Traveling for Labor Day? Here’s the best & worst times to drive in North Carolina
Getting ready for a Labor Day trip? You and millions of others will be as well.
Labor Day will be one of the busiest travel weekends of 2025 as many North Carolina residents will get in a final summer trip before the seasons change, according to AAA.
“Labor Day caps off summer travel and provides one final holiday weekend before the fall routine begins,” Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in an Aug. 15 news release.
But when should you hit the road to beat all that traffic to your destination?
If you’re planning to travel during the Labor Day holiday weekend, here are the best — and worst — times to drive:
What are the best — and worst — times to drive for Labor Day 2025?
According to AAA data, Saturday, Aug. 30, will be the busiest Labor Day travel day, with the worst traffic congestion expected in the afternoon.
“If your travel plans allow you to leave earlier in the day, that’s when you’re going to have probably the least amount of congestion, but it’s going to be crowded out there,” Tiffany Wright, a spokeswoman with AAA Carolinas, told WRAL. “Let’s face it, especially in your big metro areas, especially around tourist attractions, around airports.”
Here are the best times to travel by car, according to AAA:
Before noon Saturday, Aug. 30 — From 6 to 10 a.m.
Sunday, Aug. 31 — Before 11 a.m.
Monday, Sept. 1 — Before noon
Here are the worst times to travel by car, AAA said:
Saturday, Aug. 30 — From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 31 — From noon to 5 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 1 — From 1 to 4 p.m.
What are gas prices in North Carolina?
According to AAA, drivers can expect gas prices to remain steady, with the national average hovering near last year’s $3.33 per gallon.
“Unless disrupted by events like Gulf Coast hurricanes, prices should stay below 2024 levels,” AAA said in a news release.
As of Friday, Aug. 30, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in North Carolina was about $2.89. That is 61 cents less than the national average of $3.20.
NC law enforcement to probe for drunk drivers
Law enforcement will also be looking for drunk and impaired drivers on North Carolina highways during the Labor Day weekend as part of the N.C. Highway Patrol’s “Booze It or Lose It” initiative.
The statewide enforcement campaign runs through Sunday, Sep.7. It uses beefed-up outreach and enforcement efforts to keep impaired drivers off the road during what the N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program calls “one of the busiest and most dangerous travel times of the year.”
During last year’s Labor Day campaign, there were 444 alcohol-involved crashes in North Carolina. Of those,11 collisions resulted in fatalities.
Drivers in North Carolina caught under the influence can face jail time, loss of driving privileges and an average of $10,000 in fines, towing fees and other associated expenses, according to the NCDOT.
“While Labor Day is a popular time for final summer getaways, it’s also a popular time for impaired drivers to be on the roads,” said GHSP director Mark Ezzell in a news release. “Impaired driving is a thoroughly preventable crime. This campaign reminds everyone to make smart decisions behind the wheel and prioritize safety.