Labor Day weekend is right around the corner, and with it one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.
Millions of Americans will hit the road, head to the airport or board a cruise this weekend to celebrate the end of summer. A new report from AAA says milder temperatures and slightly longer days are sending travelers to the great outdoors.
“Travelers are seeking memorable experiences, and these top Labor Day destinations reflect that desire,” Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel, said in the report. “AAA members are embarking on Alaska cruises and river cruises, touring National Parks, and sightseeing in Europe. Many of our members are also looking ahead to 2027 and booking cruises and tours now before they sell out.”
Here's where people
will be traveling this weekend.
Atlanta among top domestic destinations
AAA identified the top domestic and international travel destinations for Labor Day weekend, and Atlanta took the tenth spot in the U.S.
Here's the full list:
- Seattle, Washington
- Orlando, Florida
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Denver, Colorado
- New York City, New York
- Chicago, Illinois
- Anaheim/Los Angeles, California
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Anchorage, Alaska
- Atlanta, Georgia
Alaskan cruises and U.S. National Parks are particularly popular this time of year, according to AAA. Rocky Mountain National Park, Arches, Zion and Grand Canyon will all see more visitors this weekend.
Hertz, a rental car partner of AAA, reported Friday, Sept. 4 will be the busiest rental car pick-up day of the weekend, and Denver, Las Vegas, Orlando, L.A. and Boston are in high demand for car rentals.
Previously, traveling domestically may have been the cheaper option for the weekend. But now, prices between the U.S. and abroad are pretty competitive.
Round trip flights in the U.S. are up 20% for the top cities compared to the same destinations in 2025, according to AAA. An average ticket price is $800 domestically, which is only a few hundred dollars cheaper than the average international ticket price at $1,240. International tickets are actually 4% cheaper than this time last year, AAA says.
When will traffic be the worst in Atlanta?
With higher flight prices, many travelers may be instead choosing to drive to the top destination cities.
The national average price of gas in 2025 over Labor Day weekend was $3.19. Today, that national average is $4.08. It's a bit cheaper in Georgia, with an average price of $3.77 across the state, the AAA gas tracker shows.
The busiest travel times on the road will be between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday, between noon and 8 p.m. on Friday, between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday and between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday. There is not expected to be a huge traffic increase on Sunday.
The city of Atlanta will experience its busiest travel day on Monday, peaking at around 7:30 p.m. as travelers head back home following the long weekend.
Traffic is expected to be 65% higher during that time, with the busiest route becoming congested along I-20 West from Atlanta to Birmingham, Alabama, according to AAA.
Irene Wright is the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Atlanta among top Labor Day destinations. Here's when traffic will hit
