In the US, the increase in travel bookings for Labor Day has increased this year – here are the top travel destinations

More Americans are expected to travel to the U.S. over Labor Day weekend this year than in 2023, and new data shows the most popular destination has taken the crown for the second year in a row.

AAA reported this week that travel bookings for the period Thursday, August 29, through Monday, September 2, are up 9% this year compared to the same five-day period last year.

“Americans see the Labor Day long weekend as an opportunity to say goodbye to summer with one last trip,” said Debbie Haas, vice president of travel for AAA-The Auto Club Group. “With many children already back in school, regional travel is the most popular option for families. Because of this, others see this as an opportunity to travel the world, expecting fewer crowds in popular locations.”

While data showed domestic travel increasing due to the holidays, outbound travel bookings fell 4% compared to 2023, partly due to inflation, which pushed up the cost of outbound travel by 11%, the AAA said.

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These are the most popular domestic destinations for Labor Day in 2024, according to AAA:

1. Seattle, Washington

(Google Flights) View of downtown Seattle and the Space Needle, Washington, USA (Photo: iStock)

Seattle is the most popular destination for domestic travelers over Labor Day weekend for the second year in a row, with bookings up 30% this year over last year.

AAA spokeswoman Aixa Diaz told FOX Business that Seattle is a popular departure point for Alaska cruises, which the company says are all booked up for this weekend.

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“Travelers who want to explore nature – and save money on vacation – are choosing Alaska cruises,” Diaz said, noting that two Alaska cities also made the top 10 this year.

2. Orlando, Florida

A statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse stands in a garden in front of Cinderella’s Castle in Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida on May 31, 2024. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images/Fox News)

Diaz said Orlando is popular with travelers because of its theme parks such as Walt Disney World, SeaWorld and Universal Studios.

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3. Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage ranked third on this year’s list of top travel destinations, while Alaska’s capital, Juneau, ranked ninth.

4. New York, New York

During the day, a “Deadpool & Wolverine” poster is seen, with people in the foreground attending a 7th Avenue Food Festival in Times Square in New York City on July 21, 2024. (Craig T Fruchtman/Getty Images / Getty Images)

“New York City is a tourist-friendly city – and easy to reach by plane for most Americans, as there are several airports to choose from,” Diaz said of the Big Apple, which ranked fourth this year.

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5. Boston, Massachusetts

Rounding out the top five is Boston, which Diaz says is high on the list because of its historic sites.