According to AAA, travelers exploring the United States this upcoming Labor Day weekend are in for a good deal, as booking data shows that flights, hotels and car rentals are all cheaper this year compared to last year.
The organization found that domestic roundtrip airfare is 6% lower than in 2024 (averaging $720 per ticket), while flights are 3% cheaper and car rental costs are down 3%. Even gas prices have remained relatively low, matching the averages recorded in summer 2021.
When it comes to international travel, pricing is a little more varied: Hotels are 2% cheaper, while airfare has risen 8% year over year.
Here are more of the in-demand destinations, best places for airfare deals and other trends affecting Labor Day travel this year.
More Trends From AAA
Trend 1: Top Domestic Destinations
Within the U.S., the No. 1 city for Labor Day travel is Seattle, according to AAA. Other top spots include Orlando, Florida; New York; Boston; Anchorage, Alaska; Chicago; Atlanta; Denver; Miami; and Las Vegas.
Trend 2: Top International Destinations
Vancouver, Canada, ranks as the most in-demand city for trips abroad, followed by a European hit list including Rome; Dublin; London; Paris; Amsterdam; Barcelona; Athens; Edinburgh, Scotland; and Lisbon, Portugal.
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Trends From Priceline
Trend 1: U.S. Hot Spots and Affordable Alternatives
Priceline booking data for Labor Day also shows a preference for city travel over the long holiday weekend — Las Vegas ranks as the most popular option, followed by Chicago, Orlando, Atlanta and New York. When it comes to affordable airfare, Priceline reports that the best deals can be had for travel to Raleigh, North Carolina; Baltimore; Cleveland; San Francisco; and Detroit.
Trend 2: Hot International Destinations and Deals
Interestingly, Niagara Falls in Canada ranks as Priceline’s most popular international destination for the weekend. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Tokyo; Montreal, Canada; and London round out the list. Those searching for the best deals should consider Incheon, South Korea; Calgary, Canada; or Tokyo, among others.
Trends From Kayak
Trend 1: Closer-to-Home Getaways
Recently released data from Kayak shows that most Labor Day travelers are opting to stay closer to home. Santa Ana, California, has emerged as a trending U.S. destination, with a 23% year-over-year increase in flight searches. With Kayak reporting that domestic airfare has risen just 1% over 2024 (which comes to about $4), U.S. destinations that offer the cheapest airfare include Tampa, Florida; Atlanta; and Orlando.
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Trend 2: Puerto Rico and Canada Are in Demand
According to Kayak, international airfare is 7% (about $52) less than last year. The hottest spots for vacations abroad include San Juan, Puerto Rico (27% increase in flight searches) and Toronto, Canada (also up 27%).
Trends From Skyscanner
Trend 1: Destinations With the Biggest Year-Over-Year Price Drops
Online travel engine Skyscanner compared booking data to find the destinations with the biggest Labor Day airfare price drops from last year; Dubai topped the list, with flight costs down 46%. The top five also includes Singapore (down 28%); Austin, Texas (down 27%); Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (down 26%); and Stockholm, Sweden (down 25%). Additional noteworthy cities where airfare has seen a significant drop include Sao Paulo, Brazil; San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico; and Florence, Italy.
Trends From HotelPlanner
Trend 1: Lower Hotel Prices and Shorter Stays
As with much of the flight data surrounding Labor Day 2025, HotelPlanner has found that hotel prices for the holiday are lower; average rates in Las Vegas, for example, are down 4%, and New York’s average is down 16%. In addition, the number of nights per stay has decreased from last year, with travelers opting for a single night away, compared to two.
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Trend 2: Top 10 Destinations
HotelPlanner’s list of top destinations for the weekend are all domestic, starting with Las Vegas at No. 1. The list continues with Nashville, Tennessee; Chicago; Williamsburg, Virginia; New Orleans; Reno, Nevada; SeaTac, Washington; Boston; Atlanta; and New York.
Trends From Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo
Trend 1: Escaping to Beaches, Lakes and the Countryside
Expedia Group brands Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo report that charming beach towns are trending for Labor Day, such as Charleston, South Carolina; Cape May, New Jersey; and Rosemary Beach, Florida. Lakeside and country getaways are also popular, especially for families, who are heading to Sandusky, Ohio; Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; and Allegan County, Michigan.
Trend 2: Top City Destinations
That said, the most popular spots for the weekend are all big cities: Las Vegas, New York, Chicago, Orlando and Miami. Destinations such as Oklahoma City and Greenville, South Carolina, have emerged as more affordable alternatives attracting rising traveler interest.
