Labor Day weekend is almost here, and would-be travelers aren't out of luck

So you just decided you want to get out of town this holiday weekend. Want the good news or the bad news? There is plenty of both.

• Good news: The roads might be a little emptier, as fewer folks are expected to travel this year.

• Bad news: Most of the popular reservation-based campgrounds are booked.

• Good news: There are still opportunities for camping if you're willing to be a little flexible. And rustic.

• Bad news: There's a lot of smoke out there. But there's a freckle of good news in that one, as well, because the fires are keeping some would-be travelers away.

Labor Day's arrival later in the month than usual, coupled with the continuing wobbly economy, make it likely that more residents will stay home. AAA Northern California said this week that it expects about 4.7 million Californians to travel 50 miles or more over the holiday weekend — a 13.1 percent decrease compared with 2008.

High unemployment and tight household budgets were cited. But Labor Day's spot on the calendar also was blamed.

"One of the biggest reasons for this decline appears to be poor timing," said AAA spokeswoman Cynthia Harris. "Last year, we experienced the most Labor (Day) travelers this decade largely because many children were not yet back in school, and families took the opportunity to take a final summer vacation.

"This year, Labor Day week falls one week later, and schools are already back in session."

Of Californians who do travel, the vast majority — 3.75 million, AAA estimates — will get there by car.

'Boat-in' camping

Several hundred of those folks are heading to Don Pedro Reservoir, which is capping off a busy summer with a weekend filled nearly to capacity.

"Currently, all three campgrounds are completely full for the weekend," said Dave Jigour, lake operations manager. "We do have first-come, first-served sites at Moccasin Point, but chances are those will fill up early."

People still can come up for the day, Jigour said; though Labor Day is busy, there are fewer people than on Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. And he reminded the more adventurous that Don Pedro allows "boat-in" camping.

That means that, for a fee, you can camp alongside the reservoir, with no facilities and no ground fires. "It's pretty primitive," Jigour said, but that doesn't discourage hardy camping enthusiasts.

Jigour said overall visitation has been up significantly this summer, mainly thanks to lower gas prices and a higher lake. Last year, gas hovered at $4 per gallon and higher, and the reservoir wasn't as full.

If you want to go to one of California's state parks while they're still open, there are several options. The state government is about to issue a list of parks it plans to close to balance the budget, but for now it could hardly be any easier: the state parks Web site has a link to sites that are still available through Labor Day.

On Thursday, those included Calaveras Big Trees, San Luis Reservoir near Santa Nella and Mount Diablo.

An eye on Yosemite

One perennially packed destination finds itself reminding potential visitors that it's open this weekend.

A 7,200-acre fire has cut off some access to Yosemite National Park. Firefighters had the blaze, a controlled burn that spread, 70 percent contained. They were still tussling with the northern part of the fire, approaching Tioga Road near Tamarack Flat.

Park officials Thursday issued a news release to reiterate that visitors can get in on Highways 140 and 41, though Big Oak Flat and Tioga roads will remain closed through the holiday weekend.

Officials said the park's Ahwahnee and Yosemite lodges are booked, but some spots remain in hotels in nearby El Portal. The park's campgrounds are open with the exception of Crane Flat and Tamarack Flat. Most camping reservations are snapped up as soon as they're available, though the park service holds some sites aside for campers on a first-come, first-served basis.

Enter from the east

Parks service fire information officer Rudy Evenson recommended that people coming from the Central Valley either plan to confine their visit to the valley or plan on a six-hour trip along Highway 108 to come in from the east side.

"All of Yosemite Valley is open this weekend," Evenson said. "If you want to hike to Mirror Lake or go up Half Dome, you can. If your time is limited, that's what you want to do. Or, you can add a day to your trip and go up to Lake Tahoe or over Sonora Pass and visit Mono Lake.

"It's a nice opportunity to see some things that people might not normally see."

One thing they are going to see is smoke. Though the fire is in a remote area of the park and the Stanislaus National Forest, the smoke can settle in the valley.

"Today, it's a lot smokier than it was yesterday," Evenson said. Canyon winds generally clear the smoke out in the mornings, but Thursday the winds were quieter. "It would be nice if the smoke cleared out, but on the other hand we need some of these still days to fight this fire."

The Sacramento Bee contributed to this report.

Bee staff writer Patty Guerra can be reached at 578-2343 or pguerra@modbee.com.