DENVER - Auto club AAA says Colorado and surrounding mountain states will be the exception to an anticipated national decline in July Fourth travel this year.

AAA said Wednesday it expects 2.6 million Americans in the region to travel 50 or more miles from home over the holiday weekend. That's an increase of 1.2 percent from last year.

Nationally, the club expects a decrease of 1.9 percent. It blames the economy, particularly rising unemployment and sagging personal incomes.

AAA says relatively lower unemployment will allow an uptick in travel in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Arizona.