Labor Day Travel 2023: When To Avoid The Roads In Florida

FLORIDA — Labor Day travelers in Florida will pay nearly 25 cents a gallon more than they did last year for gas, according to the latest averages from the AAA travel group. Labor Day is on Monday, Sept. 4, this year.

Labor Day is considered summer’s last hurrah, and AAA booking data suggests interest in travel is strong.

As with other holiday weekends, most of the travel will take place on the road. Summer gas prices spiked in July because of tight supply and the high cost of oil, but have moderated some in August, a trend AAA expects to continue through Labor Day, barring a major storm in the Gulf.

On average, a gallon of regular gas was priced at $3.75 in Florida on Thursday, Aug. 24, compared to $3.52 a year ago. The price is 10 cents higher than it was at this time last week and 23 cents more than a year ago, according to the AAA’s gas price tracker.

“Although the national average did a U-turn this week, the road ahead could lead to higher prices,” said Morgan Dean, AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson. “Ongoing concerns regarding potential storm activity could hinder falling pump prices this fall.”

AAA booking data for flights, hotels, rental cars, and cruises shows Labor Day weekend travel is up over last year: domestic bookings are up 4 percent and international bookings are up 44 percent.

The top 5 domestic destinations are Seattle, Orlando, Anchorage, New York, and Las Vegas, AAA said. Florida destinations are popular not only for their beaches and theme parks, but also for their cruise ports in Central Florida, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, and Miami. AAA data shows domestic cruise bookings over Labor Day weekend are up 19 percent compared to 2022.

Most travelers will leave on Thursday or Friday before Labor Day to take advantage of the long holiday weekend, Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel, said in a news release.

To avoid heavy traffic, travel early in the morning or in the evening, Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst with INRIX, said in a news release. AAA and INRIX work together on the travel group’s holiday travel projections.

Generally, the heaviest traffic will be on Thursday, Aug. 31, between mid-afternoon and early evening. Road trippers may also see more traffic from late morning into the night on Friday, Sept. 1.

Traffic from Tampa to Orlando on Interstate 4 should be busiest on Thursday, Aug. 31, around 8:15 a.m., with travel times about 36 percent higher than normal.

In general, these are the best times to drive for Labor Day weekend are:

• Wednesday, Aug. 30: before 7 a.m.
• Thursday, Aug. 31: before 7 a.m.
• Friday, Sept. 1: before 11 a.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 2: after 6 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 3: minimal traffic disruptions expected

Avoid driving during these times if possible:

• Wednesday, Aug. 30: between noon and 8 p.m.
• Thursday, Aug. 31: between noon and 8 p.m.
• Friday, Sept. 1: between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 2: between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Monday, Sept. 4: between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

“If you must travel during heavy traffic, navigation apps and local departments of transportation can help steer drivers around long delays,” Pishue said.

AAA said an analysis of past motorist assist calls suggests more than 300,000 will have problems such as flat tires, dead batteries and lockouts.

If you are stranded, pull as far onto the shoulder as safely possible, turn on your hazard lights and call for roadside assistance. If you can make it to the next service exit or natural stopping point, that’s preferable.

To avoid breakdowns, have your vehicle thoroughly inspected before leaving. And take along an extra set of keys, AAA advised.

Debbie Haas, AAA’s vice president for travel, said Labor Day weekend will be “a big sendoff to what has been an extremely busy summer travel season.”