July Fourth's best and worst times to travel by car

July Fourth's best and worst times to travel by car

Data: INRIX; Chart: Sami Sparber/Axios

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.