ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando ranked as the second most popular destination for the Labor Day holiday weekend, and with that many people coming to Central Florida, traffic is expected to cause a headache on their way home.
According to AAA, travelers heading home from Central Florida on Monday can expect to face heavier traffic and higher gas prices.
AAA spokesperson Mark Jenkins said Florida drivers are now paying about $13 more for a full tank of gas than they did on Labor Day a year ago.
“Gas prices are typically one factor that travelers consider when they’re planning a trip, but it’s not necessarily the deciding factor,” Jenkins said. “Of course, we’ve seen some fluctuations in prices at the pump, but ultimately, Florida gas prices have hung around $3.90 per gallon during the past 45 days.”
For Ken Furman, who spent the holiday weekend in Central Florida, the trip home started off with a stop at the gas station before a 6.5-hour drive back to north Georgia. Furman said higher fuel costs did not change his travel plans, but they did affect which vehicle he and his family used.
“My truck is diesel,” Furman said. “We didn’t even attempt to take my vehicle on road trips because mine is about $2.50 more a gallon than her little car. So that’s why we take her small car on trips. So, it’s a lot more cost effective for us.”
Regina Tabor also planned ahead before driving home to Pikeville, Tenn., after visiting Disney with her daughter. She said traffic added time to their trip to Florida, which is something they were trying to avoid on the way back.
“On the way down, we hit traffic, and it took us about 10 hours to get here,” Tabor said. “Traffic in Atlanta was pretty bad. So, we left a little bit early this morning to try to avoid the traffic.”
Jenkins said drivers could see more congestion along I-4 near attractions and outlet malls, as well as around airports and beaches.
“Slow down. Allow yourself extra time to get to where you need to go,” Jenkins said. “If you’re in a hurry, you might be more prone to taking some of those unnecessary risks that could result in a crash. And of course, be courteous to other drivers.”
According to information from AAA, the organization responded to more than 400,000 roadside assistance calls during last year’s Labor Day holiday period. The most common problems were dead batteries, flat tires and lockouts.
AAA recommends checking tires, batteries and fluid levels before leaving. The organization also urges drivers to keep water, snacks and a phone charger in the car, limit distractions, and slow down and move over for people working or dealing with car trouble along the roadside.