More Tennesseans are traveling this holiday season than did last year.
Projections from AAA, the auto club, show more than 2.6 million Tennesseans will travel between December 23rd and January 2nd. The figure is 35 percent higher than last year. But it’s still about 5 percent lower than the record numbers of holiday travelers in 2019.
Most travelers (2.5 million of them) will drive themselves on Tennessee roads. AAA predicts about 68,000 will travel by air. About 84,500 will travel the state by bus, train, or cruise.
Increased demand has also increased prices. AAA says airfare is up 5 percent from last year. The average lowest round-trip ticket costs $154 this year for most major U.S. destinations. Airfare will rise by 27 percent around New Year’s Eve with average lowest fares around $182.
Many mid-range hotel rates have increased 36 percent for Christmas travel, with an average nightly rate of $320. For New Year’s Eve, the average nightly rate is $267.
The average car rental rate has increased 20 percent for Christmas travel, with the average lowest daily rate of $130. It will increase 65 percent for New Year’s, for an average lowest daily rate of $103.
