Experts share tips for Thanksgiving travel as Nashvillians take advantage of lower gas prices
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Tennessee gas prices on the week of Thanksgiving are the lowest they’ve been since the Thanksgiving week of 2020.
AAA officials said the average gas price in Nashville is currently $2.73 about 18 cents lower than 2023. People at gas station pumps in Nashville shared their plans before hitting the road to see their families.
When asked about the effects of traveling in 2024 year with lower gas prices some people said they’re just taking whatever savings they can get after years of high prices.
“I’m going to head up toward Knoxville and visit some of my partner’s family,” Thanksgiving traveler Britt Alford said.
Another driver, Mark Chrismer, said he was heading back to St. Louis to see some family.
AAA officials said the trip home for Thanksgiving would cost Alford and Chrismer a little less to fill their tanks than in years prior.
Alford said while the gas money savings aren’t much, she’ll take it.
“Every penny counts these days so if I’m going to save a few then that’s good news to me,” Alford said.
But gas prices aren’t the only thing on driver’s minds, they’re also thinking about traffic.
Alford said she’s planning ahead to skip possible back-ups.
“We’re going to head out pretty early to maybe potentially if there is any traffic, beat it,” Alford said.
Chrismer said he was also leaving early Wednesday morning.
“That first hour moving west, that’s where I find most of the traffic and sometimes it’s held me up pretty bad so if I can pass that I’m gold,” Chrismer said.
AAA representatives said they’re expecting record-high travel numbers with more than 1.8 million people on the road through Tennessee this Thanksgiving. According to AAA, that number is about 27,000 more than last year.
“I’m leaving quite early at around 8 a.m. and I hope to leave in a time in which I can avoid a lot of it,” Chrismer said. “I’m optimistic that I’ll avoid it.”
AAA experts said the worst time to travel was the Wednesday afternoon before Thanksgiving. They said that time is worse because of all the millions of other drivers also heading home.
To avoid any other issues’ AAA representatives said people should get their car serviced for any issues before hitting the road.
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