Over The Hills, Through The Woods: AAA Projects More Tennesseans to Travel for Thanksgiving

TAMPA, FL — Nearly one in six Tennesseans will drive at least 50 miles for Thanksgiving this year, according to the latest projections from AAA.

The auto club predicts 1.086 million people from the Volunteer State will hit the road for the holiday, an increase of 3.7 percent from Thanksgiving 2015. Overall, AAA says 43.5 million Americans will take a drive of 50 or more miles, an increase of nearly 2 percent from last year.

This year’s increase in Thanksgiving travel is spurred by positive economic indicators, including rising wages, increased consumer spending and overall strength in consumer confidence. Though gas prices have crept up in the last few months, particularly in the wake of the pipeline problems in Alabama, AAA estimates American drivers have saved more than $28 billion so far at the pumps this year compared to the same period last year.

The national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.17, 12 cents more than the average price on Thanksgiving Day 2015. If prices dip below last year’s levels, regular unleaded will be the cheapest since 2008, when the national average was $1.85.

In addition, airports look to be busier than last year as well, with air travel increasing 1.6 percent nationally and 1.5 percent among Tennesseans, this despite a 21 percent increase in airfares to the nation's top 40 flight destinations.

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