AAA Predicts Record Number of Travelers This Labor Day Weekend

As we reported earlier in the month, booking data from Expedia pointed to a very busy upcoming Labor Day travel weekend; now, AAA’s forecast is here, and it concurs.

Here’s your AAA end-of-summer holiday forecast for travel from Thursday, August 28 to Monday, September 1: It will be the busiest Labor Day weekend for travelers since 2008. AAA says 29.7 million drivers will hit the road in the U.S., and 2.65 million people will fly. The travel increase is mainly on account of two factors: We’re in a post-recession recovery, and Labor Day takes place in August this year.

According to AAA, August Labor Day weekends tend to be more popular for travelers than September ones. AAA Chief Operating Officer Marshall L. Doney adds, “As the economy makes modest gains, more Americans are joining the labor force this year. With Labor Day symbolizing the American workers’ contributions to the strength and prosperity of our country, it’s only fitting that millions are choosing to celebrate this positive direction with an all-American road trip.”

Gas prices will be cheaper too, adding more incentive for Americans to hit the road. AAA says that gas prices are at their lowest rates for August since 2010. The price of gas is at $3.44. Last year’s Labor Day weekend saw gas prices at $3.59.

There won’t be any big price increases car-rental costs, but plane-ticket prices and hotel rates have risen a bit. According to AAA, weekend daily car rentals are at about the same price point as last year. Airfares have gone up by about two percent. And hotel costs have increased by about six percent.

What are your Labor Day travel plans?

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