VIRGINIA BEACH — According to AAA, the good news for domestic travelers squeezing in one final trip before summer ends is that flights, hotels, and car rentals are cheaper this Labor Day weekend compared to last year.
AAA looked at booking data for Thursday, Aug. 28 through Monday, Sept. 1, and compared those numbers with booking data for that same five-day period in 2024. According to AAA booking data, Seattle, Orlando, and New York are the three most popular cities over Labor Day weekend.
“Labor Day caps off summer travel and provides one final holiday weekend before the fall routine begins,” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. “The top cities on the domestic and international lists are Seattle and Vancouver, both port cities for Alaska cruises. While some people are going on dream cruises or European vacations, many travelers are staying closer to home and taking road trips to nearby beaches or national parks.”
According to AAA, domestic round-trip flights are 6% cheaper compared to last year, averaging $720 a ticket. AAA booking data also shows hotel rates are 11% lower and car rental costs are 3% cheaper compared to last Labor Day. AAA car rental partner Hertz says the top destinations based on advanced bookings are Orlando, Denver, Boston, Los Angeles, and Atlanta, with the busiest day to pick up rental cars expected to be Friday, Aug. 29.
Summer gas prices have remained low, matching summer averages in 2021. Last year, the national average for a gallon of regular was $3.33 on Labor Day. Barring a tropical storm or hurricane affecting Gulf Coast refineries, AAA said gas prices should stay below what they were last year. So far in 2025, gas prices have seen few fluctuations thanks to steady crude oil prices.
European cities make up most of AAA’s top international destinations, but the number one spot belongs to Vancouver. Alaska cruises are wrapping up a strong season, as AAA projected at the beginning of the year with the 2025 Cruise Forecast.

INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, said the best times to drive over Labor Day weekend are before lunchtime, and for those hitting the road on Saturday, the earlier, the better. Traffic congestion worsens as the day progresses, with the worst times to drive over the holiday weekend are typically in the afternoon and early evening. Saturday is expected to be extra busy with many drivers heading out of town or taking day trips.
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