AAA Reports Labor Day Travel Highest in at Least Nine Years

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 25, 2003 -- The early arrival of Labor Day -- most of the holiday weekend falls in August this year -- could help spur Americans to travel in numbers that are the highest levels in at least nine years this upcoming holiday weekend.

AAA estimates 33.4 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday, up about 1.8 percent from last year. The previous high for Labor Day travel was 33.2 million in 1995.

Approximately 28.2 million travelers (84 percent of all holiday travelers) expect to go by motor vehicle, a 2.2 percent increase from the 27.6 million who drove a year ago. Another 3.7 million (11 percent of holiday travelers) plan to travel by airplane, down 2.6 percent from last Labor Day holiday. A projected 1.5 million vacationers (five percent) will go by train, bus, or other mode of transportation, up from 1.4 million a year ago.

"The early Labor Day weekend will cut summer short for many families, placing a bit more emphasis on this last shot at a summer vacation," said Dawn Duffy, AAA spokesperson. "The potentially record high holiday travel reflects continued strong vacation travel among Americans as the summer has progressed."

The greatest number of Labor Day auto travelers will originate in the West with 6.9 million, followed by the Southeast, 6.7 million; Midwest, 5.3 million; Northeast, 4.8 million; and Great Lakes, 4.5 million.

The West is expected to produce the largest number of air travelers with 1.4 million, followed by the Southeast with 1.1 million; Northeast, 500,000; Great Lakes, 400,000; and Midwest, 300,000.

Cities top the list of preferred destinations this holiday with 28 percent of travel volume. Towns and rural areas are the destination for 21 percent, followed by oceans and beaches, 18 percent; lakes, 11 percent; mountains, eight percent; state/national parks four percent; and theme/amusement parks, two percent. Another five percent responded with other, and three percent said they didn't know.

Of the total Labor Day travelers, 46 percent expect to stay at a hotel/motel and another 27 percent will stay with friends or relatives. Other overnight plans include: camper/trailer/RV/tent, 14 percent; cabin/condo, 8 percent; other 2 percent; and no overnight stay or didn't know, 3 percent.

Research for Labor Day travel is based on a national telephone survey of 1,300 adults by the Travel Industry Association of America, which conducts special research for AAA.

AAA offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services to more than 45 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA Minnesota/Iowa is part of The Auto Club Group, which has 4.1 million members in eight Midwest states. AAA Minneapolis serves more than 170,000 members in Hennepin County.