Labor Day Travel Deals 2016: Cheap Flights And Weekend Getaways You Can Book Last Minute

If you can just make it to September, you'll have a three-day weekend to look forward to. And the possibilities are endless — especially when you consider that there are still some sweet travel deals you can score online.

Grab your credit card and text your friends, because it's not too late to get out of town for Labor Day. Here's how to do it:

Score a cheap flight by checking websites like lastminutetravel.com, the latter of which is offering discounts up to 65 percent off. CheapAir recommends flying not on Friday and Monday, the two days the rest of the country will be trying to travel, but on Thursday or Tuesday, where less-crowded flights mean you can find better deals.

Book soon — CheapOAir says that by the time Labor Day rolls around, prices will be 30 percent more than normal.

Pick a good location off the beaten path. Top Labor Day destinations this year include Chicago, Orlando, Atlanta and Philadelphia, according to HotelPlanner, so maybe avoid them in favor of some lesser-known locations. For example, the 10th most popular Labor Day vacation spot is New York City, where HotelPlanner advertises you can still get a $140 hotel room in Midtown Manhattan.

Consider leaving the country. Expedia found that packages for travel to Paris and London can save customers up to $1,350. MySanAntonio reports that you can head to New Zealand from Texas for less than $700.

Find an inexpensive hotel with the help of Shermans Travel, which found a $189/night deal at the Conrad in Miami and a $159/night package at Embassy Row Hotel in Washington, D.C. — both discounts from the normal prices.

Don't forget you can drive out of the city. Head to a local beach, where all you'll need to pay for is sunscreen and a cold drink. Or find a nearby national park and camp there with your family. Use the National Recreation Reservation System to book federal sites without breaking the bank.