What can Ohio Labor Day travelers expect this weekend?

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — Labor Day, traditionally viewed as the last weekend of summer, is almost upon us, and millions of Americans – including a fair share from the Miami Valley – are set to head out of town. What can you expect?

If you’re heading out, you may encounter busier-than-normal roads: AAA is projecting a 9 percent bump in travelers compared to last year. However, the hit to your wallet will be less.

Drivers are expected to pay less at the pump over the holiday. The average price of a gallon of gas in Ohio is $3.31, down two cents from a week ago and about 17 cents less than last Labor Day.

According to AAA, approximately 90 percent of holiday weekend travelers – including those heading out for Labor Day — drive to their destinations, with excursions to lakes, campgrounds and weekend getaways.

Filling up your tank is just part of the battle. You also need to make sure your vehicle is ready for the road.

Experts with AAA said it’s important that drivers remember that vehicles can break down just as easily over Labor Day as they can any other time of year.

“We recommend traveling with an emergency road kit,” said Lori Comer with AAA. “Definitely an important feature to have a set of jumper cables or safe kit and flashlight in the car to make sure you’re ready for the unexpected.”

During Labor Day weekend last year, AAA responded to more than 9,000 emergency roadside calls in Ohio alone.

Traveling by plane? Here’s what to expect

If you decide to spare you own car and instead fly the friendly skies, you can anticipate airfare that is about 2 percent lower than last year. Rental cars, a borderline necessity to get around once you’re at your destination, are down 16 percent.

Domestic hotels, however, are running more expensive this Labor Day weekend than a year ago.

When are the best and worst times to travel this weekend?

Experts say that no matter how you are traveling, the earlier you leave, the better.

“The longer you wait during the rest of the day, more people are just going to be filtering on the roads,” said Andrew Gross with AAA. “So if you can get a good jump start on the holiday, you’ll be out ahead of the crowd.”

If you’re looking for the best time to head out, you’ll find less traffic in the morning, unless you’re leaving on Saturday, in which case the best time to travel by car is in the afternoon.

As for the worst times to travel, experts say car travelers should avoid the afternoon and early evening hours Thursday and Friday, as they will be the most congested.

Coming back, leave as early as possible Sunday or Monday to avoid heavy traffic in the afternoon.

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