Looking to travel this Labor Day? What to know about traveling this holiday weekend.

Idaho travelers can expect heightened traffic and increased law enforcement patrols this Labor Day weekend.

According to AAA, the best times to leave for Labor Day travel are the mornings of Thursday, Aug. 29 and Friday, Aug. 30. The afternoons on both days will see greater congestion around the evening commute. It is advised that travelers schedule their return for early Monday morning as there could be “major traffic jams” later in the day as individuals and families return home from their vacation plans, a AAA news release said.

“Domestic travel for Labor Day could be up by as much as 9% from a year ago,” AAA Idaho public affairs director Matthew Conde said in the release. “Some families may journey a shorter distance from home due to time constraints, but we believe that the airports and roads will be crowded as people bid a fond farewell to this year’s warm weather.”

Idahoans traveling domestically can expect some price decreases from last Labor Day. The average price for a gallon of regular gas is $3.59, down 53 cents from what it was a year ago, the release said. Domestic airfare also saw a slight decline, down 2% from the previous year, compared to a decline of 8% for international airfare. Domestic car rentals also fell 16% from the prior year. Hotel stays will be a bit costlier, however, up about 7% from where they were a year ago.

According to AAA, the top five domestic travel destinations for Idahoans this weekend are:

Anaheim, CaliforniaLas Vegas, NevadaSalt Lake City, UtahOrlando, FloridaSeattle, Washington

AAA expects to respond to 600 emergency road service calls for Idaho alone. More than a third of these calls involve towing a vehicle, but many involve dead batteries, lockouts or flat tires, all of which can be prevented. Pre-trip vehicle inspection is highly encouraged to prevent any of these avoidable problems from arising, the release said.

STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT STEPPING UP PATROLS

The holiday will mark the conclusion of what is known as the “100 Deadliest Days” for drivers in Idaho — from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The period is known to bring a rise in traffic injuries and deaths.

An Impaired Driving Mobilization, launched by Idaho Law Enforcement and the Office of Highway Safety, will be looking to “stop impaired drivers before they hurt themselves or someone else,” an Idaho Transportation Department news release said.

While the rate of deadly crashes in the state was on pace to surpass the prior year earlier in the summer, “deadly crashes have slowed” following the Fourth of July, the release said.

As of Aug. 23, ITD reported a total of 70 traffic fatalities during the 100 deadliest days, a slight decrease compared to the 79 deaths reported at this time last year. Year-to-date traffic fatalities as of Aug. 23 were reported to be 145, just shy of the 151 reported at this time last year.

“Every crash is a tragedy, and in the case of impaired driving crashes, they are always preventable,” Josephine Middleton, highway safety manager, said. “We partner with police to stop drunk drivers from hurting people, but everyone can have a positive impact by getting a sober ride home instead of driving impaired.”