DENVER (AP) – As thousands of Coloradans fill their tanks to hit the road for the Fourth of July weekend, gas prices are at their highest levels since 2008, according to analysts at GasBuddy.com.

Prices in Denver are averaging $3.60 a gallon for unleaded gas, while a year ago, it was $3.55 a gallon. The national average is significantly higher, however, around $3.67 per gallon (last year at this time it was $3.50 a gallon).

GasBuddy.com’s listing for the lowest price in Durango was $3.55 at Peerless Tyre, 1990 Main Ave., and the average price in Colorado was $3.607 on Thursday.

Colorado’s branch of the AAA is estimating that 665,000 Coloradans will travel 50 miles or more between now and Sunday, said AAA Colorado spokesperson Wave Dreher.

Despite the spike in gas prices, Dreher doesn’t expect many people to change their plans.

“I think most people that are traveling over the weekend made the decision to go before the gas prices went up,” Dreher said.

Many people opt to save money on food, activities and shopping expenses instead of fuel, she said.

She also thinks that drivers are used to high prices and with the overall economic improvement, they’re not as concerned as they were at the beginning of the recession in 2008, when gas was at $4.11 a gallon.

But for those trying to ease the pain at the pump, Dreher and others offer these tips:

Use gas price apps. Denver area fuel prices July 2 ranged from $3.40 to $3.80. Using apps like GasBuddy to find stations with the lowest prices is the best way to save money, according to Patrick DeHaan.

“If for some reason you’re driving around for your errands or work you could save theoretically 35 cents a gallon just by filling up on the right side of town,” said DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy. “That takes very little work.”

Calculate the cost of fuel ahead of time. To help estimate the cost of fuel for a trip, use websites like fuelcostcalculator.com and such apps as GasBuddy, suggested John Greene, domestic travel counselor at AAA Colorado.

Estimating the cost of gas ahead of time can also benefit those who are traveling longer distances. Mary Hartmann, who with her husband annually travels to Oregon to visit family, said this year they flew rather than drove because it would cost them less.

Plan to buy gas in metropolitan areas. Cities typically have more stations and have more competitive prices, Greene said. He also said it is a smart move because there are some stretches of highways where there aren’t any services for miles, especially if you’re going to Los Angeles or Las Vegas via Interstate 70.

Pack a lunch. Not only does bringing your own food save you money, “It breaks the monotony of the drive,” said Karin Demko, AAA travel member counselor. “You stop, you find a place, you have your nice little picnic, and you’re regenerated and ready to go on.”

Use loyalty cards. Many grocery chains offer loyalty cards that offer discounts on gas. King Soopers’ program offers a 10-cent per gallon gas discount for each $100 spent in the store monthly. And the grocer is offering double fuel points on the weekends through July 27.

While saving money is a goal, don’t let it spoil a vacation, advise the travel pros.

By sometimes taking the slower, more expensive scenic route, Demko says, “it opens up a whole new venue for them.”