Seattle is the No. 1 Labor Day destination in the U.S. Here’s what travelers need to know

Nationwide, as the summer season wraps up, AAA reports well over 100 million people are expected to travel during the Labor Day holiday weekend. About 90% will travel by car, with the remainder flying or taking Amtrak.

Seattle is the most popular destination this holiday weekend, according to AAA booking data.

AAA also reports some good news for domestic travelers — flights, hotels, and car rentals are less expensive than last year’s Labor Day holiday weekend.

Here is what you need to know before you travel this holiday weekend.

Weather

Overall for western Washington, the Labor Day holiday weekend will have seasonal temperatures and dry weather. There will be a mix of clouds and sunshine with highs ranging from the mid-60s near shorelines to the 70s elsewhere.

On getaway Friday, the region will likely have isolated light showers. In the mountains, a small threat of showers, including the risk of late-day thunderstorms, will linger through the weekend.

Freezing levels are expected to range from 7,000 to 9,000 feet.

If heading east of the Cascades, the forecast has some sunshine with a chance of showers and the possibility of an afternoon or evening thunderstorm through the holiday weekend. High temperatures are expected to be relatively cool, ranging from the mid-60s into the 70s.

Despite recent rainfall across the state, wildfire danger remains high thanks to the overall dry summer. The statewide outdoor burn ban continues in effect. The cooler weather and spotty precipitation are helping slow wildfire growth, giving responders better conditions to battle current fires.

All precautions to avoid wildfire starts must be taken, including ensuring campfires are cold before leaving, avoiding tossing burning materials out of vehicles, and being sure tow chains are tight to avoid sparks on the pavement.

If planning to spend time on western Washington waterways, winds are expected to remain relatively light. Be sure to wear a lifejacket, though. Puget Sound water temperatures remain only in the 50s. For area lakes, surface temperatures may be 70 degrees or so, but just a few feet down, temperatures drop into the 50s. Area river temperatures also remain quite chilly.

Driving

According to Washington State Department of Transportation Labor Day holiday weekend travel charts compiled over years of traffic data, the heaviest travel days going east over Snoqualmie Pass on I-90 will be on Friday and Saturday.

Thursday and Sunday will have far lighter traffic volumes. Returning westbound across Snoqualmie Pass, the heaviest travel day will be Monday. The peak times in both directions range from about 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

One bright spot on I-90 is that all lanes will be open across the Vantage Bridge, as that road work will be paused during the weekend travel period.

Going east over Stevens Pass on US 2 reflects the same peak travel trends throughout the holiday weekend.

If you are heading south toward Portland or even heading north from Portland, the heaviest traffic is the time period from roughly 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Thursday through Labor Day in both directions. Driving early in the morning or later in the evening offers lighter traffic volumes.

There are no travel charts heading north toward Bellingham, but expect similar higher traffic volumes to those heading toward Portland during the holiday weekend.

Bottom line — if you wish to avoid delays and frustration in traffic, plan to travel before or after these peak times.

Ferries

If you plan to use Washington State Ferries, prepare for long waits.

Peak travel times on most routes are expected to be westbound Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 3 to Sept. 5, and eastbound or off-island, Sunday through Tuesday, Sept. 6 through Sept. 8.

Customers can also bypass vehicle lines by traveling as a walk-on passenger. Visit the ferry system website for the latest schedules and plan ahead.

Gas prices

The price of gas remains elevated in Washington. The average price of regular gas is $5.37 a gallon, up from $4.39 a year ago, a nearly 22% rise. The national average is $4.14 per gallon.

There are lower gas prices in selected counties across the state. In western Washington, prices are lower in Whatcom and Skagit Counties compared to the rest of the region.

In eastern Washington, lower fuel prices are found in Yakima, Franklin, Asotin, Adams, and Spokane Counties. According to AAA, those lower gas prices are closer to $5.00 a gallon.

Air travel

The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is again going to be a busy place through the holiday weekend. The airport is anticipating about 180,000 passengers moving through the airport each day from Thursday to Monday, about the same as last year. Authorities ask passengers to arrive two hours ahead of their flight times and preferably three hours in advance.

The SEA Spot Saver program can help you move more quickly through security lines at the airport. In addition, there is a new security checkpoint at the south end of the lower baggage claim level that often is not as busy.

Snohomish County’s Paine Field is a different story. The Paine Field passenger terminal will be busier than normal, but will have far less congestion than that at SEA.

Alaska Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Kenmore Air, and San Juan Airlines have a total of 24 daily flights out of Paine Field, including many western U.S. destinations and flights to the San Juan Islands.

Amtrak

Amtrak rail service to and from western Washington will also be busy but have enough capacity. Amtrak said the busiest travel days are Thursday and Friday, and Sunday and Monday for return trips.

Wherever you travel this holiday weekend, plan ahead and do so safely. Enjoy this final weekend of summer!

Ted Buehner is the KIRO Newsradio meteorologist. Follow him on X and Bluesky. Read more of his stories here.