Community Corner

Hitting The Road for Labor Day? So are 949,999 Other Virginians

The great holiday getaway has begun. Where are you heading?

By Karen Goff

AAA Mid-Atlantic predicts that more than 900,000 Virginians will hit the highway this holiday weekend, breaking a trend of consumers staying closer to home the last few years.

This holiday weekend, approximately 950,000 Virginians are projected to travel between Thursday, Aug. 29 and Monday, Sept. 2, an increase of more than 9 percent since the end of the recession in 2009, according to AAA.

AAA’s 2013 Labor Day holiday forecast for Virginia is up 2.1 percent since last year. Of those traveling this holiday weekend, 87 percent – or 824,617 – will choose to drive 50 miles or more away from home.

Find out what's happening in Leesburgwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“This is the fourth consecutive year we have seen an increase in those traveling for their last summer hurrah this holiday weekend,” Martha Mitchell Meade, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic, said in a statement. “The lift in travel may be attributed to the increasingly positive economic outlook and optimism in the housing market leaving more families feeling confident about traveling this weekend.”

Virginians are also expected to spend more money this weekend.  After a year in which travelers in the region seemed to hold back on spending, they’re planning to make up for it this year by shelling out 14 percent more ($946) than the previous year ($827), said AAA.

Find out what's happening in Leesburgwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Speaking of spending money, where will you get your gas? Find the best prices here. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here