Traveling during any holiday weekend is hectic, and this is expected to be true this Labor Day Weekend, too. Many people will be leaving to visit their friends and family over the next few days, which means that the roads and airports across the country will be crowded. And if you are one of the people who plan on traveling during Labor Day Weekend, you should be prepared so that you know what to expect. From how many people are expected to travel this weekend to how you can beat the crowds and more – here’s everything we think you should know about traveling over Labor Day Weekend.
How Many People Are Expected to Travel Over Labor Day Weekend?
Traveling during Labor Day Weekend is going to be hectic, with more people traveling during the holiday weekend than last year. When it comes to the total number of people traveling, it’s predicted that a whopping 53% of Americans plan to travel over the holiday weekend, according to Travel Agent Central. When specifically looking at how many people will be traveling by air, 14 million are expected to be screened at airports from Friday to Wednesday, which is up from last Labor Day Weekend.
How Can I Avoid Crowded Roads and Airports?
There’s no hiding that roads and airports will be very crowded during the upcoming holiday weekend. But there are some things that you can do to avoid these crowds, or at least bypass them as much as possible. If you plan on flying, leave for the airport early and give yourself enough time to get through security. Further, try to only pack a carry-on bag so you don’t have to wait in long baggage check-in lines. If you’ll be driving to your destination, look at traffic online and try to leave when fewer people are on the road.
Which Days Are Expected to be the Busiest Travel Days?
When it comes to traveling during Labor Day Weekend, some days will be busier for travel than others. According to an article from The Associated Press, the busiest days for air travel are expected to be Thursday, with more than 52,000 flights scheduled, and Friday, with more than 49,000 flights scheduled throughout the United States. If you plan on driving to your destination, roads are expected to be the busiest on Thursday and Friday, according to Axios.
3 Labor Day Weekend Travel Tips
- Be Patient: Travel during Labor Day Weekend will be very busy, and you should expect large crowds. This means things will take longer than normal, and you may encounter some issues. But instead of getting upset, try your best to be patient. Everyone is trying to get to their destination, and getting frazzled isn’t going to help.
- Plan Ahead: One of the best things you can do to help your travel plans go as smoothly as possible is to plan ahead of time. For example, if you are flying to your destination, figure out what time you’ll need to arrive at the airport to ensure that you have enough time to get through security. And if you’ll be driving to your destination, check traffic and try to leave at a time that isn’t too busy.
- Have a Backup Plan: Traveling during a holiday weekend can be challenging, and things may not always go as planned. Cancellations and delays may happen, and reaching your destination could take longer than normal. If you find that things aren’t going the way you expected them to, have a backup plan in place so that you know what to do next.
We cannot believe it’s already Labor Day Weekend – this year has flown by! With that said, we highly recommend that you start thinking about your travel plans for the holidays coming up at the end of the year. If you are planning a trip out of the country, check if you have a valid passport and it’s not expired. Passport processing times are taking longer than normal, and you should apply for your passport right away to ensure that you receive your travel documents in time for your holiday travel plans.
