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The Window Seat

The Window Seat — Wanderu Travel Magazine

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10 Cheap Labor Day Destinations (And What Travelers Actually Paid)

Labor Day 2026 falls on Monday, September 7. Here are the 10 cities travelers booked most last Labor Day weekend, the fares they actually paid, and the cheapest days to travel.

By Kaitlin Cabaniss

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By the Numbers

Cheap seats, by the numbers

Median one-way Bus fare, by how far ahead you booked.

Boston ↔ New York

$45
Last minute
$45
1 week out
$42
2 weeks out
$41
Month+ out
Month+ out
is the cheapest time to book.
$4
the average you'd save booking ahead instead of same-day.

Washington, DC ↔ New York

$45
Last minute
$41
1 week out
$42
2 weeks out
$41
Month+ out
1 week out
is the cheapest time to book.
$4
the average you'd save booking ahead instead of same-day.

New York ↔ Philadelphia

$28
Last minute
$25
1 week out
$25
2 weeks out
$26
Month+ out
1 week out
is the cheapest time to book.
$3
the average you'd save booking ahead instead of same-day.

Seattle ↔ Portland

$44
Last minute
$42
1 week out
$39
2+ weeks out
2+ weeks out
is the cheapest time to book.
$5
the average you'd save booking ahead instead of same-day.

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