Phoenix, Ariz. August 25, 2010. More Arizonans are planning to enjoy one last summer hurrah compared to last year, according to AAA. The auto club’s annual Labor Day travel forecast reveals continued recovery in travel over the final three day weekend of the summer.  

According to the forecast, more than 740,000 Arizonans are projected to travel 50 or more miles from home over Labor Day weekend. This represents a jump of 11 percent, or an increase of more than 74,000 travelers compared to last year. Nationwide, 34.4 million Americans will travel over the holiday weekend, an increase of nearly 10 percent, or 3.1 million more travelers compared to 2009.

“Many Arizonans are interested in taking one more trip as the summer travel season comes to a close,” said Linda Gorman, communications and public affairs director for AAA Arizona. “Because Labor Day falls after the start of the school year, the holiday tends to be more popular among adult travelers. In fact, solo travelers or parties consisting of two or more adults will account for 91 percent of Arizona Labor Day travelers.”

The table below illustrates projected 2010 Labor Day travel compared to 2009:

Travelers will likely notice a slight increase in travel costs across the board compared to last year, according to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index. The table below illustrates the change in travel related costs from Labor Day 2010:

Arizonans will spend less and travel further than the average traveler nationwide, according to auto club estimates. Arizonans are projected to spend an average of $348 over Labor Day weekend, 50 percent less than the national average of $697. In addition, Arizonans will travel an average 845 miles round-trip, which is 33 percent further than the national average of 635 miles.

AAA encourages travelers to become familiar with AAA’s mobile solutions before taking to the roads and skies over the holiday weekend. A variety of smart phone applications enable members to find discounts, summon roadside assistance and locate fuel price information, directions and more near user locations.

Labor Day holiday travel projections derive from IHS Global Insight, which conducts special research for AAA. The holiday travel period is defined as trips that include travel of 50 miles or more from home between Thursday, Sept. 2 and Monday, Sept. 6. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades.

AAA Arizona, the Arizona affiliate of AAA, provides automotive, insurance and auto travel services to more than 800,000 Arizona members.  Annually, AAA’s Emergency Road Service responds to more than 450,000 calls for help on the streets and highways of the state as well as providing insurance, travel, and financial services to AAA members and motorists. Since its founding in 1927, AAA Arizona has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.  In 2008, AAA was ranked the No. 1 “socially responsible” brand by Landor’s BrandAsset® Valuator.