Hurricane Idalia may have interfered with some Labor Day holiday travel plans, but AAA still expects large numbers of travelers to hit the road, airways, and water this weekend.
The automotive group’s booking statistics show flights, hotels, rental vehicles, and cruises are all up over 2022. Domestic bookings before Idalia were up 4% and international bookings were up 44%.
The top 5 domestic destinations are Seattle, Orlando, Anchorage, New York, and Las Vegas.
If you’re among those heading to the coast in Florida, Georgia, or the Carolinas, be sure to check with your booking agency, hotel, and airline for possible delays or cancellations before you leave.
If you’re traveling by car, you may see a surge in gas prices due to the storm. The national average for a gallon of regular was $3.83 before the Idalia hit.
The busiest travel days are expected this Thursday and Friday.
INRIX, a global provider of transportation data and insights, expects Thursday, August 31, between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. to be the busiest time on the roads during the long Labor Day weekend. Friday, September 1, is also expected to have higher than normal traffic volumes between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m.
“The best times to travel by car over Labor Day weekend are early in the morning or in the evening,” says Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. “If you must travel during heavy traffic, navigation apps and local departments of transportation can help steer drivers around long delays.”
And it’s not just travelers who will be out on the roads. State and local law enforcement will be on high-visibility patrols in an effort to make the roads safer for end-of-summer travelers.
