The Best and Worst Days to Fly for Labor Day Weekend

The summer travel season may be drawing to a close, but it’s not over yet. In fact, Labor Day weekend will likely be one of the busiest times to try and take a trip this summer, if the Fourth of July’s record-breaking number of passengers for a single day (3 million) is any indication.

With the Labor Day holiday expected to produce a similarly high-volume surge, U.S. travelers would be well-advised to try and avoid the rush as much as possible.

Planning your flight itinerary around less popular days can save time, money and headaches at the airport, ensuring a smoother overall travel experience. And, a new NerdWallet analysis was designed to give travelers the edge they’ll need to circumvent the worst of the holiday congestion.

As you might expect, NerdWallet found that the best days to travel fall outside the long weekend itself.

These are the least crowded days to travel before and after the Labor Day holiday, ranked in order of busyness. 

Pre-holiday:

Tuesday before

Wednesday before

Saturday before

Post-holiday:

Saturday after

Wednesday after

Tuesday after

These are the most crowded days to travel before and after the Labor Day holiday, ranked in order of busyness.

Pre-holiday:

Friday before Labor Day

Labor Day Monday

Thursday before

Post-holiday:

Sunday after

Friday after

Monday after

NerdWallet Travel Expert Sara Rathner emphasized the importance of being adaptable when it comes to traveling during busy holiday periods.

She said, “This Labor Day, you’ll not only spend more on airfare if you plan to travel, but you’ll have to deal with super-long security lines at the airport. But, a little flexibility can go a long way on holiday weekends. If you can adjust your schedule and travel on lower-demand days, like the Saturday before and the Tuesday after, you can save money and enjoy a less stressful travel experience.”