WASHINGTON (September 5, 2009)--It's Labor Day weekend, but fewer people are expected to be taking trips for the traditional last weekend of summer this year.

AAA expects about 39 million Americans will travel this weekend, down 13 percent from last year.

AAA’s Troy Green says the main reason is that Labor Day comes so late this year;’ a full week into September.

Green says many schools have already been open for two or three weeks, so parents are reluctant to go on vacation.

Of those who will be traveling, most are hitting the highway.

AAA estimates 84 percent are traveling by auto, 4 percent are flying and rest are going to by bus, rail or cruise ship.

Holiday weekend road trips will be a bit cheaper this year.

Green says gas prices are down more than a dollar a gallon from a year ago.

AAA Texas expects about 2.8 million people across the state will travel over the long weekend.