Restaurants, gas stations, hotels and other tourism businesses should have a profitable Labor Day weekend, as U.S. travelers are expected to spend an estimated $13.5 billion during the end-of-summer holiday, a 2 percent increase over the previous Labor Day weekend.

An estimated 35.5 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles for the holiday weekend, with each traveler forecast to spend an average of $380, according to an estimate by the U.S. Travel Association, the trade group for the nation’s travel industry.

The number of travelers expected to hit the roads or take to the skies nationwide is 1 percent higher than in 2014, according to the AAA.

One likely reason for the increase in total travelers and spending is the drop in the cost of gasoline.

Across the country, most drivers will be pay $2.45 per gallon of regular gasoline, the lowest gas prices for Labor Day weekend since 2004, when a gallon sold for $1.85.

Busy skies

More than 14.2 million people are expected to fly over the seven days surrounding the Labor Day holiday, a 3 percent increase from last year, according to Airlines for America, the industry’s trade and lobbying group.

Friday is expected to be the busiest day to fly.