Getting your Trinity Audio player ready. NASHVILLE AAA is forecasting a record-setting Thanksgiving travel season in Tennessee, with nearly 1. 9 million residents expected to journey 50 miles or Nationwide, the auto club anticipates 81. 8 million Americans will travel for the holiday 1. 6 million more than in 2024 reinforcing Thanksgiving’s status as the busiest travel period of the year. AAA reports the following Tennessee travel projections: 1, 933, 203 total travelers, including more than 1. 8 million traveling by car, 51, 445 by air and 22, 649 by bus, train or cruise. Debbie Haas, vice president of travel for AAA The Auto Club Group, said Tennesseans are “embracing the Thanksgiving spirit with record-breaking travel plans,” noting that concerns about flight cancellations may drive even more people to the roads. AAA expects nearly 73 million Americans to travel by car, a figure that includes more than 1. 8 million Tennesseans. Hertz, AAA’s rental car partner, says Wednesday will be the busiest day for vehicle pickups, while domestic rental rates have dropped 15% from last year. Gas prices are expected to mirror last year’s $3. 06 national average, and AAA urges drivers to prepare by checking their batteries and tire pressure. Last year, the agency handled nearly 600, 000 roadside calls nationwide, many related to dead batteries, flat tires and empty tanks. AAA and Mothers Against Drunk Driving also are warning travelers to avoid impaired driving; between 2019 and 2023, 868 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes during the Thanksgiving period. More than 6 million Americans are expected to fly this year a 2% increase including more than 51, 000 Tennesseans. But recent flight reductions and the possibility of cancellations could shift some travelers to alternative plans. Domestic airfares are averaging about $700 round trip, similar to 2024 prices. AAA says travelers may save by flying on Thanksgiving Day, though return flights on Sunday and Monday remain the most expensive. Haas encouraged air travelers to book early and build flexibility into their trips, suggesting early morning departures and backup plans in case of disruptions. Travel by bus, train and cruise is expected to rise 8. 5% nationally. In Tennessee, more than 22, 000 people are planning to travel by those modes. Cruise demand continues to climb, with AAA projecting 20. 7 million U. S. passengers in 2025 and 21. 7 million in 2026. AAA’s top Thanksgiving destinations include Florida for domestic travelers, thanks to theme parks and cruise ports, while international Bookings are led by Europe, the Caribbean and Australia, which offers warm spring weather during the U. S. holiday.
https://elizabethton.com/2025/11/21/record-1-9-million-tennesseans-expected-to-travel-for-thanksgiving-aaa-says/
Record 1.9 million Tennesseans expected to travel for Thanksgiving, AAA says
