Labor Day Travel Trends

Good news – gas prices, car rental rates, hotel rooms and domestic airfares are less expensive than Labor Day a year ago.  Bad news – international airfares cost more. 

That’s according to the AAA, which offers two such annual surveys – one for Memorial Day Weekend, the official start of summer, and another for Labor Day Weekend, summer’s last hurrah.  Here are the details –

 According to AAA booking data, Seattle, Orlando, and New York are the three most popular domestic destinations over Labor Day weekend. Also popular are Atlanta and Vancouver, Canada, and national parks.

AAA looked at booking data for Thursday, August 28 through Monday, September 1, and compared those numbers with the same five-day period in 2024.  

Lower Cost Domestic Travel 

Domestic roundtrip flights are 6% cheaper compared to last year, averaging $720 a ticket.

AAA booking data also shows hotel rates are 11% lower and car rental costs are 3% cheaper compared to last Labor Day.

AAA car rental partner Hertz says the top destinations based on advanced bookings are Orlando, Denver, Boston, Los Angeles, and Atlanta, with the busiest day to pick up rental cars expected to be Friday, August 29.

• See Also – Car Rental Do’s and Don’ts

Summer gas prices have remained low, matching summer averages in 2021. Last year, the national average for a gallon of regular was $3.33 on Labor Day. Barring a tropical storm or hurricane affecting Gulf Coast refineries, gas prices should stay below what they were last year. So far in 2025, gas prices have seen few fluctuations thanks to steady crude oil prices.

The cost to travel internationally this Labor Day weekend is a mixed bag – while hotels are 2% cheaper, airfare is 8% more expensive. European cities make up most of AAA’s top international destinations, but the number one spot belongs to Vancouver. Alaska cruises are wrapping up a strong season, as AAA projected at the beginning of the year with the 2025 Cruise Forecast. 

 AAA’s Top Labor Day Weekend Destinations 

Best and Worst Times to Travel by Car  

INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, says the best times to drive over Labor Day weekend are before lunchtime, because traffic congestion worsens as the day progresses..

The worst times to drive over the holiday weekend are typically in the afternoon and early evening. Saturday is expected to be extra busy with many drivers heading out of town or taking day trips.

About AAA  – Started in 1902 by automotive enthusiasts who wanted to chart a path for better roads in America and advocate for safe mobility, AAA has transformed into one of North America’s largest membership organizations. Today, it offers roadside assistance, helps travelers plan vacations and adventures, offers exclusive member discounts and benefits, and provides trusted financial and insurance services  to  64+ million members across North America, including 57+ million in the United States.

About INRIX – Founded in 2004, INRIX pioneered intelligent mobility solutions by transforming big data from connected devices and vehicles into mobility insights into how and when people move. The goal is to empower  cities, businesses, and people to make the world smarter, safer, and greener by keeping road users safe, improving traffic signal timing to reduce delay and greenhouse gasses, and optimizing last mile delivery.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is an award-winning journalist with 25+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and author of guidebooks and smartphone apps – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is President Emeritus of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA).

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter also is a member of the North American Travel Journalists Assn. (NATJA) and the North American Snowsports Journalists Assn. (NASJA).

Contact me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com.

Copyright (C) Evelyn Kanter

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