The unofficial end of summer, i.e. Labor Day holiday weekend, is about here and it means Oklahomans will join millions of others across the country in traveling on the highways or in the air to celebrate. One good thing—gasoline prices are cheaper and down this week to $2.92 a gallon.
AAA reports that domestic travel over this coming weekend is up 9% compared to last year and the cost to travel domestically is down 2%. Those lower costs this year are led by domestic airfare, which is 2% lower than last year, and rental cars, down 16% in price. Domestic hotels, however, are running 7% more expensive this Labor Day weekend compared to last year, according to AAA Travel bookings.
In addition to domestic airfares being cheaper this Labor Day, international flights are also 8% less expensive than last year, fueling a continuation of a record-breaking air travel summer.
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said it is prepared to screen more than 17 million people during what is expected to be the busiest Labor Day travel period on record, which will run Thursday, August 29 through Wednesday, September 4. The peak air travel day is projected to be Friday, August 30, when TSA expects to screen 2.86 million people.
The top ten busiest travel days in the agency’s history have all occurred this year since May 2024. The agency reached a new milestone on July 7, when Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) screened more than 3 million people in a single day.
“Travel volumes have been robust domestically and internationally all summer,” said Rylie Fletcher, spokesperson for AAA in Oklahoma.
“Because most children have returned to school in the Sooner State, not everyone travels for Labor Day. However, there are certainly plenty of people trying to squeeze in one last three-day weekend to end summer. Others may take off the week after Labor Day to kick off “shoulder season” travel, which can mean lower travel costs and fewer crowds at many destinations in the United States and abroad.”
Of those who travel on holiday weekends, typically 85%-90% drive to their destinations. Drivers will save money at the pumps along the way, with Oklahoma’s gas price average at $2.92, 59 cents per gallon less than one year ago.
Labor Day Gas Price Trends
| National | Oklahoma | |
| 8/28/2024 | $3.36 | $2.92 |
| 8/28/2023 | $3.81 | $3.51 |
Current state and national gas prices available at https://gasprices.aaa.com/