AAA Northeast Expects Labor Day Travel to be Highest Since 2008

HYANNIS – Experts in the travel business say, it’s going to be busy on the Cape this weekend.

Lower gasoline prices, higher disposable income and a stronger job market are combining to deliver the highest number of Labor Day travelers nationwide since 2008, according to AAA Northeast.

Over 35 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home this weekend, an increase of over one percent last year.

On the Cape, that results in a high number of tourists visiting for the holiday weekend.

“Thursday is a big getaway day for folks headed to the Cape, so don’t think if you leave Thursday that you’re not going to encounter some significant traffic. You may,” said AAA Northeast Spokeswoman Mary Maguire.

Lower gasoline prices are prompting the majority of travelers to hit the road, with almost 86 percent of those traveling taking their trips by car.

“Labor Day symbolizes American workers’ contributions to the strength and prosperity of our country, and it’s only fitting that millions are choosing to celebrate with an all-American road trip,” said Lloyd Albert, Senior Vice-President of Public and Government Affairs. “Motorists have not seen gas prices this low around Labor Day since 2005, so New England’s perennially popular destinations can look forward to rounding out the summer travel season on a high note.”

AAA also projects an increase of more than 1 percent in air travel, with 2.6 million people taking to the skies.

That’s the highest volume of Labor Day air travel since 2007.

The projected hike in travel numbers comes despite the fact that when Labor Day falls later in the calendar as it does this year, Americans have historically shown less inclination to travel.

Maguire believes the high amount of travelers to the Cape will cause some traffic headaches.

“I think a lot of people will be trying to squeeze that last drop of summer out on Monday on the Cape, so certainly we may see some significant traffic coming back Monday afternoon, Monday evening, and you may want to try to avoid that,” said Maguire.