Traveling for Labor Day ? Here are the best & worst times to drive, fly in CA
Planning a Labor Day getaway? You won’t be alone.
Labor Day will be one of the busiest travel weekends of 2025 as many Californians look to squeeze in one last trip before summer fades, according to a recent AAA news release.
“Labor Day caps off summer travel and provides one final holiday weekend before the fall routine begins,” Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in the Aug. 15 news release.
Nearly 64% of Americans plan to celebrate Labor Day — with about 200 million firing up the grill and thousands more packing into college football stadiums, according to WalletHub.
If you’re planning to travel during the Labor Day holiday weekend, here are the best — and worst — times to drive:
Where are top vacation destinations for Labor Day?
According to the AAA travel forecast, the most popular Labor Day vacation destinations are Seattle, New York and Orlando, Florida.
“While some people are going on dream cruises or European vacations, many travelers are staying closer to home and taking road trips to nearby beaches or national parks,” AAA said.
How much does holiday travel cost in 2025?
There’s good news for those traveling in the United States. Travel costs are lower this year, according to AAA.
Domestic round-trip flights cost $720 on average, which is about 6% less than Labor Day 2024, the automobile association said.
Hotel room rates dropped 11% compared to the previous year, AAA said, and car rentals were down about 3%.
What are California gas prices?
According to AAA, gas prices have dropped to their lowest level nationwide in five years.
With the national average for a gallon of regular falling to $3.13, AAA said, many are wondering if the national average could drop under $3 a gallon soon.
“You’d have to go back to 2020 for a lower national average on Aug. 21,” AAA said in an Aug. 21 news release. “That day the price was $2.18.”
On Labor Day 2024, the national average price for a gallon of regular gas was $3.33.
California has the most expensive gasoline market in the country, according to AAA.
As of Tuesday, Aug. 26, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in California was about $4.57.
That is a dollar more than the national average of $3.19.
“Barring a tropical storm or hurricane affecting Gulf Coast refineries, gas prices should stay below what they were last year,” AAA said in an Aug. 15 news release. “So far in 2025, gas prices have seen few fluctuations thanks to steady crude oil prices.”
What are best — and worst — times to drive for Labor Day 2025?
According to AAA data, the busiest Labor Day travel day will be Saturday, Aug. 30, with the worst traffic congestion expected in the afternoon.
“Traffic congestion worsens as the day progresses,” AAA said. “The worst times to drive over the holiday weekend are typically in the afternoon and early evening.”
Here are the best times to travel by car:
- Thursday, Aug. 28 — Before 1 p.m.
- Friday, Aug. 29 — Before noon
- Saturday, Aug. 30 — From 6 to 10 a.m.
- Sunday, Aug. 31 — Before 11 a.m.
- Monday, Sept. 1 — Before noon
Here are the worst times to travel by car:
- Thursday, Aug. 28 — From 1 to 8 p.m.
- Friday, Aug. 29 — From noon to 8 p.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 30 — From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday, Aug. 31 — From noon to 5 p.m.
- Monday, Sept. 1 — From 1 to 4 p.m.
What is the origin of Labor Day?
Labor Day wasn’t always about barbecues and long weekends.
The holiday started in the 1880s in New York City, when union leaders came together to protest unfair working conditions, according to WalletHub.
In 1894, Congress made the first Monday in September a federal holiday.
This story was originally published August 27, 2025 at 12:47 PM with the headline "Traveling for Labor Day ? Here are the best & worst times to drive, fly in CA."
