The Best and Worst Times to Travel Over Labor Day Weekend

If the Fourth of July holiday is any indication, this upcoming Labor Day travel period promises to be a busy one.

Knowing when to book flights and steer clear of America's crowded airports and highways is pivotal to avoiding potential holiday weekend pitfalls.

Looking at historical data we can determine the days that will be the busiest.

When it comes to Labor Day Weekend chaos, travelers can anticipate the most headaches on the Friday before Labor Day (September 1). This is the time most people are wrapping up their work week and thus heading out for vacation. 

Other busy days will be the Thursday before (August 31), Labor Day Monday (September 4) and the Sunday after (September 10).

Meanwhile, the Saturday after (September 9) will be the least crowded travel day during the end-of-summer period.

If traveling in advance of Labor Day, make plans to head out the Tuesday before (August 29), the Saturday before (September 2) or the Sunday before (September 3). These dates bode well for seamless travel as most people have either yet to leave or already arrived at their holiday destinations.

Traveling after the holiday? Again, the Saturday after Labor Day (September 9) is overall the least crowded day post-holiday but the Wednesday after (September 6) and Tuesday after (September 5) should also produce less problems.

Travelers would also be wise to book an early morning flight to limit the potential for flight disruptions and provide them with more wiggle room if they happen to encounter any unexpected delays.

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