A popular Labor Day destination in the United States becomes even more attractive as a vacation spot at the end of the summer season.
Seattle is the country’s most popular destination over Labor Day weekend, according to AAA booking data, with the city’s popularity among domestic travelers increasing 30% this year after already topping the list in 2023.
According to AAA booking data, overall domestic travel increased 9 percent, while the cost of travel within the U.S. decreased 2 percent.
Americans who travel by car can expect savings on gasoline costs. The typical price of gasoline is currently about $3.50 per gallon, compared to the national average of $3.81 over Labor Day weekend a year ago. Overall demand for gasoline has declined, in part because the pandemic has enabled remote work, which in turn has changed driving behavior.
Fewer Americans are planning to travel abroad over Labor Day weekend this year than in 2023, according to AAA data. While domestic travel costs have declined slightly, international travel costs have increased 11%, according to AAA.
When it comes to international destinations, European countries are the most popular vacation destinations for American travelers. Eight of the top 10 international destinations booked through AAA are European cities.
When is the best time to travel on Labor Day?
Starting Thursday, August 29, in the run-up to Labor Day weekend, airports and roadways will become increasingly congested. According to Inrix, a provider of traffic information and data, roads are expected to be most congested on Thursday and Friday afternoons and early evenings.
If you’re traveling on a Thursday or Friday, experts recommend leaving in the morning to avoid traffic jams. If you’re traveling on a Saturday, it’s best to wait until the afternoon to leave.
“Drivers should expect the worst congestion before the holiday weekend as commuters mingle with travelers,” said Bob Pishue, traffic analyst at Inrix, in a statement. “Monitoring traffic apps, local news stations and 511 travel information services can help drivers avoid congestion and reduce driver frustration this Labor Day.”
The heaviest traffic is expected on Sunday afternoon and Labor Day (Monday, September 2).
Here are the top 10 domestic and international travel destinations for Labor Day.
Top 10 domestic destinations
- Seattle, Washington (State)
- Orlando, FL
- Alaska
- New York, NY
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Denver, Colorado
- Chicago, Illinois
- Juneau, Alaska
Top 10 international travel destinations
- Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Rome, Italy
- London, England
- Paris, France
- Dublin, Ireland
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Barcelona, Spain
- Athens, Greece
- Mexicali, Mexico
- Edinburgh, Scotland
