Community Corner

More Marylanders Traveling for Labor Day

Lower gas prices and a better economic outlook are responsible for the jump, AAA Mid-Atlantic officials say.

By: Tyler Waldman 

AAA Mid-Atlantic officials say more Marylanders will travel this weekend for the Labor Day holiday.

Citing an improved economy, the group projects more than 678,000 will hit the roads, rails or air, a nearly 3-percent jump from 2012 and the busiest Labor Day travel weekend since 2009.

“While the overall financial picture remains mixed, economic indicators have improved from last year and have been trending upward during 2013," AAA spokeswoman Ragina Averella said in a statement. "As a result, there appears to be pent-up demand by Marylanders to get away for the last summer holiday as many stayed put for the first two major summer holidays.”

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

More than 87 percent of the weekend's travelers will be going to their destination by automobile, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic's estimates, a slightly larger percentage than last year. Eight percent will fly.

Lower gas prices are helping more Marylanders decide to get away, officials say. Pump prices have been on a downward slide since July 23 and gas is 17 cents cheaper on average in the state than a year ago.

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

Where are you going for Labor Day? Tell us in the comments.


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