Avoid these Labor Day travel times
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Stay off the roads Thursday afternoon and much of Friday to avoid the worst Labor Day weekend traffic, according to forecasts from AAA and INRIX.
Why it matters: Peak holiday congestion could add serious time to your trip.
Zoom in: Kansas Citians heading east or south should expect slowdowns, especially during Thursday and Friday afternoons.
- Multiple projects on I-70 between Kansas City and St. Louis are reducing lanes and posting slower speeds.
- There's also construction on I-49 around Grandview.
- Missouri and Kansas have traveler information maps marking road projects.
Sunday is expected to be the easiest day to drive, according to INRIX.
- Monday will pick back up 2 to 5pm as travelers head home.
State of play: Road trippers face higher gas prices this Labor Day than last year, when the national average was $3.19 a gallon, per AAA.
- The national average has risen nearly a dollar to $4.12 as of yesterday.
- Missouri and Kansas are averaging around $3.80, but some rural counties are pushing $4.
💭 Travis' thought bubble: In my attempt to beat the traffic out of KC Friday, I'm on track to wind up in St. Louis during rush hour.
- I just can't win.
The bottom line: When in doubt, hit the road early.