AAA Domestic Travel Over Labor Day Expected to Exceed 2023 Levels

This year’s record-breaking, blockbuster summer travel season comes to a close during the Labor Day holiday weekend.

Although AAA does not conduct a full travel forecast for the holiday it does have a series of trends and tips for travelers.

Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group said Americans see the extended Labor Day weekend as an opportunity to say farewell to summer with one final trip.

So since many kids are already back in school, regional road trips tend to be the most popular option for families.

INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, says car travelers should avoid the afternoon and early evening hours of Thursday and Friday, as those times will be the most congested.

Drivers should hit the road in the morning unless they’re leaving on Saturday when the best time to travel by car is in the afternoon.

Travelers returning on Sunday and on Labor Day should leave as early as possible to avoid heavy traffic in the afternoon.

Overall, AAA says domestic travel over Labor Day weekend is expected to be up 9% compared to last year, while the cost to travel domestically is down 2%.

Top Labor Day destinations include Orlando, New York, Boston, Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago, and San Francisco.

Travelers taking road trips should expect to pay less for gas compared to last year. The national average over Labor Day weekend in 2023 was $3.81.

In recent weeks, gas prices have remained steady, hovering around $3.50. Despite the popularity of summer road trips, overall gas demand is down as daily driving habits have changed post-pandemic, tempering price spikes.

Hurricanes hitting the Gulf and affecting regional refineries could cause gas prices to go up as the peak of the season approaches in September. For drivers taking road trips in their electric vehicles, AAA now offers information on the cost of Level 2 commercial EV charging and updates that data weekly.

Nationwide, AAA expects to rescue more than 300,000 stranded motorists during the Labor Day holiday weekend. The three most common reasons are flat tires, dead batteries, and lockouts. These could be avoided by having your car inspected before leaving for your destination and bringing an extra set of keys.