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Labor Day travelers face higher gas prices and busy roads

If you are taking a road trip, gas prices are higher this Labor Day weekend compared with last year.

Lauren Due

Aug 27, 2026, 12:21 PM

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Labor Day weekend is next week, but some might be getting away this weekend.

For some, the school year starts next week before the holiday, and some college students are already back.

If you are taking a road trip, gas prices are higher this Labor Day weekend compared with last year.

AAA says the average price of a gallon of gas in New Jersey today is $4.04. A year ago, we were paying $3.05.

AAA says that last Labor Day weekend, it responded to more than 400,000 roadside assistance calls for flat tires, dead batteries and towing.

The travel period is from Thursday, Sept. 3, through Monday, Sept. 7.

“You really need to get out on the road pretty early, before noon and 1 p.m., because what happens on those days is that holiday travelers mixed with commuters on the way home can make the roads particularly busy,” said AAA spokesperson Robert Sinclair. “We know in our area, going down to the Jersey Shore is very, very popular, and the roads to get there—try to get on them as early as possible.”

AAA added that cruises, renting cars and visiting national parks are very popular right now.

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