Stop and go traffic makes its way down Interstate 24 West near the Old Ringgold Road overpass Thursday, June 28, 2018 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Traffic is expected to be heavy around the Fourth of July.More Info
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Nearly 47 million Americans, including more than 927,000 Tennesseans, will travel for the upcoming holiday. That's about a 5.4-percent increase, or 47,000 more Tennessee travelers, than last year, according to insurance carrier AAA and INRIX, a global transportation analytics company.
That sets a new record for Fourth of July holiday travel since AAA began tracking it 18 years ago. This year the holiday period is defined as Tuesday, July 3, to Sunday, July 8.
AAA reports roughly 831,000 of the 927,000 Tennessee residents traveling for the holiday will take a road trip of 50 miles or more, although a record-breaking 3.8 million Americans and 40,000 Tennessee residents will fly to their destinations thanks to the lowest airfares for the holiday in five years. Another 55,000 Tennesseans will travel via train, bus and/or cruise. In Georgia, nearly 1.4 million are expected to travel - 105,000 by plane and another 78,000 by train, bus or cruise.
"We are already seeing a busy summer travel season and Independence Day will be no exception," said Vicky Evans, assistant vice president of travel sales development for AAA. "Consumers remain confident in the economy and have additional disposable income to put toward a summer getaway."
While airfares are lower, gas prices will be the highest they've been for the holiday nationwide since 2014. GasBuddy reports drivers will shell out an average of $2.90 per gallon, but that is still substantially lower than the 2014 high of $3.66. According to GasBuddy, motorists aren't likely to curtail their holiday travel plans because of the jump in price.
On their way from Sebring, Florida, to Ashland, Ohio, Lea Ann and Robert Curry weren't going to let gas prices stop them from visiting Chattanooga and seeing family. The couple was viewing the butterfly garden at the Tennessee Aquarium Friday morning. Curry said she and her husband wanted to be in Ohio by Saturday evening - where they will stay until after the holiday - so they wouldn't hit any traffic.
Curry said they filled up for $2.45 per gallon in Chattanooga. Metro area gas prices are still significantly lower than the national average.
"We filled up at $2.63 [per gallon] in Florida and last week it was $2.66!" Curry said.
The news isn't all bad for those taking a road trip. The Tennessee Department of Transportation has suspended all construction-related lane closures on interstates and state routes until 6 a.m. Thursday, . Motorists still will encounter some long-term lane closures though, and workers may still be on site in construction zones so reduced speed limits are in effect.
Drivers convicted of speeding through work zones can face a fine of $250 to $500, TDOT states.
Contact staff writer Allison Shirk at ashirk@timesfreepress.com, @Allison_Shirk or 423-757-6651.