Transportation in Tennessee

Vehicles, public transit, airports, traffic and commuting.

Households without a vehicle
5.4%
2024 · Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates
Workers commuting by public transit
0.5%
2024 · Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates
Passengers boarded at Nashville and Memphis international airports
8,135,392
2012 · Bureau of Transportation Statistics / FAA
Traffic fatalities
1,197
2024 · NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System
Mean travel time to work
26.5
2024 · Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates
Bridges in poor condition
4.4%
2025 · FHWA National Bridge Inventory

Vehicles

Cars and registrations.

Households without a vehicle
5.4%
2024 · Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates
Vehicles per household
2.1

Households without a vehicle

2006–2024
5.4%

Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B08201 (2020 not released).

  • •Nissan's Smyrna plant is one of the highest-volume vehicle assembly plants in North America.

Public Transit

Buses and rail.

Workers commuting by public transit
0.5%
2024 · Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates
Transit commuters
0.7%
Largest system
WeGo Public Transit (Nashville)

Workers commuting by public transit

2006–2024
0.5%

Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, share of workers 16+, B08301 (2020 not released).

IndicatorTennesseeU.S.
Transit commuters (%)0.73.1

Airports

Air travel.

Passengers boarded at Nashville and Memphis international airports
8,135,392
2012 · Bureau of Transportation Statistics / FAA
Passengers boarded at BNA
11,195,381
2023 · Bureau of Transportation Statistics / FAA enplanements.
Busiest airport
Nashville BNA
Memphis cargo
1st in U.S. by tonnage

Passengers boarded at Nashville and Memphis international airports

2003–2012
8,135,392▼ 12%

Bureau of Transportation Statistics / FAA, enplanements at BNA, MEM.

Passengers boarded at BNA

2003–2023
11,195,381▲ 186%

Bureau of Transportation Statistics / FAA enplanements.

Traffic

Congestion and travel.

Traffic fatalities
1,197
2024 · NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System
Fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles
1.5
2024 · NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System
Annual delay per driver
38 hours
Nashville
Congestion rank
Nashville 24th in U.S.

Traffic fatalities

1994–2024
1,197▼ 1%

NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), State Traffic Data.

Fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles

1994–2024
1.52▼ 32%

NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), State Traffic Data.

Commuting Patterns

How people get to work.

Mean travel time to work
26.5
2024 · Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates
Workers who drive alone
75.0%
2024 · Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates
Workers who work from home
12.7%
2024 · Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates
Average commute
25.4 min
Drive alone
82.6%
Work from home
11.2%

Mean travel time to work

2006–2024
26.5▲ 13%

Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, aggregate travel time ÷ workers not working at home, B08013/B08012 (2020 not released).

Workers who drive alone

2006–2024
75%

Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, share of workers 16+, B08301 (2020 not released).

Workers who work from home

2006–2024
12.7%

Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, share of workers 16+, B08301 (2020 not released).

IndicatorTennesseeU.S.
Average commute (min)25.426.8

Infrastructure

Roads and bridges.

Bridges in poor condition
4.4%
2025 · FHWA National Bridge Inventory
Bridges in good condition
42.3%
2025 · FHWA National Bridge Inventory
Total highway bridges
20,374
2025 · FHWA National Bridge Inventory
Vehicle miles traveled
78,750
2024 · FHWA vehicle miles traveled as published with NHTSA FARS
Interstate miles
1,105
Bridges rated poor
3.8%
Below U.S. average

Bridges in poor condition

2000–2025
4.4%

FHWA National Bridge Inventory, Bridge Condition by Highway System (as of June each year).

Bridges in good condition

2000–2025
42.3%

FHWA National Bridge Inventory, Bridge Condition by Highway System (as of June each year).

Total highway bridges

2000–2025
20,374▲ 5%

FHWA National Bridge Inventory, Bridge Condition by Highway System (as of June each year).

Vehicle miles traveled

1994–2024
78,750▲ 45%

FHWA vehicle miles traveled as published with NHTSA FARS (fatalities ÷ fatality rate per 100M VMT).

IndicatorTennesseeU.S.
Bridges in poor condition (%)3.86.8