The Labor Day weekend is coming up soon and if you’re planning to take a trip for the holiday, experts say to prepare yourself for bigger crowds than last year. According to AAA booking data, more folks are traveling compared to Labor Day weekend 2022. International bookings are up 44% and domestic bookings for flights, hotels, rental cars and cruises are 4% higher.
For those hitting the road, you can expect to see a lot of traffic, but how bad it will be all depends on when you’re driving. Transportation analytics company INRIX notes that Sunday, September 3rd will see minimal traffic congestion and recommends the best times to travel by car over the weekend are early in the morning or in the evening. The key to avoiding traffic is avoiding peak hours on the road, and the best times to drive over Labor Day weekend are:
- Wednesday, August 30th - Before 7a.m.
- Thursday, August 31st - Before 7a.m.
- Friday, September 1st - Before 11a.m.
- Saturday, September 2nd - After 6p.m.
- Monday, September 4th - After 7p.m.
As for the worst times to be on the road, the most traffic is expected on Thursday, August 31st from mid-afternoon to early evening and on Friday, September 1st from late morning to night. “If you must travel during heavy traffic, navigation apps and local departments of transportation can help steer drivers around long delays,” recommends Bob Pishue, transportation analyst for INRIX. Other bad times for driving on the holiday weekend include:
- Wednesday, August 30th - Between noon and 8p.m.
- Thursday, August 31st - Between noon and 8p.m.
- Friday, September 1st - Between 11a.m. and 9p.m.
- Saturday, September 2nd - Between 10a.m. and 4p.m.
- Monday, September 4th - Between 10a.m. and 6p.m.
Source: USA Today