Johnny White, grandson of Bartlesville resident Elizabeth Lawrence, shows off a medal for running a 1-kilometer race at the Little World Fair in Kismet, Kan., during last year's Labor Day weekend. The Lawrence family travels to the Liberal, Kan., area every Labor Day for a family reunion. Courtesy
A six-hour drive to Liberal, Kan., is a Labor Day tradition for Elizabeth Lawrence of Bartlesville.
Even with her children grown, Lawrence's family gathers every year, along with some extended family members, in the southwestern Kansas town.
"My kids have gone since they were ... well, since forever," Lawrence said. "Now my grandkids are going."
Lawrence will be joined on the road for the Labor Day weekend by even more travelers this year, according to estimates from AAA Oklahoma. Some 400,300 Oklahomans are predicted to travel during the three-day end-of-summer weekend, up 3.7 percent from last year. A vast majority are expected to travel by car, 85 percent, and about 8 percent of travelers will fly.
"It's the highest number of Labor Day travelers we've had in Oklahoma since 2008," said Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma. "Fuel prices are lower this year, and the weather in Oklahoma has been better."
Tulsa travelers should fill up while they're still in town. The city has the lowest fuel prices in the state, about 9 cents a gallon less than Oklahoma City.
Mai said consumers are feeling more confident about the economy, with improvements in the housing sector and more stability in the financial markets.
"There are some positive economic indicators," Mai said. "Consumer confidence levels are up, the housing market seems to be coming around."
The share of people driving by car is increasing, too, thanks to a smaller burden at the gas pump.
The price of regular-grade gas averaged $3.33 per gallon in the Tulsa area this week, according to AAA. That's about 25 cents cheaper than a year ago, another positive sign for travelers heading on long car trips.
Nationwide, more travelers are expected to hit the road, too. About 34.1 million Americans will travel during the holiday weekend, a 4.2 percent increase over last year, AAA predicts. Vacationers are expected to travel an average of 594 miles.
Brittany Sawyer of Tulsa says she will be driving about 610 miles to a Labor Day weekend wedding in Nashville, Tenn.
"I'm from Tennessee originally, and I have lots of family," said Sawyer, executive director of the Metro Tulsa Hotel & Lodging Association. "I'm going to take time to drive all over the state."
Sawyer said she wants to do most of her driving at night to avoid traffic.
"I want to get in right when the sun comes up," she said.
The Friday of Labor Day weekend is the most popular first day of travel, with most people spending Labor Day itself returning home.
Carla Evans of Tulsa is planning to fly to Seattle for the weekend, making a visit to her daughter and two granddaughters.
Evans is actually planning to fly standby using a free "buddy pass" from a friend who works at an airline. But she said busy airports mean it can be difficult finding a standby seat during the holiday weekend.
"I'm going to try to fly early and leave late so I have a better chance," Evans said. "But it's always an adventure."
State Labor Day travel projection
Travelers: 400,300
Change: Up 3.7 percent
Getting there: 85 percent by car, 8 percent by air
Tulsa gasoline this week: $3.33
Tulsa gasoline in 2012: $2.58
Source: AAA Oklahoma
Kyle Arnold 918-581-8380
kyle.arnold@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: Labor Day travel
Transportation
As automakers race to make cheaper electric cars with greater battery range, General Motors is working on one that can go 200 miles per charge at a cost of about $30,000, a top company executive said Monday.
BNSF Railway Co. announced Monday it is spending $125 million to expand and improve its system in Oklahoma. Projects will include a new bypass connection at the Cherokee rail yard in west Tulsa and extending a siding area on the carrier's tracks near Mannford.
