The early arrival of Labor Day could help spur Americans to travel in numbers that are the highest levels in at least nine years.

The American Automobile Association estimates 33.4 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home, up about 1.8 percent from last year. The previous high for Labor Day travel was 33.2 million in 1995.
Approximately 28.2 million travelers (84 percent of all holiday travelers) expect to go by motor vehicle, a 2.2 percent increase from the 27.6 million who drove a year ago.
The greatest number of Labor Day auto travelers will originate in the West with 6.9 million, followed by the Southeast, 6.7 million; Midwest, 5.3 million; Northeast, 4.8 million; and Great Lakes, 4.5 million.
Cities top the list of preferred destinations this holiday with 28 percent of travel volume. Towns and rural areas are the destination for 21 percent, followed by oceans and beaches, 18 percent; lakes, 11 percent; mountains, eight percent; state/national parks four percent; and theme/amusement parks, two percent. Another five percent responded with other, and three percent said they didn't know.
Research for Labor Day travel is based on a national telephone survey of 1,300 adults by the Travel Industry Association of America, which conducts special research for AAA.