Labor Day 2025: What to expect, how to stay safe and how much gas will cost
Alexander Edwards, The Gazette
The last days of summer have arrived, and it’s looking to be a busy Labor Day travel weekend for Americans who will take advantage of cheaper domestic roundtrip flights and, in Colorado Springs, cheaper gas prices.
And the wet week may continue into the weekend, potentially spelling bad news for the Labor Day Lift Off.
While the statewide average for a gallon of gasoline hovers around $3.10, Colorado Springs residents can take advantage of prices that remain below the $3 mark. In fact, the 10 cheapest gas stations in Colorado Springs will set residents back a maximum of $2.79 per gallon, according to GasBuddy.
Residents and travelers visiting the Springs can expect those gas prices to remain stable, a news release from AAA Colorado said. The statewide average of $3.10 per gallon is well below last year, when Coloradans were asked to part with $3.36 per gallon.
Low gas prices are good news for the local travel and hospitality industry.
Gas prices at a local Shell station are the cheapest in Colorado Springs, according to GasBuddy. On Thursday ahead of Labor Day weekend, one gallon of gas cost $2.71.
“Colorado hospitality businesses are set to enjoy a final summer surge ahead of the fall’s seasonal slowdown,” said Skyler McKinley, regional director of public affairs for AAA. “Colorado travelers, meanwhile, should take the time to chart out their plans for the remainder of 2025 (because) costs are trending lower.”
The cheapest gas in Colorado Springs, as of Thursday, can be found at 4270 E. Platte Ave., where the Shell station is only asking for $2.71 per gallon. Of the top 10, four were on the “expensive” side, asking for $2.79, well below the statewide average. Of course, prices vary depending on location and day of the week, with prices closer to downtown typically being higher.
The highest prices in Colorado are in Vail, according to AAA Colorado, with an average price of $3.62 per gallon.
Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off: What to know before you go
For those who remain in town, there are many events to attend or watch, but likely the most famous is the Labor Day Lift Off. The event will feature more than 70 hot air balloons lifting off from Memorial Park, weather permitting.
The forecast calls for rain and thunderstorms on Saturday. Sunday looks better, with thunderstorms forecast between noon and 3 p.m. and a 20% chance of precipitation. Labor Day has a 10% chance for rain and thunder before noon, according to the National Weather Service.
Clouds loom over a residential area in Colorado Springs. More rain and thunder is expected over the Labor Day weekend, according to the National Weather Service, potentially placing a few days of the Labor Day Lift Off at risk.
For those escaping Colorado, the price of a domestic roundtrip flight is 6% cheaper compared to last year. International travel, however, has increased about 8% on average compared to last year, according to AAA. Car rentals saw a 3% decline in prices, good news for a Colorado Springs economy that is more dependent on drive-in traffic, which Labor Day will see more of, according to McKinley.
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“Labor Day is typically a closer to home holiday, since kids are back in school it becomes harder to take long breaks,” McKinley said. “It’s the ceremonial end of summer. … Historically it’s been a cookout weekend” or one where families go camping, he added.
But head out early to avoid congestion, AAA advised in its news release. Traffic is expected to peak on Saturday as families head out for their vacations and day trips, the release said.
“If you are traveling and haven’t gone on a road trip in a while, be sure to check your car’s battery and tire pressures,” McKinley said. “We expect about 338,000 rescues this year and many of them are flat tires or dead car batteries. … If your battery is five years or older, we suggest getting a new one. And if your tire pressure light comes on, get them filled.”
If your tires are bald, do not drive, he added.
Another strategy for staying safe through Labor Day is to never drive impaired, McKinley said.
“Crashes are preventable,” he said. “There is nothing wrong with having alcohol this weekend. There’s nothing wrong with driving this weekend. … But when the two are combined, that’s when crashes happen.”
“Think about others when you get behind the wheel this holiday weekend,” he said.
