This Is When to Avoid the Roads Over Labor Day Weekend, According to AAA

The last hurrah before the end of the summer is upon us, and while countless travelers are expected to hit the road for the Labor Day holiday weekend, it is possible to avoid getting stuck in a total traffic nightmare.

Peak congestion times for travelers vary by region, but the worst times for traffic are typically in the afternoons and early evenings, according to travel industry organization AAA. Road warriors looking to beat traffic should consider traveling before lunchtime—and really the earlier, the better if you’re leaving on Saturday.

“Labor Day caps off summer travel and provides one final holiday weekend before the fall routine begins,” AAA Travel’s Vice President Stacey Barber said in a statement. “While some people are going on dream cruises or European vacations, many travelers are staying closer to home and taking road trips to nearby beaches or national parks.”

When it comes to leaving on specific days, travelers are advised to leave before 1 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 28; leave before 12 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29; leave between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30; leave before 11 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31; and leave before 12 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 1.

Boston and Seattle will each see the largest surges in traffic with a more than 100 percent increase compared to normal daytime congestion. In Boston, travelers should expect the heaviest traffic on I-93 N on Monday afternoon, while Seattle drivers can expect delays on I-90 W early Monday evening. 

While AAA didn’t publish estimates for how many travelers are expected to be on the road for the Labor Day holiday weekend, both Memorial Day and the Fourth of July saw record number of commuters traveling by car this year.

Travelers choosing to rent a car for their holiday getaway can expect to save about 3 percent compared to the cost during the same time period last year, while those choosing to fly are also in luck since domestic roundtrip tickets are currently coming in at 6 percent less expensive compared to last year.

In terms of where travelers are headed, the most popular destinations are as varied as the country itself. The most sought-after domestic city for Labor Day weekend was Seattle, followed by Orlando, New York, Boston, and Anchorage rounding out the top five. Travelers heading a bit farther from home are targeting Vancouver as their destination, followed by popular European cities like Rome, Dublin, London, and Paris.