Labor Day weekend travel expected to be up
Story Created:
Sep 2, 2010 at 3:11 PM EST
Story Updated:
Sep 2, 2010 at 7:30 PM EST
UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - If you're planning on traveling this holiday weekend, you're not alone. Travel projections are up 10% from this same weekend, last year.
34.4 million travelers are packing their bags, and 90% of those planning a getaway are going to be traveling by car. So, drivers can expect some company on the road.
If you're looking to escape a traffic jam, consider traveling during off peak hours, like early Saturday morning and late Monday evening. The surge in car travel is due, in part, to stable Summer gas gas prices, and rising air fare.
According to AAA's Ed Welsh, Thursday gas prices in the Utica-Rome area were, on average, $2.80 a gallon. That's two cents lower than the state average, but still four cents a gallon more than last year at the same time when Labor Day travel was dismal.
If you haven't planned a getaway and still want to take a trip, its not too late.
"You know, the great undiscovered country is the one in your own backyard," Welsh said. "And New York State is blessed with over 100 State Parks. State Parks in the beginning of the season showed an increase in usage and I think that has tapered off through the summer."
The average family of four will spend $675 over the holiday weekend, spending more than Labor Day weekend 2009.
The National Hurricane Center has issued hurricane warnings for the Outer Banks of North Carolina and the Coast of Massachusetts. In between those two points, a tropical storm warning is also in effect.
The weather is already causing some travelers to change their plans.
Hurricane Earl is not expected to affect Central New York, which may make the area an even more attractive destination this holiday weekend.
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