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4th of July travelers expected to set records in Tennessee, US over holiday weekend

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Planning to travel this Fourth of July?

Prepare for traffic or plan to modify your schedule because you’re not alone.

An estimated 1.4 million Tennesseans will hit the road over the holiday weekend, according to AAA, which says it expects to see new travel records set this year not only in Tennessee, but for the whole U.S.

“The summer travel season is off to a hot start,” Debbie Haas, vice president of travel for AAA, said in a statement. “There will be 3.5 million more travelers than last year.  That means even more people at airports and popular attractions like beaches, lakes and theme parks.”

Almost 80 million people are expected to travel nationwide, a 5.2% increase over last year, according to AAA.

In Tennessee, 1.6 million are expected to travel with nearly 90% of those by car and the remainder by air and other means. Lower gas prices, compared to last year, are also encouraging this upward tick in road travel, AAA said.

When is the best time to travel this Forth of July?

The worst times to travel by car during the holiday weekend is between 2-7 p.m., AAA said.

“Drivers should hit the road in the morning, and travelers returning on … July 8 should avoid rush hour traffic in the morning and afternoon,” according to the AAA’s statement.

The highest volume of traffic is expected Wednesday, July 3 and Sunday, July 7.

Best times for travel include:

  • Tuesday, July 2: After 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, July 3: Before noon
  • Thursday, July 4: Before noon
  • Friday, July 5: Before 10 a.m.
  • Saturday, July 6: Before 10 a.m.
  • Sunday, July 7: Before 11 a.m.
  • Monday, July 8: After 7 p.m.

Flying? Arrive early, pack smart for smooth travel

While the July 4 weekend is not a heavy travel period for airports, they are expected to see a small bump in visitors, AAA said.

Nationally, airports are expecing 5.7 million travelers this year compared to the 5.4 last year. Tennessee airports are expected to see about 4,000 more visitors this year, AAA said.

Erin Thomas, a spokesperson for Nashville International Airport, said historically, July 4 is not a busy weekend for the airport and they don’t expect this year to be much different.

But, for those traveling by air this coming holiday, these tips can help things go smoothly:

  • Take advantage of the reduced rates in the parking garage while picking up loved ones. Parking in the garage for less than 30 minutes is free and increases to $5 between 30-45 minutes and $10 for up to an hour.
  • Sign up for text alerts at flynashville.com for the most up-to-date traffic information at the airport.
  • Arrive early to give yourself plenty of time to park, check-in and get to your gate.
  • Check the status of your flight before arriving to the airport for any delays or cancelations at flynashville.com/flights.
  • Familiarize yourself with TSA’s travel tips like liquid and food restrictions before packing to expedite the security process.
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