TRAVEL FORECAST & TIPS

I-70 traffic is quite predictable unless affected by weather or accidents. Plan to avoid peak travel times and enjoy a delay-free trip along I-70. Our weekend travel forecast is updated every Thursday afternoon.

Weekend Travel Forecast: Feb. 21-23

The mountain corridor can expect three to six inches inches of snow from Thursday to Friday, with the potential for more. Take advantage of fresh conditions Friday morning, as it will be the last soft snow for over a week. The storm will clear by Friday afternoon, leading to sunny skies and mild temperatures over the weekend. Mid-mountain highs will reach the upper 20s to low 30s on Saturday and the upper 30s on Sunday. Traction law remains in effect so be prepared with good tires and chains if needed. Plan your I-70 travel around the times below for More Mountains. Less Traffic.

Friday WB – Traffic will be thick between 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. but delays should only be in the 15-minute range. Traffic volume will also be high from 2-7 p.m. The last two years, this afternoon traffic resulted in 20 minutes additional travel time.

Friday EB – Returning day-skiers will generate light traffic congestion between 2 and 7:30 p.m. and delays could be in the neighborhood of 40 minutes.

Saturday WB – Traffic will start to build quickly at 5:30 a.m. and last until 11 a.m. Plan 45 minutes of extra travel time from C470 to Silverthorne with the worst of the delays occurring around 7:00 a.m.

Saturday EB – Congestion is likely between 2 and 6 p.m. with delays of around 30 minutes are possible.

Sunday WB – Traffic might be heavy from 5:30-10 a.m. as day skiers head to the mountains but delays were not significant on this day last year.

Sunday EB – Traffic volumes will develop quickly starting by Noon and end at approximately 7 p.m. It will take folks at least an extra hour to travel between Silverthorne and C470.

*The GoI70.com Travel Forecast is based on historical data, along with an estimation of how weather, construction, public events and other factors might impact travel.

I-70 DAILY SNOW

Update:

4-12 inches for Friday's reports. 45-71 inches over the past 10 days. Snow showers through early Friday afternoon. Clearing skies on Friday night. Sunny on Saturday and Sunday. Mild and mostly dry weather will remain in place through the end of February.

Read this post at OpenSnow

TIPS FOR I-70 MOUNTAIN TRAVEL

Avoid the Peak Travel Times. If heading eastbound on Saturday or Sunday, plan to leave the mountains after 7:00 p.m. Check the weekend and holiday Travel Forecast.
Check the road and traffic conditions before you travel.
Check out the Peak Time Deals local businesses offer to help you avoid peak travel times.
Spend a Sunday night in the mountains and head to work or school early Monday morning.
Prepare for I-70 mountain driving conditions. Know the Colorado Traction Law.
Create or join a carpool with the TreadShare App.
Consider taking a bus, train, van to the mountains and leave the driving to someone else.

IMPORTANT INFO TO KNOW

Weather, Road Conditions & Accidents are impossible to predict and can escalate the level and duration of delays dramatically. Check CDOT’s CoTrip.org before you travel.

Colorado’s Traction Law is in effect Sept 1-May 31, regardless of current weather conditions. Learn if your tires meet the Traction Law specifications here.

The Mountain Express Lanes are open on the weekends and holidays to provide a faster and more reliable travel time between Denver and the mountains. Get the Express Toll pass to pay the posted toll rate. Those without a pass will be billed the posted rate plus a service charge. Order the pass at ExpressToll.com.

Holiday Weekends – When a national holiday falls on a Monday, you can count on Monday afternoon eastbound traffic similar to a typical Sunday pattern, but with higher volume.

Metering – Traffic metering goes into effect during very high-volume times at the Eisenhower Johnson Tunnel on the eastbound approach. Metering controls the flow of traffic eastbound towards the Eisenhower Tunnel so traffic does not back up in the tunnel, causing potential safety issues.

TYPICAL WINTER TRAFFIC PATTERNS

(October-April. Based on historical data.)

With just a bit of planning, travelers can enjoy More Mountains, Less Traffic. Below is the typical winter weekend traffic pattern. The heaviest volumes on the I-70 mountain corridor occur around the holidays and on weekends in January and February, but plan for weekend traffic during the entire ski season. Check the detailed weekend Travel Forecast at the top of this page, posted each Thursday.

Friday Westbound – Traffic volumes are moderate from approximately 2:00-7:00 p.m. with congestion the most likely to occur in the Floyd Hill area.

Friday Eastbound – A relatively new occurrence, as more day-trippers ski on Friday, there is often slowing 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Saturday Westbound – To beat the traffic, plan to leave the Front Range by 6:00 a.m. Traffic is consistently at its highest between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., resulting in up to one hour of additional travel time. Speeds return to normal soon after Noon.

Saturday Eastbound – Saturday eastbound traffic tends to be lower in volume than Sunday. Avoid the 2:00-5:00 p.m. timeframe.

Sunday Westbound – Traffic is less of an issue westbound on Sunday mornings but delays are possible in the 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. timeframe.

Sunday Eastbound – I-70 traffic starts to build as early as 11:30 a.m. The peak of the traffic occurs between 3:00-6:00 and drops off soon after 8:00 pm. Expect heavy traffic. To avoid the jam, stay in the mountains for dinner, or spend Sunday night and head back to work or school Monday morning. GoI70.com Peak time Deals provide incentives to avoid peak travel times.