Traveling Labor Day weekend? What to know about cheap flights from GSP, best times to drive.
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If you are sitting at home thinking you’ve missed out on your chance to travel somewhere fun for Labor Day weekend, now is your second chance to make plans.
The only catch is that you will want to make them quick ― Labor Day weekend travel is predicted to be busy, with airports and roads filling up with many eager travelers.
According to Conde Nast Traveler, several hot spots can be visited on a budget, with some round-trip deals as low as $52, depending on where you travel.
This year, Labor Day is on Monday, Sept. 2. If you want to make the most out of the three-day weekend, here’s what to know about flight deals, destinations from Greenville-Spartanburg Airport and the best and worst times to travel on the road.
GSP Labor Day flights
∎ Atlanta: $474, United Airlines,
∎ Boston: $235, United Airlines
∎ Charlotte: $533, United Airlines
∎ Dallas: $401, United Airlines
∎ Denver: $461, United Airlines
∎ Detroit: $461, United Airlines
∎ Fort Lauderdale: $486, United Airlines
∎ Los Angeles: $486, United Airlines
∎ Manchester: $128, Avelo Airlines
∎ Miami: $486, United Airlines
∎ Nashville: $456, United Airlines
∎ New Haven: $112, Avelo Airlines
∎ Newark: $299, United Airlines
∎ New York: $299, United Airlines
∎ Orlando: $102, Breeze Airlines
∎ Philadelphia: $461, United Airlines
∎ Providence: $117, Breeze Airlines
∎ Rochester: $304, United Airlines
∎ Tampa Bay: $133, Allegiant Airlines
∎ St. Petersburg: $133, Allegiant Airlines
∎ Washington, D.C.: $433, United Airlines
Best times to drive during Labor Day weekend, according to USA TODAY
If you have Labor Day plans and want to avoid getting trapped in traffic, it is recommended to drive in the early morning or night, per a USA TODAY story. On Labor Day weekend, it is best to drive before noon or after 7 p.m. on Friday and after noon on Saturday. On the way home from your trip, try departing before noon on Sunday, Sept. 1, before 1 a.m. on Monday, or after 1 p.m. on Tuesday.
Worst times to drive during Labor Day weekend, according to USA TODAY
Now that you know what times are best for driving during the holiday weekend, you may wonder when the worst times are. According to a statement from Bob Pishue, analyst at INRIX: “Drivers should expect the most severe traffic jams before the holiday weekend as commuters mix with travelers. Monitoring traffic apps, local news stations, and 511 traveler information services may help drivers navigate around congestion and reduce driver frustration this Labor Day.”
The roads are anticipated to be congested during the afternoon of Friday, early evening and morning of Saturday. On the ride home, the worst traffic is projected for the afternoon of Sunday, Sept. 1, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday, and the morning of Tuesday.
What are the busiest airports on Labor Day weekend?
According to travel search site Kayak, the holiday weekend’s top five busiest airports are Los Angeles (LAX), Boston (BOS), San Francisco (SFO), Newark (EWR), and New York-JFK.
Nina Tran covers trending topics for The Greenville News. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com.
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