With the unofficial end-of-summer holiday on the horizon, travel experts are predicting a busy Labor Day, with low gas prices to boot.

Experts with AAA-The Auto Club Group, state that domestic travel over the weekend is up 9% compared to last year, while the cost to travel domestically is down 2%.

“Americans see the extended Labor Day weekend as an opportunity to say farewell to summer with one final trip,” said Debbie Haas, vice president of Travel for AAA, in a release. “Since many kids are already back in school, regional road trips tend to be the most popular option for families. Because of that, others see this as an opportunity to travel the world, with the expectation of smaller crowds at popular sites.”

Floridians could see the lowest Labor Day gas prices in three years, according to AAA, with Sunshine State gas prices averaging 3.29 per gallon on Aug. 26 — the lowest daily average price in two months.

“Low oil prices have kept pump prices in check,” said Mark Jenkins, AAA spokesperson, in a release. “Floridians planning to hit the road for Labor Day weekend are likely to find the lowest gas prices for the holiday weekend in three years.”

Florida drivers paid $3.68 per gallon on Labor Day 2023 and $3.52 during the 2022 holiday weekend. The state average was $3.02 per gallon on Labor Day weekend 2021.

As for the best times to hit the road, officials with INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, state car travelers should avoid the afternoon and early evening hours of Thursday and Friday, as those times will be the most congested. Officials said drivers should hit the road in the morning unless they’re leaving on Saturday, when the best time to travel by car is in the afternoon. Travelers returning on Sunday and on Labor Day should leave as early as possible to avoid heavy traffic in the afternoon.

“Drivers should expect the most severe traffic jams before the holiday weekend as commuters mix with travelers,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, in a release. “Monitoring traffic apps, local news stations, and 511 traveler information services may help drivers navigate around congestion and reduce driver frustration this Labor Day.”

Tow and Go

As AAA prepares to rescue more than 300,000 drivers nationwide with car trouble this Labor Day weekend, it will also provide a free service in effort to keep impaired drivers off the road. The Auto Club Group is activating its Tow to Go program in Florida and other select states, offering a safe ride for would-be impaired drivers and their vehicles.

“By providing this program, AAA leaves drivers with no excuse for driving under the influence of drugs, alcohol or impairing medications,” states Jenkins. “However, we remind people to treat Tow to Go as a last resort. Instead, make advanced plans for a safe ride home.”

The Auto Club Group has provided the Tow to Go program for more than 25 years, removing nearly 30,000 impaired drivers from U.S. roadways. When someone calls Tow to Go 855-2-TOW-2-GO or 855-286-9246, a tow truck is dispatched to transport the vehicle and its owner to a safe location within a 10-mile radius. This service is free, regardless of whether the caller is a AAA member.

Tow to Go is provided from 6 p.m. Aug. 30 to 6 a.m. Sept. 3.

Safety tips

Around the water

With temps still high across Florida, the American Red Cross South Florida Region has steps you can follow to help stay safe as residents hit the pool and do some backyard grilling.

“Here in South Florida, many of us enjoy spending time outdoors with loved ones as we celebrate this Labor Day weekend,” said Jill Palmer, executive director for the Florida Gulf Coast to Heartland Chapter, in a release. “The Red Cross wants you to avoid any danger no matter what your plans include and offers steps you can follow to have a safe summer.”

When it comes to water safety, officials said drowning can happen quickly and silently. Unless rescued, it could take as little as 20 to 60 seconds for a drowning person to submerge.

Tip from the ARC include:

• Learn to be safe, make good choices, learn to swim and know how to handle emergencies.

• Provide constant, active adult supervision and know how to swim.

• Swim in an area with lifeguards. Designate a “water watcher” to keep a close eye and constant attention on everyone in and around the water until the next water watcher takes over.

• Wear your life jacket.

• Reach or throw, don’t go! In the event of an emergency, reach or throw an object to the person in trouble. Don’t go in! You could become a victim yourself.

• Swimming classes are available for both children and adults. Visit RedCross.org for a map of Learn-to-Swim providers in your community.

• Download the Red Cross Swim app for safety tips, kid-friendly videos and activities, and take the free Water Safety for Parents and Caregivers online course in English or Spanish.

Around the grill

Some tips for grilling outdoors include:

• Always supervise a barbecue grill when in use.

• Don’t add charcoal starter fluid when coals have already been ignited.

• Never grill indoors.

• Make sure everyone, including pets, stays away from the grill.

• Keep the grill out in the open, away from the house, deck, tree branches or anything that could catch fire.

• Don’t leave food out in the hot sun. Keep perishable foods in a cooler with plenty of ice or freezer gel packs.

Individuals can download the free Red Cross First Aid app to know what to do if emergency help is delayed, as well as the free Emergency app for weather alerts, open Red Cross shelter locations and safety steps for different emergencies.