When Tampa Bay drivers should hit the road for Labor Day

Driving the news: It'll take you nearly three hours to drive Orlando if you leave Friday at 3:45pm, according to INRIX, a transportation data firm that works with AAA to calculate travel times.

• If you must leave Friday, go before noon if possible. Traffic on Monday will be the worst between 2-5pm.
• Sunday is expected to be the easiest day to drive, per INRIX.

The big picture: Road trippers also face higher gas prices this Labor Day than last year, when the national average was $3.19 a gallon, according to AAA.

• Gas prices in Tampa Bay now hover at nearly $4 a gallon.

The bottom line: When in doubt, hit the road early.