When is the best and worst time to travel for Thanksgiving?

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Around 80 million Americans are expected to travel over Thanksgiving week, according to AAA.

Of the 80 million, AAA’s Thanksgiving travel forecast says 70 million are expected to travel by car and almost 6 million are expected to fly to their destination.

INRIX, a “provider of transportation data and insights,” is predicting the worst time for people to travel by car over Thanksgiving are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Additionally, INRIX said the best time to drive is Thanksgiving Day. For returning home, INRIX said drivers should leave early Sunday morning.

“With a record number of travelers expected to be on the road, drivers should follow traffic apps and local news alerts to avoid major delays,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX.

Motorists can check traffic through navigation apps like Google Maps and Waze for real-time traffic conditions. They can also check, TDOT Smartway for road conditions in Tennessee.

Despite the record-breaking prediction of travelers, AAA said gas prices are lower this Thanksgiving season compared to last year.

In 2024, the average gas price in Middle Tennessee is $2.71. In 2023, the Middle Tennessee gas price average was $3.01, according to AAA.

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