NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — This year's holiday travel predictions from AAA are higher than they've ever been, with a 3% increase from last year and the second highest year-end travel volume since 2000.
AAA says more than 2.5 million Tennesseeans will drive to their destination for the holidays, and over 74,000 are expected to take a flight.
This being said, they provided some of the best and worst times to travel from Dec. 23 to Jan. 1 to help ease the traffic headache.
The best times to travel are before lunchtime or after 7 p.m.
As a reminder, AAA also gave a list of suggestions for how to make your trip to the airport easier if you are flying:
- Reserve a parking spot ahead of time to save time and money.
- Choose a well-lit, secure garage.
- On-site garages tend to be more expensive but offer convenience and peace of mind given their proximity to the terminals.
- If choosing off-site parking, look for reputable businesses like The Parking Spot [u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net], which is securely fenced and offers a shuttle to the airport (AAA members get a discount).
- Opt for covered parking if you live in an area expecting inclement weather.
- Remove valuables from your vehicle.
- Lock doors and roll up windows.
- Take a photo of your spot to remember where you parked.
- Keep your ticket – and receipt, if you prepaid – handy to show when exiting.
Fundraising efforts are underway in Brownsville and Nutbush, TN to build a statue for a major superstar who was raised there, Anna Mae Bullock. You probably know her by her stage name, Tina Turner. I was a huge fan of Tina and glad to see efforts are underway to showcase more of her ties to West Tennessee.
-Lelan Statom
