This is a great weekend to consider carpooling. Check out SkiCarpool.org to set up or join a carpool, and the Dinosaur Lots just off I70 in Golden are a great place to meet up.  All the details on both are here on GoI70.com.

We could see some fresh powder on Monday!  Light to moderate snow is supposed to start falling on Monday along the I70 corridor.  Monday traffic will mimic typical Sunday traffic patterns, and when you throw in the forecasted snow, it could be a doozy of a drive eastbound.  Keep that in mind as you make your travel plans, and know that staying in the high country until after 6:00 pm is your best bet to avoid the congestion.

Westbound to the Mountains:
Previous years on this same weekend, the Saturday morning westbound traffic was heavier than a typical Saturday morning.  An earlier departure from the Front Range is wise Saturday through Monday.  Plan to be on the road before 7:00 a.m. to avoid the masses.

Eastbound Back to the Front Range:

On this weekend in previous years, the Saturday traffic was fairly spread out, but the rest of the weekend followed the usual pattern.   Plan on the typical weekend travel pattern for Sunday and Monday – eastbound traffic building by around 1:30 pm and decreasing dramatically after 6:00 pm, weather or accidents withstanding! 

Enjoy the long holiday weekend!

Day skiers looking to meet up with friends or catch a carpool to the mountains can use the Dinosaur Lots  just off I-70 at Exit 259, the intersection of Morrison Road. They are convenient, easy to find and free.

Carpoolers with four or more riders qualify for free premier parking at Keystone or discounted lift tickets at A-Basin. The Dinosaur Lots have a lively meet up scene on weekends and holidays. It is a great place to pick up an extra rider to fill up your car.

The Dinosaur Lots are perfect for meeting people coming from any part of the metro area. They are located right at the mouth of Mount Vernon Canyon where I-70 enters the foothills. If you are going up I-70 you pass right by it.

The largest of the lots is the Wooly Mammoth which has 1181 free spots where day trippers can park to meet up with friends or catch a ride with someone headed their way. Wooly Mammoth is just west of Morrison Road at the intersection of US 40/State Highway 26 and I-70.

For folks coming through Golden, either west on Colfax or from the north – Westminster or Boulder – just follow US 40, turning right at the intersection immediately before the west on-ramp to I-70. The entrance to the Wooly Mammoth lot is 200 yards from the intersection.

Two smaller lots – the T-Rex and the Stegosaurus – are near by on the east side of US 40 and Morrison Road (State Highway 26). They provide several hundred more spaces. T-Rex can be seen on your right as you come off the ramp from West I-70 at Exit 259. The Stegosaurus lot is south on the Morrison Road just under the I-70 overpass.

This is a great resource provided by the Colorado Department of Transportation. Take advantage of it today. Save gas, save some money and meet up with someone to share the ride.

Discounts and Free Parking for Carpools

Carpoolers can take advantage of discounted lift tickets at A-Basin for anyone who arrives in a car with four or more passengers. Just take your carpool members to the ticket window to get $47 lift tickets, a $17 discount. More information is here.

Keystone offers free close-in premier parking at their Montezuma Lot for vehicles with four or more passengers. For more information check here.

Later in the season Copper Mountain offers Carpool Celebration Days. We’ll let you know about those in the weeks to come.