Published: Friday, August 31, 2012 1:08 AM CDT

For many families, Labor Day weekend is the last opportunity of the year for a family vacation. The number of people coming into Yankton this weekend is expected to be at near record level.

AAA South Dakota projects 69,000 South Dakotans will travel 50 or more miles from home during the Labor Day holiday weekend, which is up 3 percent from last year.

Nationally, the total number of travelers this weekend is projected to be about 33 million, also about a 3 percent increase from last year.

There are expected to be about 28.2 million people making their weekend travel by car — another approximately 3 percent increase from weekend car travel last year. Air travel is also projected to increase by nearly 4 percent compared to last year.

“Despite the rather feeble national economy and recent rises in South Dakota’s pump prices, consumer confidence appears to be driving this increase in holiday travel compared to Labor Day, 2011,” Marilyn Buskohl, spokeswoman for AAA South Dakota, said in a statement. “Plus, the enticing prospect of one more road trip before winter is apparently proving too alluring to resist.”

Locally, Yankton’s Rockin’ Ribfest was moved up to Labor Day weekend for weather reasons. The date change is expected to bring more people to Yankton for Labor Day weekend than ever before.

Ben Hanten, a Ribfest organizer, said there is the possibility for increased crowds with the date of Ribfest moving up from the middle of September to Labor Day weekend this year.

“I think this year’s Ribfest will be the best yet,” he said. “We’re setting ourselves up for better weather with the date change.”

He added the date change could help save people money for campers and vacationers in Yankton for the Labor Day weekend. Having Ribfest this weekend allows people to stay at home, as opposed to going elsewhere for something to do for the long holiday weekend.

“We want to bill Yankton as a prime destination for Labor Day weekend,” Hanten said.

Potential drawbacks of the date change include people already having obligations for the weekend, including going to parks across the state or attending the South Dakota State Fair in Huron. However, Hanten said this should be offset by the increased number of people coming to town for Ribfest and the Triple V Triathlon, which takes place the next day.

The Lewis and Clark Recreation Area is also expected to be at capacity all weekend.

“We will be full at the Lewis and Clark Lake resort and campground this weekend,” said Jeff Van Meeteren, the regional park supervisor for the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks (GF&P). “This is one of our biggest holiday weekends of the year.”

Van Meeteren noted this holiday is a lot like Memorial Day weekend in that weather drives both beach and boat traffic. He added there might be more traffic than expected at the lake this weekend given the weather      forecast.

Jacquie Fuks, director of the Southeast South Dakota Regional Tourism Association, said Labor Day weekend is bigger than Memorial Day weekend and the Fourth of July.

“This weekend is really one of the last ‘hoorahs’ for families to get out and take a trip,” she said. “They come to the area for that last getaway.”

She added that she does not think the higher gas prices are affecting anyone.

“People are getting used to the prices of gas increasing at this point,” she said. “The gas prices really have not been keeping anyone away at this point.”

Fuks expects a lot of traffic this weekend to both the lake and Yankton’s Ribfest.

Gov. Dennis Daugaard released a statement asking motorists to be extra careful when traveling this weekend.

Ten people were killed and 247 others were injured in crashes on South Dakota roads during the past five Labor Day weekends, according to the state Office of Accident Records. In addition, four of those fatalities were alcohol-related accidents.

“Designating a sober driver and always making it a firm practice to never drink and drive greatly increase the chances of having a safe trip and an enjoyable holiday weekend,” Daugaard said in a statement. “Most accidents are entirely preventable if drivers make safe choices and make sure their passengers do, too.”

Van Meeteren said the park typically has good traffic on Saturday and Sunday nights during the holiday weekend. Numbers might be slightly lower on Friday night because of various school sports and activities.

He added tourism numbers to the park were at a record level through July, with updated numbers coming out in the next week.

Van Meeteren thinks Ribfest and the draw of the lake help bring more people to town, and gives campers an activity to enjoy while they’re here, much like Riverboat Days does.

He added, “When you can package Yankton and the lake together, it’s really a win-win for both the community and the park.”

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