Overview
- The holiday travel surge is under way with the TSA projecting more than 17 million checkpoint travelers for the period and Friday expected to be one of the single busiest days of the weekend.
- Traffic is most concentrated in a few afternoon windows that will amplify delays, with INRIX and AAA flagging Thursday afternoons and Friday from about noon to 8 p.m. as the worst times to drive.
- Fuel is substantially pricier than last year, with national regular gas averaging roughly $4.12–$4.14 per gallon and diesel at record highs, while AAA data show average domestic roundtrip airfares up about 2% and domestic hotel bookings up about 9%.
- State and local agencies have stepped up operational steps and enforcement, including suspended lane closures, a 78‑hour CHP enforcement period in California and increased patrols in Ohio to target impaired and speeding drivers.
- Officials and mechanics urge planning and vehicle checks to cut breakdowns and risks, a warning underscored by AAA’s more than 400,000 roadside assistance calls during last year’s Labor Day period and by advice to check tires, fluids and brakes before long trips.