PORTLAND, Maine — As Mainers savor the last moments of summer, travel experts are predicting a particularly busy Labor Day weekend on the roadways, runways, and rails.
"It's likely going to set or break a record for holiday travel," Director of Public Affairs for AAA Northern New England Pat Moody said Friday.
Moody pointed to an uptick in travelers on the road and in the air from this year's Memorial Day and Fourth of July as compared to last year. Certain prices have dropped since then, too, making traveling more enticing.
According to AAA, the cost of domestic travel is down two percent from 2023. At the pump, an average gallon of gas in Maine costs $3.37 compared to $3.83 last year.
"Those are definitely factors that are going into the wallet and deciding, 'Hey, I’m going to get out there and travel,'" Moody added.
At Portland International Jetport, staff are preparing for up to 25 percent more passengers this Labor Day weekend than last, with the busiest day for outbound travel expected to be on Tuesday, according to Assistant Airport Director Zachary Lundquist.
Lundquist advises passengers to arrive 90 minutes before their flight takes off.
Train travel, too, is expected to pick up. The Amtrak Downeaster, which runs between Brunswick, Maine, and Boston, Massachusetts, has seen a record number of passengers this year, according to Amtrak spokesperson Jason Abrams
Already, more than 3,700 tickets have been sold for Downeaster trains between Friday and Monday.
"You should expect busy trains, regardless of whatever direction you’re going in," Abrams said.
No matter what mode of transportation, the experts agree on one piece of advice: give yourself plenty of time for travel this holiday weekend.