Here's what to know as you travel Middle Tennessee for Memorial Day weekend
Burgers and hot dogs on the grill, plenty of cold drinks on ice and a family gathering with cornhole may be on the Memorial Day weekend menu for many Tennesseans.
But more gatherings and travel mean more traffic on major roadways throughout the country.
Nashville is no different.
For those who might be saying, 'traffic in Nashville? No way.' Would anyone actually say that? Just in case, here's the warning: Over the holiday weekend, expect more.
At least AAA says the Volunteer State ranks among the best in the country for gas prices.
The organization predicts 45.1 million Americans will travel throughout the country during the holiday weekend, up 1.4 million from last year.
With some travel already beginning as many kick off an extended weekend, Nashville will see an increase in highway congestion as May wraps up. A HERE Technologies study of several cities in the United States estimates Tennessee will see 55 highways increase in congestion in May as compared to April, all thanks in part to better weather and the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
So, as folks pack up the cooler, the sunscreen and the family for that road trip, here are a few things they should know before they hit the road:
The average price for a gallon of gas in Tennessee is $2.72, the second least expensive market in the country, AAA reports.
The $2.72 is 44 cents less than one year ago.
Nashville's average price for a gallon of gas is $2.77
The most expensive gas prices in metro markets in Tennessee is Jackson at $2.78.
Clarksville has the least expensive average in Middle Tennessee at $2.65.
Average gas prices are compiled by AAA through surveys of credit card usage and other statistical data at 130,000 stations across the country.
AAA said gas prices are rising again ahead of the summer travel surge. Prices were up 4 cents May 23 from last week due to the increase in the price and demand of crude oil.
With higher volumes of traffic expected over Memorial Day weekend along with local high school graduations, many law enforcement agencies are expecting to head out in force.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol posted on social media May 23 that they plan to be out in "full force" during the holiday weekend, with a focus on DUIs, seatbelts and speeding.
Franklin Police Department will target impaired driving by increasing patrol across the city.
"Memorial Day weekend and graduation celebrations are times of joy and reflection," Police chief Deb Faulkner said in a May 21 statement. "However, they also bring a heightened risk of impaired driving. Our goal is to ensure that everyone can celebrate safely without the tragedy of preventable accidents."
The National Traffic safety Administration reports around 40% of Memorial Day weekend traffic fatalities involve alcohol. And in Tennessee, more than 7,700 driving under the influence-related crashes were reported in 2024.
AAA said it will assist more than 356,000 stranded drivers nationwide during the holiday weekend.
The agency will offer free rides to impaired drivers through their Tow to Go service.
The program started in 1998 and has helped remove around 30,000 impaired drivers from the road, according to statistics provided by AAA.
The service is offered in 11 states, including Tennessee, to AAA members and non-members with a tow truck transporting a person and their vehicle within a 10-mile radius.
Tow to Go will be active from 6 p.m. May 23 to 6 a.m. May 27. The service can't be scheduled in advance.
To use it, call 855-286-9246.
Here Technologies studied the total time it would take to drive the entire road network in several major cities.
While Nashville scored better than areas like Boston, Chicago, Detroit, New York and Los Angeles, the city saw a large jump from the average time of 4.2 hours to 14.2 hours when calculating the time it would take to drive the entire road network in Music City during peak times, like a holiday weekend.
On the positive side, the city scored favorably against Phoenix, who's 38.1 peak traffic drive time is more than double that of Nashville.
Whether someone is looking for a Memorial Day-inspired party along Lower Broadway or a brunch with friends, Nashville has it covered.
A free Musicians Corner concert will be held at Centennial Park May 23-25.
The family friendly event will feature live music, drinks, food, a kids play area and local vendors.
For those looking to burn off some weekend calories, or getting a workout in before a Memorial Day pig-out, a Memorial Day Dash 5K will be held May 26 at Adventure Science Center, 800 Fort Negley Boulevard.
And of course, there's always dinner and movie.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What to know as you travel during Memorial Day weekend
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
5 hours ago
- CNN
Hear from Americans still trying to leave Israel
Commercial airlines have, for days now, halted all flights in and out of Israel due to the ongoing conflict with Iran. CNN spoke to multiple Americans in central Israel who are still struggling to leave the country.
CNN
5 hours ago
- CNN
Hear from Americans still trying to leave Israel
Commercial airlines have, for days now, halted all flights in and out of Israel due to the ongoing conflict with Iran. CNN spoke to multiple Americans in central Israel who are still struggling to leave the country.
New York Post
7 hours ago
- New York Post
Summer travel forecast to shatter records for Fourth Of July — here's how many Americans will be on the move
There's going to be a real tournami. The American Automobile Association predicts that a record number of Americans will travel across the country over the July 4th holiday week from Saturday, June 28 to Sunday, July 6. During that period, 72.2 million people will reportedly journey at least 50 miles from home — an increase of 1.7 million travelers compared to last year and 7 million more than in 2019, per the forecast. 'Following Memorial Day's record forecast, AAA is seeing strong demand for road trips and air travel over Independence Day week,' said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. 'The top 10 heaviest travel days in TSA history have all happened within the past year, and we expect to see more heavy volumes this summer,' said Kristie Jordan Smith, a TSA official at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) milanmarkovic78 – Indeed, a record 62 million travelers will be commuting by car over Independence Day weekend, marking an uptick of 1.3 million from last year. Meanwhile, the number of air travelers is also 'projected to set a new record,' per the autoclub, which expects that 5.84 million travelers will jet to their destinations — 8% of all July 4 travelers. That marks a 1.4% increase over the previous record of 5.76 million during Independence Day week of last year. Coney Island beach in New York, which is the third biggest July 4 destination this year, according to AAA booking data. Stock fresh – According to AAA booking data for the July 4 travel period, the top three domestic destinations are Orlando (FL), Seattle (WA), New York, (NY) while internationally the most US travelers are flocking to Vancouver (Canada), Rome (Italy) and Paris (France). 'Cruises, beaches, and fireworks are the main motivators for travelers heading to these cities,' AAA writes. 'Alaska cruises are in peak season, Florida and Hawaii are in high demand for their resorts and attractions, and New York and Boston host two of the most popular fireworks shows in the nation.' AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz claimed that the expected travel surge is as much an 'emotional decision' as it is a practical or economic one. 'People don't have to spend a lot of money when they go on these trips, but people want to get away and not be home,' she said. The Transportation Security Administration is bracing for the tournami. 'The top 10 heaviest travel days in TSA history have all happened within the past year, and we expect to see more heavy volumes this summer,' said Kristie Jordan Smith, a TSA official at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), CBS reported. Airport officials are hoping to curb the congestion by implementing facial recognition technology. Customs officials claim that wait times are already down 25% thanks to this expeditious tech, which is now operational at nine flight hubs across the country.
