Experts offer advice on traveling during Memorial Day
JACKSON, Tenn. — Memorial Day trips are the first of many summer travels for family and friends.
We reached out to some experts to help your plans go smoothly.
AAA research has shown that most Tennesseans will be driving on this holiday.
This can mean more traffic and a rise in gas prices.
“The more we head towards the busy summer travel season, the more we can see volatility– more fluctuation in those gas prices,” said Megan Cooper, AAA Spokesperson.
The southeastern region will have lower gas prices than other regions.
Another thing to be reminded of is the best time to travel.
“When you are planning your travel out you want to avoid those afternoon periods on Thursday and Friday that’s when we expect to see that commuter traffic mixed with those that are leaving out of town,” said Cooper.
Travel Agent, Selena Shackelford, shares a few tips for travelers.
For those that may be flying, be prepared for delays and opt for a carry on rather than a checked bag to save more time.
“A lot of the national parks are great places to go and visit during memorial day. You’ve got Yosemite, you got Yellowstone, and you’ve also got the Great Smoky Mountains. Any of those areas are gonna be great places to go to tour and camp,” said Shackelford.
Although some busier states may be visited, Tennessee may be a hub for a few tourists.
“Nashville and Chattanooga, Gatlinburg, several of our metro areas in Tennessee are very popular. So even if you aren’t traveling outside of the state you can still expect things to be pretty busy from people either traveling through our state or coming even specifically to Tennessee,” said Cooper.
Also, the best trips may be those less traveled.
“You know think outside the box go different places. Explore new things just take that time to do something a little different a little out of the ordinary. Also, if you’re willing to go off the beaten path a lot of times you can find hidden gems out there,” said Shackelford.
TDOT has shared that construction will be stopped on state routes during Memorial Day weekend.
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