The American Automobile Association, AAA, predicts a 9.9 percent increase in travelers this year over last year’s traditional end-of-summer getaways. About 34.4 million people are expected at least 50 miles from home as compared to 31.3 million a year ago.
The weekend officially begins Thursday and lasts until Labor Day.
 Traffic will likely worsen over the Labor Day holiday as 31.4 million people will take to the roads. (Staff Photo by Debbie Glover) |
Most travelers, 91 percent or 31.4 million people, are expected to travel by car, an increase of 10.3 percent last year. National average gas prices are projected to be $2.65-$2.75 per gallon.
As of Friday, the New Orleans metropolitan area average gasoline cost per gallon was $2.52 for regular, up three cents from a year ago. The lowest price in the state was in Lake Charles at $2.48 with Baton Rouge at $2.52, Lafayette at $2.55 tying Shreveport for the highest average unleaded regular gas price per gallon.
An additional 5 percent of travelers, or 1.6 million, will fly to their destinations compared to 1.54 million last year. The remaining 4 percent will use other modes of transportation including bus, rail and watercraft.
The average travelers this Labor Day weekend will travel 635 miles and spend $697. The top three activities will be dining (63 percent), shopping (47 percent) and visiting with friends and relatives (43 percent).
Average airfare costs are projected to be 9 percent higher than last year with a round trip ticket to the top 40 U.S. air routes costing about $179. An average hotel room nationwide will be about $139, up from $132 a year ago and car rental prices will be about 7 percent higher at about $46.
With most area schools already in session, many families will also take this opportunity to regroup from the month-long back-to-school routines. Area schools will close Labor Day and will resume Sept. 7.
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