Nashville July 4 Travel: Record-Breaking 'Weekend' On Tap

NASHVILLE, TN -- July 4 falling on a Wednesday causes a number of existential and philosophical questions. For example, is Independence Day at the beginning of a long weekend or the end?

As people wrestle with one of the great questions of our time, travel groups like AAA ruled the July 4 travel period runs July 3 to July 8. The Tennessee Department of Transportation slid the windows to the left, ruling the July 4 "weekend" runs June 29 through July 5, suspending road construction projects and most lane closures during that time.

Whenever it is, it's going to be busy. AAA predicts nearly 47 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more during the Independence Day holiday with nearly 80 percent of those traveling by car. Travel in Tennessee is expected to climb 5.5 percent over last year, consistent with national trends.

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The busiest travel day in Nashville, as in most major metros, will be Tuesday, peaking between 3 and 6 p.m.

Part of the reason Nashville could get so busy is not so much people getting out of town as people coming in. Boasting what is now believed to be the nation's largest July 4 fireworks show, combined with a generally increased profile as a travel destination, Nashville was the top gainer among July 4 destinations this year, according to research from Priceline, which found a 50 percent increase in year over year hotel bookings compared to 2017.

Gas prices heading into the travel period are relatively stable, averaging $2.59 per gallon in Tennessee, the same as last week and 11 cents lower than a month ago. In the Nashville area, the average is about a nickel higher than the statewide average, with the lowest prices northwest and southeast of the city itself.

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