As summer winds down, many Americans are heading out of town. AAA booking data for flights, hotels, rental cars, and cruises shows Labor Day weekend travel is up over last year: domestic bookings are up 4% and international bookings are up 44%.
“Most travelers will leave on Thursday or Friday to take advantage of the long holiday weekend,” said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel. “Domestically, the Pacific Northwest, big cities like New York and Denver, and tourist hotspots like Orlando and Las Vegas are the most popular. Internationally, it’s all about Europe and Canada.”
Drivers taking road trips this Labor Day weekend will likely see gas prices similar to last year. The national average for a gallon of regular was $3.78 on Labor Day 2022. This summer, gas prices spiked in July because of tight supply and the high cost of oil. The month of August has brought some relief and, barring a major storm in the Gulf of Mexico, prices should remain steady – or even go down – heading into Labor Day weekend.
INRIX, a global provider of transportation data and insights, expects Thursday, August 31, between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. to be the busiest time on the roads during the long Labor Day weekend. Friday, September 1, is also expected to have higher than normal traffic volumes between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m.
“The best times to travel by car over Labor Day weekend are early in the morning or in the evening,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. “If you must travel during heavy traffic, navigation apps and local departments of transportation can help steer drivers around long delays.”
Best and Worst Times to Travel by Car
Date Worst Travel Time Best Travel Time
Wed., Aug. 30 noon–8 p.m. Before 7 a.m.
Thurs., Aug. 31 noon–8 p.m. Before 7 a.m.
Fri., Sept. 1 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Before 11 a.m.
Sat., Sept. 2 10 a.m.–4 p.m. After 6 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 3 Minimal Traffic Impact Expected
Mon., Sept. 4 10 a.m.–6 p.m. After 7 p.m.
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