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Traveling Labor Day Weekend? Expect Busy Airports, Heavy Traffic and Higher Costs

Travelers this Labor Day weekend should expect busy airports, heavy road traffic and higher costs, according to national and local transportation groups. Here’s what Chicagoans should know.

For those flying, Chicago’s airports are projected to see more passengers than last year.

More than 1.41 million passengers are expected to make their way through O’Hare Airport during the Labor Day holiday weekend, up nearly 6% from the same travel period last year, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation. Sunday is projected to be O’Hare’s busiest day.

At Midway Airport, nearly 300,000 passengers are expected during the extended holiday weekend, up 2% from last year. Monday is projected to be Midway’s busiest day.

Travelers face higher fuel, airfare and hotel costs this year, according to the auto club group AAA. 

For travelers flying to the most popular Labor Day destinations, airfare is nearly 20% higher than last year, the group reported. Seattle, Orlando, Boston, Denver and New York were among AAA’s top Labor Day travel destinations. Chicago was No. 6 on the list.

For those hitting the road, car traffic is expected to peak Thursday and Friday, according to AAA. Drivers might also pay more at the pump during the holiday weekend.

Unlike longer holiday periods, Labor Day travel is often concentrated into a shorter window, resulting in significant congestion as holiday travelers mix with normal commuter traffic, according to AAA. The group encourages motorists to leave early, allow extra travel time and avoid afternoon departures whenever possible.

The Illinois Tollway anticipates the heaviest Labor Day weekend traffic on Friday, when more than 2 million vehicles are expected to use the tollway system. About 1.7 million vehicles use the Illinois Tollway on an average day, according to a news release. 

Nationwide, over 17 million passengers are expected to pass through TSA screening checkpoints from Thursday through Wednesday this year, according to the New York Times. Estimated passenger numbers this Labor Day weekend fall just below last year, one of the busiest days in TSA history, according to the report.

Labor Day is observed every year on the first Monday of September. The holiday celebrates the contributions and achievements of workers in the U.S. The holiday’s origins go back to labor organizers during the late 19th century and the day became an official federal holiday in 1894.

Contact Eunice Alpasan: [email protected]

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