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Highway travel over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend is projected to be up and down -- down in Tennessee, up nationwide, but not by much.

Through the skies, airline passenger traffic is expected to be below last year's levels.

The common theme: It's the economy.

AAA projects an 8 percent drop in the number of Tennesseans traveling, but expects a 1.4 percent increase nationwide. An expected 38.4 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more away from home over the holiday.

"Improved consumer confidence from one year ago, better financial market performance and a growing sense among many consumers that the worst of the global economic crisis is behind us has helped increase travel nationwide", said Don Lindsey, AAA East Tennessee Public Affairs Director.

"In Tennessee, however, the unemployment rate and our conservative culture have helped to stifle some travel plans again this year."

AAA expects 38.4 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more away from home over this year's holiday weekend compared to 37.8 million last year. The number of automobile travelers is expected to be 33.2 million compared to 32.5 million last year.

As for the airways, expect the usual holiday bump in passenger traffic at McGhee Tyson Airport.

"Our planes average over 75 percent full every month, and a holiday only makes them more full," said Becky Huckaby, Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority spokeswoman.