The Labor Day holiday weekend comes to an end today, and motorists should be prepared for heavier traffic as thousands of travelers make their way home.

According to AAA and transportation analytics company INRIX, the best time to travel on Labor Day is before noon. The heaviest traffic is expected between 2 and 5 PM, as holiday travelers return home at the same time many people begin preparing for the regular work week.

Traffic could remain heavy into the evening in parts of Georgia. One of the state’s most congested routes is expected to be I-20 between Atlanta and Birmingham, an important route for travelers from Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama. INRIX projects the Atlanta-to-Birmingham trip could take about 3 hours and 18 minutes around 7:30 PM, approximately 65 percent longer than normal.

State Patrol Continues Holiday Enforcement

The Georgia Department of Public Safety says the official Labor Day travel period continues until 11:59 tonight.

Georgia State Patrol troopers and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement officers are conducting high-visibility patrols on interstates and secondary highways, with particular attention being paid to speeding, impaired driving, seatbelt violations, distracted driving and other unsafe driving behavior.

Last year’s Labor Day travel period was deadly on Georgia highways. In 2025, State Troopers investigated 359 crashes that resulted in 238 injuries and 10 deaths. When fatalities investigated by other law enforcement agencies were included, 15 people were killed statewide. Troopers also made 435 DUI arrests during the holiday period.

Patience Important On The Trip Home

Drivers returning through Northwest Georgia should allow additional time, maintain a safe following distance and avoid trying to make up time by speeding.

AAA also recommends making sure vehicles are ready for the return trip. During last year’s Labor Day weekend, the organization responded to more than 400,000 roadside assistance calls, including motorists dealing with dead batteries, flat tires and vehicles requiring emergency towing.

Motorists can check Georgia 511 for current crashes, road conditions, construction and lane closures before beginning their trip. Georgia DOT says scheduled construction and maintenance can affect travel times and advises motorists to plan ahead when delays are expected.

For those who have flexibility in their schedule, the advice for the final day of Labor Day travel is simple: leave before noon if possible, expect the heaviest traffic between 2 and 5 PM, buckle up, put the phone down and don’t drive impaired.