AAA: Expect more Labor Day weekend travel, traffic congestion

Labor Day weekend is expected to be busy for travelers seeking to take one more summer trip, according to AAA, which pointed out Monday that smaller crowds and cooler temperatures make this a popular time to go on a trip.

"Americans see the extended Labor Day weekend as an opportunity to say farewell to summer with one final trip," Debbie Haas, vice president of travel for AAA, said. "Since many kids are already back in school, regional road trips tend to be the most popular option for families."

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The auto club does not conduct a full travel forecast for the holiday but offered some predictions based on its own bookings. Nationally, domestic travel over Labor Day weekend is up 9% compared with last year, while the cost to travel domestically is down 2%.

And Alaska cruises were sold out for the weekend.

Seattle was the No. 1 Labor Day weekend destination, up nearly 30% from last year when it also topped the list. The other top 10 destinations were Chicago, Orlando, New York, Boston, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Denver and Anchorage and Juneau, no surprise, both in Alaska.

"If you’re interested in going on an Alaska cruise next summer, the time to book is now," Haas said.

The early booking, she added, will lock in the best rates and type of cabin and scenic views you want.

International travel over Labor Day weekend was down 4% compared with last year, AAA booking numbers showed. One contributing factor: inflation, which has driven up international travel costs by 11%. Another one: timing, with many people having taken international summer vacations.

And those traveling by car should avoid the afternoon and early evening hours of Thursday and Friday, according to INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights. Instead, they should hit the road in the morning unless they’re leaving on Saturday.

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

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Labor Day weekend travel nationwide is expected to be up this year