AAA: Florida drivers to see lowest Labor Day gas prices for holiday weekend in 3 years

As Floridians plan on taking their cars on the road this upcoming Labor Day weekend , they'll be happy to hear that they will likely find the lowest gas prices for the holiday weekend in three years.

Florida gas prices averaged $3.29 per gallon for regular on Sunday, the lowest daily average in two months, according to the AAA-The Auto Club Group's weekly briefing.

The state average jumped by eight cents early last week only to reverse course, declining nine cents by the weekend.

In Palm Beach County, the average price for a gallon of regular gas was $3.44 on Monday, 16 cents less than a month ago and 44 cents less than a year ago. Statewide, Florida drivers paid $3.68 per gallon on Labor Day last year, $3.52 in 2022 and $3.02 in 2021.

The national average is about 20 cents a gallon less than last year's holiday weekend.

"Low oil prices have kept pump prices in check," said Mark Jenkins, the group's spokesperson.

Depending on where you plan on traveling, by Labor Day people may even find gas under $3 a gallon.

While Palm Beach County has the highest priced gas in the state, as is usually the case, cheaper gas can be found pretty much everywhere else in Florida. The cheapest gas is in the Panhandle, with the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach area paying $3.02, and Pensacola and Panama City paying $3.06. If you're traveling south, the Fort Lauderdale area is paying $3.32 and the Miami area $3.29. If you're heading north, the Treasure Coast is averaging $3.27, while the Daytona Beach area and the Melbourne-Titusville area are paying $3.26.

∎ Daily gas price averages can be found at Gasprices.AAA.com .

Travelers ready for one last summer getaway

This year, Labor Day falls on Sept. 2, marking the end of a record-breaking travel season. Travel during the final long weekend of summer will be busy within the U.S., with domestic travel up by 9% from last year, according to AAA.

Those driving to their destination can expect heavy traffic, especially during peak travel hours. But they can at least enjoy prices about 20 cents less than last year's holiday weekend.

This year, international travel is down 4% from 2023, likely because of rising costs. According to AAA booking numbers, international travel for Labor Day weekend 2024 costs 11% more than last year.

Here's what travelers can expect for Labor Day weekend 2024.

What are the most popular domestic destinations for Labor Day weekend 2024?

This year, many U.S. travelers are heading toward Seattle with bookings for the Emerald City up nearly 30% from last year, according to AAA's booking data. Some will be continuing to Alaska, with Anchorage and Juneau also topping the list of the most popular U.S. end-of-summer destinations.

"This is the time of year to go on an Alaska cruises ,” said Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel, said in a news release. "There are fewer crowds compared to earlier in the summer, and if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of fall colors! It’s no surprise Alaska cruises are sold out this Labor Day weekend."

What are the most popular international destinations for Labor Day weekend 2024?

Just north of the Canadian-U.S. border, Vancouver tops the list for the most popular international destination, according to AAA. Following closely behind are beloved European destinations including Rome, London, Paris, Dublin and Amsterdam.

The roads will be most congested during the afternoons of Thursday, Aug. 29, and Friday, and early evening and morning of Saturday. Returning home from the long weekend, drivers can expect the worst traffic during the afternoon of Sunday, Sept. 1, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday and the morning of Tuesday.

"Drivers should expect the most severe traffic jams before the holiday weekend as commuters mix with travelers,” Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, said in a statement. "Monitoring traffic apps, local news stations, and 511 traveler information services may help drivers navigate around congestion and reduce driver frustration this Labor Day."

What are the best times to drive for Labor Day weekend 2024?

If you're hoping to avoid traffic jams, plan to hit the road at night or in the early morning. The best times to drive for Labor Day weekend are before 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29, before noon or after 7 p.m. on Friday, and after noon on Saturday.

For returning home, depart before noon on Sunday, Sept. 1, before 10 a.m. on Monday, or after 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

Kathleen Wong of USA Today contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: AAA: Florida drivers to see lowest Labor Day gas prices for holiday weekend in 3 years