Labor Day travel plans up 6 percent, according to TripAdvisor

This weekend, 34.1 million people will be traveling for Labor Day weekend, according to Triple-A.

Sixty-three percent of travelers will load up their cars, fill up their tanks and hit the road.

The other 37 percent will take to the skies.

A 6 percent jump in travel this year, with the majority by car, will cause heavy traffic and likely delays in parts of Missouri.

“Labor Day weekend is really big because it’s kind of one of those last weekend getaways for Lake of the Ozarks and this weekend is the first game for Mizzou football, so that always adds extra travelers to the roadways,” MoDOT Assistant District Engineer Travis Koestner said.

Koestner said congestion is likely on Highway 54 heading to and from the Lake of the Ozarks.

He also said he warns drivers to be cautious and alert and to build in extra time for travel.

Drivers may also need to plan for a bump to their budget.

Prices at the pump are higher and there’s a chance they could rise more.

In Columbia, gas is up 17 cents.

A spokesperson with Triple-A said it’s likely prices at the pump will rise in coming days because of concerns over Syria and the other possible consequences in the Middle East.

Koestner said the important thing is to be prepared.

“We ask people to really look and plan your trip,” he said.