Travelers share where they are going for Thanksgiving

JACKSON, Tenn. — Thanksgiving is a time to reunite with family and celebrate together what they’re thankful for. But for many that requires traveling. 

With the holiday season comes more travel and AAA is predicting 1.2 million Tennesseans will make their way to a holiday destination. That’s 2,000 more than last year. 

We spoke to Scott Saunders, who told us he was traveling to Memphis from Chattanooga to visit his wife’s family. He said he makes the drive every year during the holidays.

With AAA predicting higher amounts of travelers, we asked Saunders how it compared to previous years.

“The travel has been relatively easy. Some traffic as always coming out of Chattanooga, but on our way now. We’ve got another hour and a half. So we’re expecting more traffic but been much easier this time around than it has previously. So we’re feeling lucky,” Saunders said.

Saunders told us why he believed things were easier this year compared to others.

“I think people coming directly out of COVID. They were itching to get out and now it seems to be getting back to normal more or less. I mean you’re competing with more people than we typically do, but for the most part, it’s been really quick and easy. And I’ve felt fortunate that there’s been no incidents on the road to account for,” Saunders said.

We also spoke to Carl Fosnaugh, who was heading to Memphis from Lexington, Kentucky.

He also said much the same. He says the last time he made this drive was during the COVID-19 pandemic and the roadways were mostly empty.

Even now, with the roadways being full, Fosnaugh felt the drive was pleasant.

“It’s actually been smooth. I’ve been really happy. I mean, we’ve been coming down western Kentucky and into West Tennessee. That slice of America has been a really, really, enjoyable ride,” Fosnaugh said.

We spoke to a woman who chose not to appear on camera who told us at 5 p.m. she still had nine more hours in her drive from Knoxville to southern Louisiana.

She told us she isn’t stopping until she gets to her destination, which will be around 4 a.m.

“So we’re excited to get to spend some time with my wife’s family and enjoy a few days without some work,” Saunders said.

“Just a lot of food, a lot of family. Just really excited to see some people we haven’t seen in a year,” Fosnaugh said.

For a list of where you can find information about road closures and other traffic information, click here.