Labor Day holiday to bring high travel numbers across the U.S.

August 29, 2023

Han Cechini,

DELMARVA – Labor Day Weekend will bring high travel numbers, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic. Spokesperson Ragina Ali says it won’t just be busy on the roadways; but also in the air, and over seas.

“If the other summer holidays are any indication, we expect that not only will our roadways be busy; but so will the airports, so will the cruise terminals,” said Ali. “At AAA, we are seeing increases in our cruise bookings, destination bookings, and international travel bookings.”

Gas prices don’t seem to be deterring travel. Monday’s national average was $3.81, and Maryland’s average sits at $3.73 per gallon. Ali says those averages are both about 6 cents higher than this time last year.

“Last year, we saw record high gas prices for the holiday,” Ali said. “We had pretty decent gas prices for a while, and then we saw increases in July. They’re still a bit high, but not as high as they were this time last year.”

And, Ali says the approach of Hurricane Idalia to southern parts of the United States, also does not seem to be putting a damper on travel plans for some; Florida is a primary destination for this holiday, she says.

Travelers heading to that part of the country should be keeping a close eye on the potentially devastating storm.

“If you’re traveling by air, that can certainly impact flights, not only to Florida and southern parts of the United States, but even to other destinations. Flights, overall, could certainly be impacted,” said Ali. “Just be very mindful if you’re planning to travel to make sure that you’re paying attention to the advisories and the warnings from officials in the states to which you plan to travel.”