The final long holiday weekend of summer is here, and AAA Western and Central New York has tips for road trippers and local motorists. The CDC has asked unvaccinated Americans not to travel during the Labor Day holiday weekend. Travel is a personal decision, and AAA continues to advise travelers to follow CDC guidance and work with trusted travel advisors. Here are AAA’s top five tips for smooth travel over the holiday weekend:

1. Use AAA’s Mobile App
Road trips will be popular this holiday weekend and offer more flexibility than some other modes of travel. Motorists can benefit from comparing pump prices before filling up with the AAA Mobile App for iPhone, iPad, and Android - a convenient option to find the lowest gas prices in a given area. Plus, the app is the quickest way to request roadside assistance, map a route, find discounts, or book a hotel. 

2. Plan Ahead
AAA recommends that travelers use TripTik.AAA.com to plan road trips in advance and pre-determine rest stops. Also, on TripTik.AAA.com you can find AAA’s COVID-19 Restrictions Map. Click on Important COVID-19 Travel Restrictions, and the map shows the latest travel restrictions for the U.S. and Canada.  

3. Monitor NYS Thruway Reconstruction
Ten service areas are now closed for reconstruction as part of a $450 million project. AAA wants travelers to be aware that only gas services will be available at those ten plazas – restrooms and food and beverage services will not be available. To minimize disruption to travelers, the Thruway Authority confirms that no two consecutive service areas in the same direction of travel will be closed for renovations at the same time. Travelers should plan ahead and utilize the Thruway Authority’s new webpage dedicated to the project. The map depicting the current status for each service area will be especially helpful to motorists, and details are included in AAA TripTiks. Heavy traffic is likely on Monday as travelers return.

4. Get an EZ-Pass
The NYS Thruway is now 100 percent cashless tolling. To make paying tolls even easier, AAA highly recommends using E-ZPass for the most convenient toll payment to avoid bill-by-mail. According to the NYS Thruway Authority, Erie and Monroe Counties are among the highest bill-by-mail areas, and a missed bill can lead to hefty penalties and late fees. E-ZPass is available for purchase at all AAA Travel & Insurance Centers with a retail price of $25, which includes a $25 preloaded balance. AAA members can save $1. 

5. Don’t Forget AAA’s Emergency Road Service
AAA is ready to respond to roadside emergencies this holiday weekend. The most common requests are for dead batteries, keys locked in the vehicle, and flat tires. AAA reminds motorists to have their vehicle checked over by a trusted mechanic before heading out on a road trip to avoid breakdowns and have an emergency kit in the vehicle including a cell phone and charger, first-aid kit, water and snacks, basic tools, and jumper cables. AAA is available 24/7 for roadside assistance, and motorists are encouraged to request service online at AAA.com or through the AAA mobile app to speed the process. 

Trip Idea: The Great New York State Fair
The State Fair is a popular destination over Labor Day weekend. The fair runs through Monday, and AAA is on-site throughout the fair to assist all attendees as needed with emergency road service in all fairgrounds parking lots.

AAA Travel advisors are available to help members with the information they need to plan a trip, when they’re ready to do so. For more information, visit: 

AAA Travel