Philadelphia region's Labor Day travel predictions
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios
The last gasp of the summer travel season is upon us.
Why it matters: So make the most of your Labor Day weekend by planning ahead to avoid peak travel times on the roads and at the airport.
The big picture: Travel costs are up over last year, per AAA.
- ✈️ Domestic flights: Up 2%, averaging $750 for a roundtrip ticket.
- 🏨 Hotel prices: Up 9% in the U.S., 12% abroad.
- ⛽ Gas prices: Highest on record for a Labor Day weekend, averaging roughly $4.27 in the five-county Philly region for a gallon of regular as of Tuesday, per AAA.
Yes, but: You can still find savings, according to AAA.
- 🚢 Cruises: Costs are down 4% compared to last year.
- 🛫 International airfare: Down 4%.
🚗 On the roads: Thursday after work and Friday during the day are the worst times to hit the road as holiday traffic combines with normal commuter volumes, according to INRIX, a transportation data firm that works with AAA to calculate travel times.
- Worst road: I-95 North from Baltimore to Philly starting at 11am. That trip will take you more than 3 hours.
🗓️ Between the lines: Labor Day is deep into September this year.
- Plus: Colleges students are back in the classroom and Philly district schools began last week.
- The result: A car ride down the shore will likely be a popular destination for many.
☀️ The weather: Plan for a mostly rain-free weekend, according to the NWS.
- Friday: Partly cloudy with a chance of rain in the PM.
- Saturday-Monday: Mostly clear and sunny with temps in the upper 70s to lower 80s during the day.
🛂 In the air: Friday at Philly's international airport is predicted as the busiest day for travel, according to the airport's website.
- Overall, roughly 560,000 travelers are expected to pass through the airport between today and Tuesday.