AAA urges Denver drivers to fill up early

AAA told Denver-area drivers on May 19 to fill up before leaving the Front Range for mountain destinations over Memorial Day weekend, according to Colorado media reports citing the travel group. The advice came as gasoline prices climbed across Colorado ahead of one of the year’s busiest driving holidays. AAA’s statewide average for regular gasoline was $4.784 a gallon on May 20, up from $4.755 a day earlier and $4.552 a week earlier, according to the group’s fuel tracker. ### Why is AAA telling Denver drivers to buy gas before heading west? The Denver Post reported on May 19 that AAA advised drivers in the Denver area to fuel up along the Front Range before heading into the mountains because prices at destination markets were expected to be higher over the holiday weekend. The newspaper tied the guidance to Memorial Day travel and to the premium that often appears in mountain towns during heavy tourism periods. (gasprices.aaa.com) Colorado’s statewide average also supports the timing of the warning. AAA’s posted average for regular in Colorado rose 23.2 cents in a week, while mid-grade reached $5.195 and premium $5.528 on May 20. ### How fast are prices rising in Colorado? AAA’s Colorado data showed regular gasoline at $4.784 on May 20, compared with $4.552 a week earlier and $3.877 a month earlier. (eedition.denverpost.com) Diesel was listed at $5.644, near the prior day’s $5.681, which AAA marked as the state’s highest recorded diesel average. Nationally, AAA said the average price for regular gasoline was $4.555 on May 20. (gasprices.aaa.com) That put Colorado above the national figure as holiday travel began to build. ### Is this only a Colorado story, or part of a bigger Memorial Day trend? AAA said on May 11 that 45 million Americans were expected to travel at least 50 miles from home between Thursday, May 21, and Monday, May 25, with 39.1 million of them going by car. (gasprices.aaa.com) The group said that forecast would set a Memorial Day weekend record. (gasprices.aaa.com) AAA’s national fuel update on May 14 said drivers were facing the highest Memorial Day gas prices in four years, with crude oil hovering around $100 a barrel and pump prices remaining elevated. ### What does the Front Range warning mean for drivers in practice? Front Range refers to the urban corridor that includes the Denver metro area and other population centers east of the mountains. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA’s advice, as reported by The Denver Post, was straightforward: buy fuel before climbing into resort and recreation markets where holiday demand can push prices higher. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA’s public price pages do not break out the Denver metro average in the search results available here, but the statewide tables show higher-priced mountain metros including Vail and Glenwood Springs among Colorado’s tracked markets. That aligns with the guidance to avoid destination pricing by filling up earlier in the trip. ### What should drivers watch next? (eedition.denverpost.com) Thursday, May 21, is the start of AAA’s Memorial Day holiday travel window, which runs through Monday, May 25. Colorado drivers can track daily changes through AAA’s state fuel-price page as traffic builds into the weekend. (newsroom.aaa.com) (gasprices.aaa.com)