Labor Day Travel 2023: When To Avoid Virginia, DC Highways

VIRGINIA — Labor Day travelers in Virginia will pay slightly less than they did last year for gas, according to the latest averages from the AAA travel group. Labor Day is on Monday, Sept. 4, this year.

Labor Day is considered summer’s last hurrah, and AAA booking data suggests interest in travel is strong. Maryland highway officials have already issued dates and times when Virginians will face the least amount of gridlock coming and going from the Eastern Shore.

As with other holiday weekends, most of the travel will take place on the road. Summer gas prices spiked in July because of tight supply and the high cost of oil, but have moderated some in August, a trend AAA expects to continue through Labor Day, barring a major storm in the Gulf.

On average, a gallon of regular gas was priced at $3.64 in Virginia on Thursday, compared to $3.67 a year ago. The price is 3 cents lower than it was at this time last week and one year ago, according to the AAA’s gas price tracker.

“Although the national average did a U-turn this week, the road ahead could lead to higher prices,” said Morgan Dean, AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson. “Ongoing concerns regarding potential storm activity could hinder falling pump prices this fall.” Most travelers will leave on Thursday or Friday before Labor Day to take advantage of the long holiday weekend, Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel, said in a news release.

To avoid heavy traffic, travel early in the morning or in the evening, Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst with INRIX, said in a news release. AAA and INRIX work together on the travel group’s holiday travel projections.

Generally, the heaviest traffic will be on Thursday, Aug. 31, between mid-afternoon and early evening. Road trippers may also see more traffic from late morning into the night on Friday, Sept. 1.

Traffic from Washington, D.C., to Baltimore via the Baltimore-Washington Parkway should be busiest on Friday, Sept. 1, around 1:45 p.m., with travel times about 33 percent higher.
In general, these are the best times to drive for Labor Day weekend are:

• Wednesday, Aug. 30: before 7 a.m.
• Thursday, Aug. 31: before 7 a.m.
• Friday, Sept. 1: before 11 a.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 2: after 6 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 3: minimal traffic disruptions expected

Avoid driving during these times if possible:

• Wednesday, Aug. 30: between noon and 8 p.m.
• Thursday, Aug. 31: between noon and 8 p.m.
• Friday, Sept. 1: between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 2: between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Monday, Sept. 4: between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

“If you must travel during heavy traffic, navigation apps and local departments of transportation can help steer drivers around long delays,” Pishue said.

Road trippers should cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in general before 8 a.m. or after 10 p.m. to avoid miles of traffic crawling to and from the Eastern Shore, says the Maryland Transportation Authority.

The best times to travel the Bay Bridge during the Labor Day holiday include:

• Thursday, Aug. 31 – before 2 p.m. and after 8 p.m.
• Friday, Sept. 1 – before 11 a.m. and after 8 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 2 – before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 3 – before 11 a.m. and after 6 p.m.
• Labor Day Monday, Sept. 4 – before 10 a.m. and after 9 p.m.
• Tuesday, Sept. 5 – before 7 a.m. and after 10 a.m.

Drivers should stay on U.S. Highway 50 on both sides of the bridge to keep local roadways open for first responders and residents.

For Bay Bridge traffic information any time, call 1-877-BAYSPAN (1-877-229-7726) or go to Baybridge.com to view real-time traffic cameras. For real-time updates on major incidents follow the agency on Twitter at twitter.com/TheMDTA.

AAA said an analysis of past motorist assist calls suggests more than 300,000 will have problems such as flat tires, dead batteries and lockouts.

If you are stranded, pull as far onto the shoulder as safely possible, turn on your hazard lights and call for roadside assistance. If you can make it to the next service exit or natural stopping point, that’s preferable.

To avoid breakdowns, have your vehicle thoroughly inspected before leaving. And take along an extra set of keys, AAA advised.

Debbie Haas, AAA’s vice president for travel, said Labor Day weekend will be “a big sendoff to what has been an extremely busy summer travel season.”