Travelers preparing for the upcoming Labor Day weekend face the prospect of record-high gas prices, with GasBuddy forecasting the national average to hit $4.03 per gallon. This would surpass last year's Labor Day average of $3.19 per gallon.
The holiday weekend is anticipated to be busy for air travel, with the Transportation Security Administration expecting to screen over 17 million people nationwide between Thursday, Sept. 3, and Wednesday, Sept. 9. Major U.S. travel destinations for the weekend include Seattle, Orlando, Florida, Boston, Denver, and New York City, according to AAA booking data.
United Airlines expects to carry approximately 3.4 million passengers, an increase of about 300,000 from the previous year. The airline anticipates its busiest travel days will be Friday, Sept. 4, and Monday, Sept. 7. American Airlines projects more than 3.5 million travelers between Thursday, Sept. 3, and Tuesday, Sept. 8. Nearly half a million of those passengers are expected to travel through Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, American's largest hub. For American Airlines, Monday, Sept. 7, is projected to be the busiest travel day, followed by Friday, Sept. 4.
Road travel is also expected to see significant activity. Analytics company INRIX predicts the biggest rush on highways will occur after work on Thursday, Sept. 3, and throughout Friday, Sept. 4. Drivers departing on Thursday should prepare for the worst traffic between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. On Friday, heavy congestion is expected from noon to 8 p.m. Those planning to drive home on Labor Day itself may encounter the most significant delays between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.