If you’re starting to think about where to spend Labor Day weekend this year, you may want to consider a staycation right here in Atlanta (or start planning your sweet escape).
» RELATED: How to spend your Labor Day weekend in Atlanta
For the second year in a row, the city was ranked the third most popular city in the country to visit during the holiday weekend, which falls on Friday, Sept. 1, through Monday, Sept. 4 (Labor Day), this year.
The ranking comes from a collaborative study from HotelPlanner.com and Meetings.com based on booking data identified over the last several months.
» RELATED: One-tank trips: Labor Day destinations
Based on the data, the five most popular cities to visit over Labor Day weekend this year are Chicago, Illinois; Orlando, Florida; Atlanta; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Washington, D.C.
Atlanta has booked 186 groups that reserved an average of 66 rooms per group. That accounts for more than 49,000 travelers and 12,000 hotel rooms — a 25 percent increase since last year.
» RELATED: 5 great Labor Day hikes (plus waterfalls) in North Georgia
During the 2017 Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, visitors can participate in the ever-popular Dragon Con event where more than 80,000 people are expected to attend and dress up as their favorite science fiction or fantasy characters.
» RELATED: How to survive Dragon Con 2017
Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium will also be the host site of the Chick-fil-A college football kickoff games between the Florida State Seminoles and Alabama Crimson Tide as well as Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. Tennessee Volunteers.
» RELATED: Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game releases Alabama-FSU hype video
And you can't forget the famous Labor Day laser show and fireworks display at Stone Mountain Park.
Here’s a full list of Labor Day weekend events in Atlanta.
But if the thought of Atlanta getting even more crowded during the holiday is giving you anxiety, there are plenty of Labor Day getaways worth the drive from the city.
Escape the city and enjoy a Labor Day hike in North Georgia's Amicalola Falls, Cloudland Canyon or one of the area's many other scenic trails.
Road trip to one of the 10 often-overlooked beaches near the city, from Georgia's Ossabaw Island to Wilmington, North Carolina.
