DENVER (KDVR) — If you’re traveling for Thanksgiving, good luck. Be prepared for crowded flights between people heading home for the holidays and Denver International Airport, her third busiest airport in the world.
Thanksgiving is one of the busiest times of the year.
In 2019, 2021 and 2022, the Sunday after Thanksgiving was the busiest day of the year for U.S. passenger travel, according to TSA passenger data.
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Airport congestion isn’t the only factor delaying your journey. Here are some factors that can affect your vacation travel at DIA.
traffic jam
Even without holiday traffic congestion, accidents can still happen, which can affect your arrival time to the airport.
Check traffic conditions before you go. FOX31 features an interactive travel map that shows travel speeds and delays. The Colorado Department of Transportation also has a travel website. The app can be downloaded from the Apple Store or Google Play Store.
parking
Parking at DIA can be expensive, especially if you are traveling for several days. Parking costs $30 per day, while economy parking costs $18 per day. Both are about 5-10 minutes walk from the airport.
Shuttles are cheap at $8 a day and will take you from the Pikes Peak Lot and Long Peak Lot to the airport. The shuttle takes approximately 7-10 minutes. Parking is also available at 61st and Peña for $7 per day.
Don’t let parking take too long on your trip. However, you may want to consider getting him a ride to the airport or using his RTD. The rate of car theft at airports has been steadily increasing over the past few years.
Car thefts still on the rise at Denver International Airport
According to Denver Police Department records, 2023 saw an increase in car thefts near DIA than ever before. In the first half of this year, from January to July, there were 801 car thefts within a seven-mile radius around the airport.
safety
The general rule is to arrive at the airport two hours early. If you’re traveling close to Thanksgiving, you’ll probably want to arrive even earlier.
DIA is notorious for long lines at security checkpoints. However, this is not always the case. Sometimes the wind blows through. Also, the line may wrap around the baggage claim area.
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Security wait times can be found online, but these times are estimates only. You can also reserve a spot in line by making a TSA reservation.
Even when you factor in traffic, parking, and security, there are still factors that slow you down: between navigating between people, screening your bags, and finding your gate, there’s a good chance you’ll miss your flight.
If you are traveling to DIA during the holidays, please allow plenty of time.
