How to dodge record-high July 4 travel in Colorado

Nearly 71 million people nationwide are predicted to travel the week of the Fourth of July, and Denver ranks ninth among the top domestic destinations visitors are flocking to, a new AAA forecast shows.

Why it matters: Be prepared for traffic congestion, long lines and delays, plus plenty of congestion at the airport, state parks, lakes and downtown.

What they're saying: "2024 is the year of travel, surpassing 2019's numbers and some records that are nearly two decades old," a sign that speaks "to the strength of the American economy," Skyler McKinley, AAA's regional director of public affairs, said in a statement.

By the numbers: More than 878,000 passengers are forecasted to travel through Denver International Airport from June 28 through July 9, airport officials say.

• The busiest days will be June 28 and 30 as well as July 7 and 8. Peak times are 3-4:30am, 7-9am and 3-5pm.
• AAA recommends arriving at least two hours early, traveling with carry-on luggage over checked bags and reserving parking ahead of time.

Zoom in: For car travelers, peak congestion in Colorado will be on southbound Interstate 25 from Fort Collins to Denver on July 8 at 7:30am, per INRIX, a traffic analytics company cited by AAA.

• INRIX predicts travel time will be 56% above normal, taking an average 1 hour and 37 minutes.
• The worst times to travel by car nationwide before and on July 4th are 2-7pm.
• The best time to hit the road is in the morning, except for on July 8, when drivers should avoid rush hour traffic in the morning and afternoon.

The bottom line: "Travelers should monitor 511 services, local news stations, and traffic apps for up-to-the-minute road conditions," said Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst at INRIX.