AAA Says These Are the Worst Dates to Travel for July 4 Holiday
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Record 72.2 Million Americans Expected to Travel Domestically July 4th Week
AAA projects 72.2 million people will travel at least 50 miles or more from home over the Independence Day holiday period from Saturday, June 28 to Sunday, July 6. This year’s domestic travel forecast is an increase of 1.7 million travelers compared to last year and 7 million more than in 2019. AAA recommends getting routine vehicle maintenance ahead of your trip and packing an emergency kit. The number of people traveling by air is also projected to set a new record, with 5.84 million travelers expected to fly to their destinations. A roundtrip domestic flight is averaging $810, 4% more expensive than last year. The price of crude oil has kept gas prices on the lower side, but the Israel Iran conflict has driven up the price of oil in recent days. The Atlantic hurricane season is underway, and NOAA predicts a 60% chance of an above-normal season. Florida, Hawaii and New York are in high demand for their resorts and attractions, and Vancouver tops the most popular fireworks in the nation.
“Summertime is one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, and July 4th is one of the most popular times to get away,” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. “Following Memorial Day’s record forecast, AAA is seeing strong demand for road trips and air travel over Independence Day week. With the holiday falling on a Friday, travelers have the option of making it a long weekend or taking the entire week to make memories with family and friends.”
Independence Day Travelers by Mode of Transportation
By Car: AAA projects 61.6 million people will travel by car, a 2.2% increase over last year, and the highest volume on record. This Independence Day holiday period is expected to see an additional 1.3 million road travelers compared to 2024. AAA recommends getting routine vehicle maintenance ahead of your trip and packing an emergency kit. Last July 4th week, AAA responded to nearly 700,000 emergency roadside assistance calls for issues like dead batteries and flat tires, plus people locking themselves out of their car or running out of gas.
Drivers are seeing some increases at the pump, but summer gas prices are still the lowest they’ve been since 2021. This year, the price of crude oil has kept gas prices on the lower side. The Israel Iran conflict has driven up the price of oil in recent days but not dramatically. Escalation and duration of the conflict are two factors to watch. Weather is also a wild card. The Atlantic hurricane season is underway, and NOAA predicts a 60% chance of an above-normal season. Storms along the Gulf Coast can affect oil refineries and disrupt fuel deliveries, leading to a temporary increase in gas prices.
For travelers who are renting cars, AAA car rental partner Hertz says Thursday, July 3rd is expected to be the busiest day to pick up vehicles. Some of the top destinations based on advanced bookings are also on AAA’s list of most popular places to visit over July 4th: Orlando, Denver, Boston, Oahu, and Seattle. Hertz says most drivers are looking to rent SUVs and midsize sedans.
AAA Trip Canvas Inspiration: Pack up the car and take a road trip to one of the 10 Best National Parks to Visit in the Summer.
By Air: The number of people traveling by air is also projected to set a new record. AAA expects 5.84 million travelers will fly to their destinations; that’s 8% of all Independence Day travelers. This year’s projection is a 1.4% increase over the previous record set last Independence Day week of 5.76 million air travelers.
According to AAA data, which is based on what travelers paid when they booked their July 4th trips, a roundtrip domestic flight is averaging $810, 4% more expensive than last year. When booking last-minute flights for summer trips, consider flying on weekdays like Tuesdays or Wednesdays for the best deals.
AAA Trip Canvas Inspiration: Still debating where to take the kids this summer? Check out 17 Best Vacation Spots for Families.
By Other Modes: Travel by other modes is expected to grow by 7.4% over last year. AAA projects 4.78 million people will travel by bus, train, or cruise. This year’s number is just shy of the 2019 record of 4.79 million. Cruising is driving the popularity of this category, particularly this time of year, when Alaska cruise season is in full swing.
AAA Trip Canvas Inspiration: Missed the boat this summer? Start planning now for your Alaska cruise next year! Here are The 9 Best Alaska Cruises for Every Traveler.
AAA’s Top Independence Day Destinations
The top holiday destinations listed below are based on AAA booking data for the Independence Day travel period. Cruises, beaches, and fireworks are the main motivators for travelers heading to these cities. Alaska cruises are in peak season, Florida and Hawaii are in high demand for their resorts and attractions, and New York and Boston host two of the most popular fireworks shows in the nation. Internationally, Vancouver tops the list followed by Europe’s most in-demand cities during the summer.
DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL ORLANDO, FL VANCOUVER, CANADA SEATTLE, WA ROME, ITALY NEW YORK, NY PARIS, FRANCE ANCHORAGE, AK LONDON, ENGLAND FORT LAUDERDALE, FL BARCELONA, SPAIN HONOLULU, HI DUBLIN, IRELAND DENVER, CO AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS MIAMI, FL CALGARY, CANADA BOSTON, MA ATHENS, GREECE ATLANTA, GA LISBON, PORTUGAL
Best/Worst Times to Drive and Peak Congestion by Metro
INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, expects Wednesday, July 2 and Sunday, July 6 to be the busiest days on the road. Afternoon hours will be the most congested. Drivers should hit the road in the morning to avoid the worst traffic, but keep in mind construction, crashes, or severe weather could impact travel times. Watch for stopped vehicles and Slow Down, Move Over for emergency responders.
Please note that the times listed below are for the time zone in which the metro is located. For example, Atlanta routes = ET and Los Angeles routes = PT.
Best and Worst Times to Travel by Car Date Worst Travel Time Best Travel Time Saturday, Jun 28 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM Before 10:00 AM Sunday, Jun 29 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Before 11:00 AM Monday, Jun 30 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM Before 12:00 PM Tuesday, Jul 01 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM Before 2:00 PM Wednesday, Jul 02 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM Before 12:00 PM Thursday, Jul 03 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM Before 12:00 PM Friday, Jul 04 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM Before 12:00 PM Saturday, Jul 05 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Before 11:00 AM Sunday, Jul 06 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM Before 11:00 AM
SOURCE: INRIX
City Trip Type From To Road Day Time Atlanta Departing Atlanta Birmingham I-20 W Sun. 29th 12:15 PM Returning Savannah Atlanta I-16 W Sun. 6th 2:30 PM Boston Departing Boston Hyannis Route 3 S Sat. 28th 10:45 AM Returning Hyannis Boston Route 3 N Sat. 5th 11:45 AM Chicago Departing Chicago Indianapolis I-65 S Wed. 2nd 6:00 PM Returning Milwaukee Chicago I-94 E Sun. 6th 2:30 PM Denver Departing Denver Fort Collins I-25 N Mon. 30th 1:45 PM Returning Fort Collins Denver I-25 S Sat. 5th 6:30 PM Detroit Departing Detroit Toronto I-94 E Thu. 3rd 3:00 PM Returning Grand Rapids Detroit I-96 E Sat. 5th 1:30 PM Houston Departing Houston Galveston I-45 S Sat. 28th 11:15 AM Returning Galveston Houston I-45 N Sun. 6th 11:45 AM Los Angeles Departing Los Angeles San Diego I-5 S Sat. 28th 5:00 PM Returning Las Vegas Los Angeles I-15 S Sun. 6th 5:00 PM Minneapolis Departing Minneapolis Eau Claire I-94 E Sun. 29th 2:00 PM Returning Eau Claire Minneapolis I-94 W Sun. 6th 3:45 PM New York Departing New York Jersey Shore Garden State Pkwy S Tue. 1st 4:30 PM Returning Albany New York I-87 S Sun. 6th 4:15 PM Philadelphia Departing Philadelphia Rehoboth Beach I-95 & Route 13 Sat. 28th 10:45 AM Returning Poconos Philadelphia I-76/I-476 PA Tpke Sun. 6th 1:15 PM Portland Departing Portland Eugene I-5 S Wed. 2nd 5:00 PM Returning Eugene Portland I-5 N Sun. 6th 4:45 PM San Diego Departing San Diego Palm Springs I-15 N Wed. 2nd 5:45 PM Returning Palm Springs San Diego I-15 S Sat. 5th 3:00 PM San Francisco Departing San Francisco Sacramento I-80 E Wed. 2nd 5:30 PM Returning Sacramento San Francisco I-80 W Sun. 6th 4:30 PM Seattle Departing Seattle Ocean Shores I-5 S Wed. 2nd 5:45 PM Returning Ellensburg Seattle I-90 E Sun. 6th 4:30 PM Tampa Departing Tampa Orlando I-4 E Wed. 2nd 2:30 PM Returning Orlando Tampa I-4 W Fri. 4th 3:45 PM Washington, DC Departing Washington, DC Annapolis US-50 E Sat. 28th 1:45 PM Returning Annapolis Washington, DC US-50 W Fri. 4th 11:30 AM
SOURCE: INRIX
Holiday Forecast Methodology
Travel Forecast
In cooperation with AAA, S&P Global Market Intelligence (SPGMI) developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes. The economic variables used to forecast travel for the current holiday are leveraged from SPGMI’s proprietary databases. These data include macroeconomic drivers such as employment, output, household net worth, asset prices including stock indices, interest rates, housing market indicators, and variables related to travel and tourism, including gasoline prices, airline travel, and hotel stays. AAA and SPGMI have quantified holiday travel volumes going back to 2000.
Historical travel volume estimates come from MMGY’s TRAVEL PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM. The PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM is a comprehensive study measuring the travel behavior of U.S. residents. MMGY contacts over 50,000 U.S. households each month to obtain detailed travel data, resulting in the unique ability to estimate visitor volume and spending, identify trends, forecast U.S. travel behavior and position brand, all after the trips have been taken.
The travel forecast is reported in person-trips. In particular, AAA and SPGMI forecast the total U.S. holiday travel volume and expected mode of transportation. The travel forecast presented in this report was prepared the week of May 19, 2025.
Because AAA holiday forecasts focus on domestic leisure travel only, comparisons to TSA passenger screening numbers should not be made. TSA data includes all passengers traveling on both domestic and international routes, whether traveling for work or leisure. Additionally, TSA screens passengers each time they enter secured areas of the airport, therefore each one-way trip is counted as a passenger tally. AAA focuses on person-trips, which include the full round-trip travel itinerary. As a result, direct comparisons of AAA forecast volumes and daily TSA screenings represent different factors.
Independence Day Holiday Travel Period
The Independence Day holiday travel period is defined as the nine-day period from Saturday, June 28 to Sunday, July 6. Historically, this holiday period included only one weekend. The expanded travel window was instituted starting in 2024 with historical results calculated back to 2019 using the new nine-day period.
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, AAA delivers exceptional roadside assistance, helps travelers plan their dream vacations and adventures, offers exclusive member discounts and benefits, and provides trusted financial and insurance services – all to enhance the life journey of our 65+ million members across North America, including nearly 58 million in the United States. To learn more about all AAA offers or become a member, visit AAA.com.
About S&P Global
S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses, and individuals with the right data, expertise, and connected technology so that they can make decisions with conviction. From helping our customers assess new investments to guiding them through ESG and energy transition across supply chains, we unlock new opportunities, solve challenges, and accelerate progress for the world. We are widely sought after by many of the world’s leading organizations to provide credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics, and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity, and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help the world’s leading organizations plan for tomorrow, today. For more information, visit www.spglobal.com.
About MMGY
MMGY Global is the world’s leading integrated marketing firm specializing in the travel, hospitality, and lifestyle industries. With operating brands around the world, the award-winning organization maintains a global communications practice in all marketing channels, serving many of the world’s premier travel and tourism brands. As a company dedicated to the travel industry, MMGY Global strives to create a connected, inclusive, and peaceful world by promoting travel as a cultural bridge of understanding. For more information, visit www.mmgyglobal.com.
About INRIX
Founded in 2004, INRIX pioneered intelligent mobility solutions by transforming big data from connected devices and vehicles into mobility insights. This revolutionary approach enabled INRIX to become one of the leading providers of data and analytics into how people move. By empowering cities, businesses, and people with valuable insights, INRIX is helping to make the world smarter, safer, and greener. With partners and solutions spanning across the entire mobility ecosystem, INRIX is uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology and transportation – whether it’s keeping road users safe, improving traffic signal timing to reduce delay and greenhouse gasses, optimizing last mile delivery, or helping uncover market insights. Learn more at INRIX.com.
Nearly 80 Million Americans Expected to Travel over Thanksgiving
AAA projects 79.9 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period*. For the first time, AAA’s forecast includes the Tuesday before and the Monday after Thanksgiving Day to better capture the flow of holiday travelers. Gas prices are lower this Thanksgiving season compared to 2023. Atlanta, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Oahu, Orlando, and Phoenix are the cities displaying the highest rental demand for the Thanksgiving Holiday. The busiest car pick-up day is expected to be the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and the busiest rental return days will be the Monday and Tuesday after the holiday. The best time to hit the road is Thanksgiving Day itself when interstates and highways are typically clear. Drivers returning home on Sunday should leave early in the morning, and those coming back on Monday should expect a mix of travelers and work commuters on the road. This year we’re expecting to set new records across the board, from driving to flying and cruising,” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel.
“Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday for travel, and this year we’re expecting to set new records across the board, from driving to flying and cruising,” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. “Americans reconnect with family and friends over Thanksgiving, and travel is a big part of that. AAA continues to see travel demand soar post-pandemic with our members looking for new adventures and memorable vacations.”
Thanksgiving Travelers By Mode
By Car: AAA projects a record 71.7 million people will travel by car over Thanksgiving – that’s an additional 1.3 million travelers on the road compared to last year. This year’s number also surpasses pre-pandemic numbers when 70.6 million people drove to their Thanksgiving destinations in 2019.
Gas prices are lower this Thanksgiving season compared to 2023. The national average last Thanksgiving Day was $3.26. Falling oil prices this autumn may help push the national average below $3 a gallon for the first time since 2021, and that could happen before drivers hit the road for Thanksgiving. Regionally, drivers east of the Rockies will find gas between $2.25 to $2.50 a gallon in more than a dozen states.
AAA car rental partner Hertz says Atlanta, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Oahu, Orlando, and Phoenix are the cities displaying the highest rental demand for the Thanksgiving holiday. The busiest car pick-up day is expected to be the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and the busiest rental return days will be the Monday and Tuesday after the holiday.
By Air: Thanksgiving air travel is also expected to set a new record. AAA projects 5.84 million people will fly domestically this holiday. That’s an increase of 2% compared to last year and a nearly 11% increase over 2019. According to AAA booking data, air travelers are paying 3% more for domestic Thanksgiving flights this year, while the number of flight bookings is similar to last year. International flight bookings are up 23% compared to last Thanksgiving, in part because the cost to fly internationally is down 5%.
By Other Modes: Nearly 2.3 million people are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, including buses, cruises, and trains. This category is seeing an increase of almost 9% compared to last year and an 18% jump over 2019, in large part due to the popularity of cruising. The demand for cruises has been red-hot post-pandemic. Domestic and international cruise bookings are up 20% compared to last Thanksgiving.
Best/Worst Times to Drive and Peak Congestion by Metro
INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, says the worst times to travel by car over Thanksgiving are Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. The best time to hit the road is Thanksgiving Day itself when interstates and highways are typically clear. Drivers returning home on Sunday should leave early in the morning, and those coming back on Monday should expect a mix of travelers and work commuters on the road.
“With a record number of travelers expected to be on the road, drivers should follow traffic apps and local news alerts to avoid major delays,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. “This is especially important for drivers in metropolitan areas like Boston, New York, LA, Seattle, and Washington, DC, where traffic is expected to be more than double what it typically is on a normal day.”
Please note that the times listed below are for the time zone in which the metro is located.
For example, Atlanta routes = ET and Los Angeles routes = PT.
Best and Worst Times to Travel by Car Date Worst Travel Time Best Travel Time Mon, Nov 25 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Before 11:00 AM Tue, Nov 26 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM Before 10:00 AM Wed, Nov 27 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Before 10:00 AM Thu, Nov 28 (Thanksgiving Day) Minimal Traffic Impact Expected Fri, Nov 29 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM After 1:00 PM Sat, Nov 30 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM Before 1:00 PM Sun, Dec 1 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM Before 1:00 PM Mon, Dec 2 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Before 8 AM / After 7 PM
Peak Congestion by Metro Metro Route Peak Congestion Period Est. Travel Time Increase Compared to Typical Atlanta Birmingham to Atlanta via I-20 E Sunday 1st 4:45 PM 3 hours 17 minutes 38% Boston Boston to Portsmouth via I-95 N Tuesday 26th 3:45 PM 2 hours 35 minutes 117% Chicago Indianapolis to Chicago via I-65 N Sunday 1st 3:45 PM 4 hours 11 minutes 45% Denver Fort Collins to Denver via I-25 S Friday 29th 1:00 PM 1 hours 16 minutes 44% Detroit Grand Rapids to Detroit via I-96 E Monday 2nd 7:00 AM 3 hours 12 minutes 39% Houston Galveston to Houston via I-45 N Monday 2nd 5:45 PM 1 hours 18 minutes 30% Los Angeles Los Angeles to Bakersfield via I-5 N Wednesday 27th 7:45 PM 3 hours 49 minutes 111% Minneapolis Eau Claire to Minneapolis via I-94 W Sunday 1st 4:30 PM 1 hours 53 minutes 46% New York New York to Hamptons via Long Island Expressway E Tuesday 26th 4:30 PM 3 hours 27 minutes 133% Philadelphia Poconos to Philadelphia via I-76/I-476 PA Turnpike Sunday 1st 12:15 PM 3 hours 26 minutes 62% Portland Portland to Eugene via I-5 S Tuesday 26th 3:45 PM 2 hours 16 minutes 35% San Diego Palm Springs to San Diego via I-15 S Saturday 30th 4:45 PM 2 hours 53 minutes 38% San Francisco San Francisco to Sacramento via I-80 E Tuesday 26th 7:30 PM 3 hours 2 minutes 88% Seattle Seattle to Ellensburg via I-90 W Tuesday 26th 7:00 PM 3 hours 31 minutes 119% Tampa Fort Myers to Tampa via I-75 N Friday 29th 10:30 AM 2 hours 41 minutes 69% Washington, DC Washington, DC to Annapolis via US-50 E Tuesday 26th 4:30 PM 1 hours 31 minutes 120%
SOURCE: INRIX
AAA’s Top Thanksgiving Destinations
The common theme among the top 10 domestic destinations is warm weather! Four Florida cities are on the list because of their beaches, theme parks, and cruise ports. Other top destinations include New York, California, Hawaii, and Las Vegas. Internationally, Europe and the Caribbean dominate the list thanks to their beach resorts, tourist attractions, and river cruises. The top Thanksgiving destinations listed below are based on AAA booking data from Tuesday, November 26 to Monday, December 2.
DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL/CARIBBEAN Orlando, FL Budapest, Hungary Miami, FL Mexicali, Mexico Fort Lauderdale, FL San Juan, Puerto Rico New York, NY Cancun, Mexico Anaheim/Los Angeles, CA Punta Cana, Dominican Republic Tampa, FL Rome, Italy Honolulu, HI Amsterdam, Netherlands San Francisco, CA Paris, France Las Vegas, NV Barcelona, Spain Atlanta, GA Munich, Germany
Holiday Forecast Methodology
Travel Forecast
In cooperation with AAA, S&P Global Market Intelligence (SPGMI) developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes. The economic variables used to forecast travel for the current holiday are leveraged from SPGMI’s proprietary databases. These data include macroeconomic drivers such as employment, output, household net worth, asset prices, including stock indices, interest rates, housing market indicators, and variables related to travel and tourism, including gasoline prices, airline travel, and hotel stays. AAA and SPGMI have quantified holiday travel volumes going back to 2000.
Historical travel volume estimates come from DK SHIFFLET’s TRAVEL PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM. The PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM is a comprehensive study measuring the travel behavior of U.S. residents. DK SHIFFLET contacts over 50,000 U.S. households each month to obtain detailed travel data, resulting in the unique ability to estimate visitor volume and spending, identify trends, and forecast U.S. travel behavior, all after the trips have been taken.
The travel forecast is reported in person-trips. In particular, AAA and SPGMI forecast the total U.S. holiday travel volume and expected mode of transportation. The travel forecast presented in this report was prepared the week of October 7, 2024.
Because AAA forecasts focus on domestic leisure travel only, comparisons to TSA passenger screening numbers should not be made. TSA data includes all passengers traveling on both domestic and international routes. Additionally, TSA screens passengers each time they enter secured areas of the airport, therefore each one-way trip is counted as a passenger tally. AAA focuses on person-trips, which include the full round-trip travel itinerary. As a result, direct comparisons of AAA forecast volumes and daily TSA screenings represent different factors.
*Thanksgiving Holiday Travel Period
For this forecast, the Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as the seven-day period from Tuesday, November 26 to Monday, December 2. This is the first year the Thanksgiving forecast is a longer timeframe to include the Tuesday before the holiday and the Monday after. Historically, AAA only looked at Wednesday through Sunday. To make this year’s Thanksgiving forecast an apples-to-apples comparison to Thanksgiving 2023, we’ve included the actual numbers from the past five years (including pre-pandemic 2019), looking at the same 7-day period around Thanksgiving Day (including the Tuesday before and Monday after).
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, AAA delivers exceptional roadside assistance, helps travelers plan their dream vacations and adventures, offers exclusive member discounts and benefits, and provides trusted financial and insurance services – all to enhance the life journey of our 65+ million members across North America, including nearly 58 million in the United States. To learn more about all AAA offers or become a member, visit AAA.com.
About S&P Global
S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses, and individuals with the right data, expertise, and connected technology so that they can make decisions with conviction. From helping our customers assess new investments to guiding them through ESG and energy transition across supply chains, we unlock new opportunities, solve challenges, and accelerate progress for the world. We are widely sought after by many of the world’s leading organizations to provide credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics, and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity, and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help the world’s leading organizations plan for tomorrow today. For more information, visit www.spglobal.com.
About DKSA
DK SHIFFLET boasts the industry’s most complete database on U.S. resident travel both in the U.S. and worldwide. Data is collected monthly from a U.S. representative sample, adding over 60,000 traveling households annually, and is used daily by leading travel organizations and their strategic planning groups. DK SHIFFLET is an MMGY Global company.
About INRIX
Founded in 2004, INRIX pioneered intelligent mobility solutions by transforming big data from connected devices and vehicles into mobility insights. This revolutionary approach enabled INRIX to become one of the leading providers of data and analytics into how people move. By empowering cities, businesses, and people with valuable insights, INRIX is helping to make the world smarter, safer, and greener. With partners and solutions spanning across the entire mobility ecosystem, INRIX is uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology and transportation – whether it’s keeping road users safe, improving traffic signal timing to reduce delay and greenhouse gasses, optimizing last mile delivery, or helping uncover market insights. Learn more at INRIX.com.
Be prepared for delays during Labor Day weekend travel
Airports, highways, beaches and theme parks are expected to be packed for the long holiday weekend. American Airlines plans to have its largest Labor Day weekend operation ever. AAA says bookings for domestic travel are running 9% higher than last year for the holiday. The Transportation Security Administration anticipates screening more than 17 million people between Thursday and next Wednesday. The worst time to travel by car on Thursday will be between 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.M., and on Friday between 2 p. m. and 6 p. M.E. on Saturday will be a slog for the return trip, according to INRIX, but distracted driving has dropped on the last three days of the summer, it says.. New data from Arity, part of insurance giant Allstate, indicates that speeding over 80 mph is up 83% and “very high speeding” — faster than 100 mph — is up more than 100%. The average price for a kilowatt of power at an L2 commercial charging station is about 34 cents.
What You Need To Know Airports, highways, beaches and theme parks are expected to be packed for Labor Day weekend as Americans mark the unofficial end of summer
American Airlines plans to have its largest Labor Day weekend operation ever and expects a 14% increase in passengers compared to last year
Motorists are getting a break on gasoline compared with last year
Plan on leaving early. Everything will take longer than you expect, including getting through airport security
Airports, highways, beaches and theme parks are expected to be packed for the long holiday weekend as Americans mark the unofficial end of summer the same way they celebrated the season’s unofficial start: by traveling.
The Transportation Security Administration anticipates screening more than 17 million people between Thursday and next Wednesday — a record for the Labor Day period.
AAA says bookings for domestic travel are running 9% higher than last year for the holiday weekend, while international trips are down 4%.
American Airlines plans to have its largest Labor Day weekend operation ever and expects a 14% increase in passengers compared to last year.
If you are traveling to get a last blast of summer, here is a rundown of what you need to know.
Why Labor Day?
“Not everyone travels for Labor Day, not compared to July 4th or Thanksgiving — those are the most popular ones,” says Aixa Diaz, a spokesperson for AAA. “But certainly Labor Day offers people a way to get away for a final weekend of the summer. You’ve got people who are either taking the three-day weekend or perhaps taking off the whole week before Labor Day.”
What are prices like?
Motorists are getting a break on gasoline compared with last year. The nationwide average was recently $3.44 per gallon, compared to $3.86 a year ago, according to AAA.
For electric vehicles, the average price for a kilowatt of power at an L2 commercial charging station is about 34 cents. The average is under 25 cents in Kansas and Missouri but tops 40 cents in several states, including New Hampshire, Tennessee and Kentucky. Hawaii is the costliest, at 56 cents.
Average airfares in July were down 7.1% from June and 2.8% from July 2023, according to the government’s consumer price index. The trend appears to be accelerating as the peak summer-vacation season comes to an end.
“Now we’re falling into that traditional fall season when demand slumps, and you’re also seeing that in airfares,” said Steve Hafner, CEO of the travel metasearch site Kayak. “Airfares are down from the summer about 26% already, and they’re down even from the previous fall, about 4%.”
When is the best time to hit the road?
If you plan to start your drive on the Thursday or Friday before Labor Day, you will be sharing the road with commuters. You might want to leave before morning rush hour or even in the evening to avoid jams.
Transportationdata provider INRIX says the worst time to travel by car on Thursday will be between 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and on Friday between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. That flips on Saturday, when you’ll want to avoid driving between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.
For the return trip, pretty much all day Monday — from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. — will be a slog, according to INRIX.
And watch out for risky drivers. New data from Arity, part of insurance giant Allstate, indicates that speeding over 80 mph is up 83% and “very high speeding” — faster than 100 mph — is up more than 50%.
In a surprising twist, however, Arity says distracted driving has dropped on the last three Labor Days.
When will airports be busiest?
Friday, according to the TSA. The agency expects to screen 2.86 million people that day. While an impressive number, it would not even rank in the top 15 days in TSA’s history. The single-day record of 3.01 million was set on July 7, the Sunday after Independence Day.
TSA says it has enough screeners to keep the time it takes to get through regular lines to 30 minutes or less and to no more than 10 minutes for PreCheck lines.
American Airlines says Thursday and Friday will be its busiest days, with 6,400 flights per day, followed by Labor Day itself, when the carrier has 6,300 scheduled flights.
Officials at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport worked Monday to restore full service after what they called an apparent cyberattack over the weekend. Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines reported no flight disruptions, but airlines warned passengers not to check bags because the bag-sorting system was affected. AAA named Seattle the top Labor Day destination based on bookings.
What should I do if my flight is delayed or canceled?
First, check your itinerary before leaving for the airport. It’s better to be stuck at home than stranded at the airport.
If your flight is canceled, the airline might automatically rebook you. That might not be the best option.
“Get on the phone (to the airline’s help center), get in front of an agent, reach out to the airline via social media if you have to, but find out what the other options are,” says Julian Kheel, the founder and CEO of Points Path, a browser extension that lets users compare fares with deals available using frequent-flyer points. “You can almost always find another option that may work better than the one offered by the airline.”
Kheel said agents at the airport have more leeway to help, but they might be inundated if there are many canceled flights. DIY rebooking on the airline website or app might be faster, he said.
Phone tip: Some experts say if the airline has international help numbers, call one of those to get through more quickly than on the U.S. line.
What about refunds and reimbursement?
Airlines are required to provide refunds — including for extra fees paid — to passengers whose flights are canceled for any reason. However, they are not required to pay cash compensation, and no major U.S. airlines do. Only Alaska, Southwest and JetBlue even promise travel vouchers if the cancellation is their fault.
If you’re stuck overnight, ask the airline about covering the costs of a hotel, meals and ground transportation. All major U.S. airlines except Frontier promise to help with all three for “controllable” disruptions, according to the Transportation Department’s airline-policy dashboard. However, those commitments don’t apply to cancellations caused by weather.
Keep receipts for all out-of-pocket expenses in case you can file a claim later.
A few final tips
Leave early. Everything will take longer than you expect, including getting through airport security. If you plan to park at the airport, make sure there will be spaces available when you arrive — many airports now post that information online.
Watch the weather. Even if skies are clear at home, there could be storms at your flight’s destination or along your road route. Have a backup route.
Be nice. Flight cancellations and bumper-to-bumper traffic are frustrating, but you won’t be the only one who is stuck. Customer-service agents are busy during peak travel periods, so it’s important to be patient and respectful while they try to help you.