Motorists pass through the Tanyard Station Drive intersection in Barboursville on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024.
RYAN FISCHER | HD Media
As people squeeze the last remnants of summer out of this Labor Day weekend, local travel organizations and law enforcement agencies are preparing for an uptick in holiday travel.
Approximately 410,000 vehicles are expected to travel through the West Virginia Turnpike during the four-day period from Friday to Monday, said Brent Walker, communications director for the West Virginia Department of Transportation, in an email Wednesday.
“This is one of our slower holidays as we finish up the summer,†Walker said.
Still, West Virginia Parkways Authority anticipates 1,500-1,600 transactions per hour this weekend at the Turnpike's toll booths. Friday is expected to be the busiest day on the Turnpike, and the busiest hours will be between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Walker said travelers should go to WV511.org for up-to-date travel information.
When to hit the road
According to travel organization AAA, the best time to drive over Labor Day weekend is before lunchtime. Saturday commuters should travel to their destination between 6-10 a.m. for less traffic.Â
The worst times to drive over the holiday weekend are typically in the afternoon and early evening. Saturday is expected to be extra busy with many drivers heading out of town or taking day trips. AAA looked at booking data for Thursday, Aug. 28, through Monday, Sept. 1, and compared those numbers with booking data for that same five-day period in 2024.
Sgt. S.N. Swope of the West Virginia State Police detachment in Huntington said additional officers will be on patrol for DUI enforcement, distracted driver enforcement and work zones on the interstate for the holiday weekend.
Swope said travelers should take their time and stay off cellular devices while driving.
Air travel
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) projects 17.4 million people will travel this holiday weekend from Thursday, Aug. 28, through Wednesday, Sept. 3. The highest volume day will be Friday with nearly 3 million travelers expected to fly to their destination, according to a TSA post on the social media site X.
West Virginia International Yeager Airport in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä also projects good numbers to end August. Paige Withrow, chief marketing officer, said the airport had 21,813 people take a flight out of CRW in July 2025, which she says was the highest of any month since June 2015. The airport expects August to be another record-breaking month, she said.
Withrow said travelers should stay up-to-date on potential updates from airlines by downloading the airline apps and follow the airport on social media for airport updates. Withrow said travelers are no longer required to remove their footwear in standard screening lanes.
"That helps keep the checkpoint moving,†Withrow said. “It streamlines everything (and) makes everything a little bit quicker.â€
The airport usually starts to see an uptick in travel on Thursday, she said. Withrow said travelers should get to the airport early and pack wisely.
Costs to travel compared to Labor Day 2024
According to AAA booking data, Seattle, Orlando and New York City are the three most popular destinations for travelers over the Labor Day weekend. Domestic flights, hotels and car rentals are cheaper this Labor Day weekend compared to last year.
Domestic roundtrip flights are 6% cheaper compared to last year, averaging $720 a ticket, the release said. AAA booking data also shows hotel rates are 11% lower and car rental costs are 3% cheaper compared to last Labor Day.
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