July Fourth's best and worst times to travel by car
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The busiest July Fourth travel week since at least 2019 is upon us, AAA predicts.
Why it matters: The right departure time could save you hours stuck in traffic.
Zoom in: Avoid traveling northbound on Interstate 25 around 2:30pm Monday, when congestion is expected to spike 78%.
State of play: The worst holiday traffic is expected to start Thursday, according to INRIX, a transportation data firm that works with AAA to calculate travel times.
- To dodge the heaviest traffic, leave early in the day June 29, or consider heading out the next day, per INRIX.
Zoom in: From June 26 through July 6, Denver International Airport expects more than 844,000 passengers to travel through its terminal.
- The airport predicts June 28 will be its busiest day — though next Sunday, July 5, is also expected to draw another 85,000 passengers.
Be smart: You can always check TSA security lines at DIA by visiting FlyDenver.com/security.
- Security line peak times are usually 3-4:30am, 8-10am, and 3-5pm.
The big picture: AAA expects 72.2 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles for Independence Day between last Saturday and July 5.