security."
• How long do I really need to get through security? According to Brown, you probably need an hour for domestic flights. Speed things up by bringing only carry-on luggage. Detroit Metropolitan Airport, meanwhile, reccomends you arrive two hours before your flight leaves.
• How do I make sure I'm not bumped from my flight? According to Brown, reserve your seat online when you book your flight, then check in online 24 hours before your flight. To check in at DTW, visit www.metroairport.com/airlines. When flights are oversold, often those who check in last are bumped.
• How much will it cost to check my bags? Most airlines charge $25 for the first checked bag and then $35 a bag after that for domestic flights, Brown said. Check your airline's policy.
• What should I keep with me in case we're stranded on the tarmac:? Keep a fully charged cell phone, all medications, water and a snack with you at all times, in addition to anything you need for small children if you have them. 

In addition, DTW recommends filling out all luggage tags beforehand and calling the airport's 24-hour parking hotline, 800-642-1978, to check up on up-to-the-minute parking information at the airport. To check weather and traffic at the airport, visit http://www.metroairport.com/traffic/.

Trash collection: Don't worry about it

When a holiday occurs on a weekday, trash collection in Royal Oak is delayed one day. That means if your trash is picked up on Thursday or Friday, pickup will be delayed one day.

When you get home: Chilly temperatures with a chance of showers

Heading home the weekend after Thanksgiving? Temperatures will be in the lower to mid-40s all weekend, with a high of 46 on Saturday and 43 on Sunday. Skies should be sunny though the forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of scattered showers on Saturday.