Oregon businesses are hopeful the final summer holiday will bring a flurry of visitors to enjoy the city and all that it has to offer.
This year’s record-breaking summer travel season will wrap up with millions of Americans taking a final summer trip over the Labor Day weekend, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).
AAA booking data for flights, hotels, rental cars and cruises shows Labor Day travel is on the rise compared to last year. Domestic travel is up 9% over 2023.
Memorial Day always marks the unofficial start to the summer travel season, and Labor Day marks the unofficial end. The Labor Day weekend is typically a busy travel weekend compared to other weekends in August and September, but the volume is not as high as the other major summer holidays, Memorial Day and Independence Day.
With many schools already back in session or starting soon, families tend to take shorter trips that are closer to home over Labor Day. However, those without kids in school often use Labor Day as the kickoff to the fall travel season to take advantage of cooler temperatures, smaller crowds, and off-peak pricing. Destinations in Europe are especially popular for these travelers.
Theme parks, shows and concerts in Las Vegas, Alaska cruises, and European cities are very popular this Labor Day. Closer to home, the top regional destinations for members of AAA Oregon/Idaho are Central Oregon, the Oregon Coast, Portland, Eugene and Seattle. AAA booking data shows trips to Seattle are up nearly 30% from last year, in part because Seattle is a major port city for cruises to Alaska. Anchorage is also among the top 10 domestic destinations for members of AAA Oregon/Idaho.
“This is a great time of year to take a cruise to Alaska. Crowds are smaller than earlier in the summer, the weather is still decent, although chillier than in July and August, and you may even see some fall colors,” AAA Oregon/Idaho Senior Vice President of Travel Doreen Loofburrow said.
“Most Labor Day travelers will leave on their trips on Thursday or Friday before the holiday, and return home on Labor Day or Tuesday,” AAA Oregon/Idaho Public Affairs Director Marie Dodds said. “Those taking a Labor Day road trip will find lower gas prices than last year – in fact, the Oregon average is about 85 cents a gallon less than a year ago.”
Top Labor day Destinations
Labor Day gas prices
Those taking a road trip for the Labor Day holiday will find cheaper gas prices than last year. The national average is currently $3.41 and the Oregon average is $3.85, as of August 19. Last year on Labor Day, the national average was $3.81 and the Oregon average was $4.74.
Find current gas prices here: https://gasprices.aaa.com/
Find current gas price news here: https://info.oregon.aaa.com/oregon-gas-prices/
Gas prices have been relatively stable this spring and summer, without the dramatic price spikes we saw last summer. Prices should remain fairly steady through the Labor Day holiday or even edge lower, barring a refinery or pipeline outage, a major storm in the Gulf of Mexico, escalating tensions in the Middle East, or another geo-political event that sends oil prices higher.
Best and worst times to drive
INRIX, a global provider of transportation data and insights, expects the afternoons and evenings of Thursday, August 29 and Friday, August 30 to be the busiest time on the roads during the long Labor Day weekend as holiday travelers mix with commuters. In some areas, delays could be 20% to 40% longer than normal drive times.
“The most congestion is expected before the holiday weekend. The best times to travel by car over Labor Day weekend are early in the morning or in the evening,” Dodds said. “Monitor traffic and navigation apps, and check road and weather conditions at TripCheck or your local transportation department. These tools can help steer you around congested areas.”
Here are projected travel times out of Portland from INRIX:
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