Big helping of holiday travel: Most travelers since 2007 hitting roads

photo Interstate 24 becomes a bottleneck for traffic entering and leaving Chattanooga near Moccasin Bend.

Sleepy dachshund eyes gave way to the afternoon sun Monday as Ken and Esther Friend, having left Memphis that morning, stopped at Cracker Barrel in East Ridge and prepared for the last leg of their Thanksgiving trip to Ellijay, Ga.

The Friends left their Fayetteville, Ark., home on Sunday with their three dogs and will have long since met family at a rented cabin in Ellijay by today. They'll stay there through the Thanksgiving weekend and head home early next week -- thus avoiding almost all Thanksgiving traffic.

Ken Friend said it was an unintentional benefit of planning that the couple avoided traveling on the worst Thanksgiving traffic days, which are typically the day before the holiday and the Saturday and Sunday following.

But the Friends are dodging what travel experts predict to be the largest number of Thanksgiving travelers since prerecession times.

Experts at AAA estimate that 46.3 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more during the holiday week, which is the most people to do so since 2007 and a 4.2 percent increase over 2013.

The country's roadways will see the lion's share of those travelers, as 41.3 million Americans are expected to drive to and from their Thanksgiving destinations. Just over 3.5 million Americans will fly during the holiday week, which is also the highest number since 2007.

The increase in Thanksgiving travel coincides with smoother economic times: Unemployment rates are falling, the stock market is rallying and the nation's financial health is improving.

Plus, gasoline prices are way down.

The national average price for a gallon of gas is below $3 a gallon, and that's expected to save Thanksgiving travelers more than $650 million from what they spent on fuel this time last year.

In Tennessee, gas is more than 50 cents cheaper than it was a year ago, according to GasBuddy.com. This week, pump prices have lingered around $2.50 a gallon.

Still, transportation costs account for a third of the $540 most Americans plan to spend on Thanksgiving, the agency reports.

And while gas prices are down across the board, car rental fees and air fares are up 10 and 1 percent, respectively, according to AAA.

Tarrence Johnson operates Avis Rent A Car out of Northgate Mall, one of two rental shops north of the river in Chattanooga.

He said the airport Avis booth tends to get more business, but things pick up at the Northgate location at this time of year.

Where airport travelers typically need a vehicle for a short stay in the city, Johnson said the Northgate Avis serves customers who drive gas-guzzling trucks or SUVs and want something more fuel efficient for a long trip.

"It's more cost efficient to get something versus driving their truck or their SUV," he said. "They're saving more money by renting a car than paying for gas in their personal cars."

Johnson also said some customers simply want to avoid putting wear and tear on their personal vehicles.

Travel experts warn, though, that those who set out on a road trip today face the worst pre-Thanksgiving traffic.

Jennifer Flynn, Tennessee Department of Transportation spokeswoman, said Thanksgiving is typically the most-traveled winter holiday in Tennessee, and she warned drivers to expect delays today and on Sunday.

To ease congestion during this holiday travel week, TDOT has stopped all road construction requiring lane closures.

"We just want to get out of people's way," Flynn said.

She urged caution at Chattanooga's Interstate 24/I-75 split, which "tends to get congested during the holiday season."

Contact staff writer Alex Green at agreen@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6480.

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