North Carolina will see the highest number of Labor Day travelers in nearly a decade, according to AAA Carolinas.

Spokesperson Tiffany Wright says low gas prices could be fueling that wanderlust.

“Folks are going to see the lowest prices they’ve seen in 11 years,” says Wright. “Right now the statewide average is about $2.22 per gallon. It’s gone down seven cents in a week and 43 cents since July 4. We’ve seen the downward trend here. Motorists right now are paying $1.10 less per gallon than they were the same time a year ago for Labor Day.”

More than 880,000 people are expected to hit the road over the long holiday weekend. Myrtle Beach, Greensboro, Orlando, Gatlinberg and Asheville are the top travel destinations for drivers.

While gas prices are dropping, hotel rates are headed up. Wright says room rates are rising between 2 percent and 10 percent compared to last year.

“I think a lot of it has to do with the demand,” says Wright. “When you talk about gas prices and you have more people traveling, especially driving, you have a lot of hotels trying to be competitive. It’s all about competition in the market.”

This Labor Day, hotel rates are estimated to be higher than in any of the past five years.

If you’re heading out for one last road trip before summer ends, you can expect to see checkpoints and stepped-up police patrols, as law enforcement officials conduct this year’s “Booze It and Lose It” campaign to get intoxicated drivers off the road.

You won’t see much construction on the highways, as the North Carolina Department of Transportation is suspending work on current projects until 9 o’clock Tuesday morning.

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