In the first decline in Labor Day holiday travel since 2006, the number of Americans traveling during the Labor Day holiday weekend will decline 0.9 percent, or almost 320,000 Americans, from the 34.7 million who traveled last year. according to AAA Chicago.
Nearly 34.38 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this Labor Day holiday weekend. Approximately 28.64 million Americans (more than 83% of all holiday travelers) expect to travel by automobile, a 1.1 percent decrease from the 28.97 million people who drove to their holiday destinations last year.
Americans traveling by automobile will encounter gasoline prices about 38 cents less than the Fourth of July travel holiday, but still 91 cents more than this time last year.
Almost 3.96 million Americans (11.5 percent of holiday travelers) intend to travel by airplane, a 4.5 percent decrease from the 4.14 million people who flew last year.
A projected 1.8 million Americans (5 percent of holiday travelers) plan to travel by train, bus or other mode of transportation. That represents an increase of 12.5 percent (or 200,000 travelers) more than the 1.6 million who traveled by a mode other than automobile or airplane last year.
AAA's Leisure Travel Index shows an average increase in car rental prices of two percent. However, car rental rates vary from location to location, with some cities in AAA's index showing significant increases, while others show significant decreases compared to a year ago. AAA's index for car rentals is based on the average lowest intermediate size car daily rate in 20 U.S. airport locations. The rates do not include sales tax, insurance or other miscellaneous charges.
