Why is St. Christopher the Patron Saint of travelers?

Credit to The Educated Traveller for the information below!

Saint Christopher is the patron saint of travelers because of a legend about him carrying a child across a river.

The legend: Christopher was a Canaanite (a member of one of the Biblical tribes). He was very tall, more than seven feet in height and very strong. He worked for the King of Canaan and asked how he could best serve those around him. The King sent Christopher to consult a hermit, who suggested that Christopher should help local people to cross a large and treacherous river that flowed through the region. A river, which flooded frequently and was notoriously dangerous to cross. Christopher settled into his new job helping people across the river. One day, a young child approached him and asked to be carried across the river. Christopher agreed immediately. However as he waded across the river bed and the waters rose higher and higher around him the child seemed to get heavier and heavier. It was a struggle for Christopher to get to the other side. When he finally made his way out of the water, exhausted and panting, he laid the child down on the river bank and said ‘I felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders’. The child responded by saying that in fact he was the Son of God, and that Christopher had indeed carried mankind safely from one side of the river to the other.

The name: Christopher's name means "Christ-Bearer" in Greek.

The iconography: In Western Church art, Christopher is often depicted as a giant carrying the infant Jesus across a river.

The medals: People wear St. Christopher medals as a symbol of protection and safe travel. The medals often feature a depiction of Christopher carrying the child across the river.

The feast day: Christopher's feast day is July 25 in the West and May 9 in the East.