Labor Day 2025: What to know ahead of traveling this weekend
the article titled “Labor Day 2025: What to know ahead of traveling this weekend” provides an overview of travel expectations and tips for the upcoming Labor Day holiday on September 1, 2025. A record-breaking 17.4 million people are expected to fly within the United States during the weekend,with Friday anticipated to be the busiest travel day. The TSA forecasts travel numbers exceeding last year’s by 400,000 for the holiday period from August 28 to September 3.
Travelers flying will need acceptable forms of identification such as REAL IDs, passports, or enhanced driver’s licenses, as standard state-issued driver’s licenses are no longer valid for TSA checks. For those traveling by car, AAA recommends avoiding afternoon travel due to heavy traffic and offers specific time windows each day to travel efficiently. Night travel after certain hours can definitely help avoid peak congestion.
Gas prices are notably lower this year, with the national average at $3.15 per gallon, the lowest on record as 2020, promising savings for road travelers. Top domestic travel destinations include Seattle, Orlando, and New York City, while international travelers favor Vancouver, Canada, and Rome, Italy.Despite some choosing luxury cruises or European vacations, many prefer road trips to nearby beaches and national parks.
Additionally, prices for airline tickets, hotel stays, and car rentals have decreased compared to last Labor Day, making travel more affordable overall.
Labor Day 2025: What to know ahead of traveling this weekend
Labor Day is on Sept. 1, and millions of people are expected to travel for the final holiday of the summer.
A record-breaking 17.4 million people are expected to fly across the United States this Labor Day weekend, with Friday expected to be the busiest travel day.
Friday fliers will be among the approximately 3 million other travelers expected to jet-set that day. This year’s Transportation Security Administration travel estimate for Thursday, Aug. 28, through Wednesday, Sept. 3, exceeds last year‘s estimate by 400,000.
People traveling for the holiday by plane won’t be able to get far with just a typical state-issued driver’s license because TSA no longer accepts it as a valid form of ID, even for domestic travel. Airports will accept REAL IDs, U.S. passports, enhanced driver’s licenses, foreign-issued passports, and other forms of identification listed on their website.
For those traveling by car this Labor Day weekend, the AAA does not recommend hitting the road in the afternoon any day this week. Here are the best times to travel by car each day this weekend, according to AAA and transportation data provider INRIX:
- Thursday before 1 p.m.
- Friday before 12 p.m.
- Saturday between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m.
- Sunday before 11 a.m.
- Monday before 12 p.m.
For travelers driving at night who want to avoid traffic, plan on hitting the road after 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, after 6 p.m. on Saturday, after 5 p.m. on Sunday, and after 4 p.m. on Monday.
Labor Day car travelers should also expect to save gas money this year, as regular gas prices per gallon are $0.166 less than last year, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reports. The $3.15 per gallon national average is the lowest that gas prices have been over Labor Day since 2020, according to a forecast from GasBuddy, a platform aimed at helping the public save money on fuel.
Seattle, Orlando, and New York City are the top domestic travel cities this Labor Day, while Vancouver, Canada, and Rome, Italy, are the top destinations of international travel, according to AAA.
LABOR DAY GAS PRICES EXPECTED TO BE LOWEST IN YEARS
“The top cities on the domestic and international lists are Seattle and Vancouver, both port cities for Alaska cruises. 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,” said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel.
Prices for airline travel, hotel stays, and car rentals are also down this year, according to AAA. The roadside assistance company says compared to last Labor Day, this year, plane tickets are 6% cheaper, hotel rates are 11% cheaper, and car rentals are 3% cheaper.
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