This Labor Day weekend will bring with it travel for many Kentuckians, despite relatively high gas prices. And the destination list is beginning to have a more traditional look. Lori Weaver Hawkins is the manager of public and government affairs with Triple-A. She said the COVID pandemic prompted many travelers to opt for more outdoorsy spots.
“Amusement parks fell out of favor. Large cities fell out of favor. Now, this time for 2022, our bookings are showing that people are going back to those cities,” said Weaver Hawkins.
According to the automobile association, the top three domestic destinations in 2022 are Seattle, Orlando, and Las Vegas. For car travelers in Kentucky, Weaver Hawkins noted the most congested periods are likely to be Friday afternoon into the evening.
The vast majority of travelers this Labor Day weekend will make their trip on four wheels. And that means filling up at the gas pump. While prices have fallen in recent weeks, Triple-A reports the Kentucky average at $3.47 is almost a dollar fifty more per gallon than the same holiday period in 2020.
Weaver Hawkins said gas prices jumped up just after Memorial Day and the Fourth of July this year.
“It happened again. We saw an increase in demand over those holidays, bring gas prices up just a little bit following those in the days that came afterward. So, we’ll see, Labor Day, probably a little less of an impact.”
Triple A says the majority of Labor Day weekend travelers have booked major metro areas as their destinations. Even for shorter trips, Weaver Hawkins said give vehicles a good going over to assure proper tire tread and air pressure, good battery life, and proper fluid levels.
