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: September 20-22
The Fall colors are definitely underway along the mountain corridor! After a sunny Friday, rain on Saturday and Sunday could turn to snow on the peaks and high passes. The predictable traffic patterns are with us through the leaf peeping season, so note the peak travel times below.
Friday WB – Volume will build around 1:00 p.m. and end by 6:00 p.m. with the worst of the traffic occurring mid-afternoon. Last year, traffic delays amounted to 15 minutes with most of the congestion occurring in the Floyd Hill area and the Eisenhower Tunnel approach.
Saturday WB – Travelers will experience traffic congestion between 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Last year, delays resulted in an extra 25 minutes of travel time around the Noon timeframe.
Saturday EB – There will be light traffic volume between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. but no delays anticipated.
Sunday WB – There will be folks headed to the mountains 11:00-1:00 p.m. but minimum delays are expected.
Sunday EB – The last two years, we saw the exact same traffic pattern – volumes started to build by 10:00 a.m., peaked between 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. and ended by 7:30 p.m. Both years, travelers experienced metering at the Eisenhower Tunnel and 45 minutes extra travel time 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
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Update:
La Nina conditions are growing and are favored to emerge ahead of the 2024-25 winter season. This winter forecast preview will dig into historical snowfall data for weak La Nina winters and provide some clues on what that could mean for I-70.
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 SUMMER TRAFFIC PATTERNS
(June to mid-September. Based on historical data.)
I-70 summer traffic is fairly predictable so with just a bit of planning travelers can enjoy More Mountains, Less Traffic. Below is the typical summer weekend traffic pattern.
Friday Westbound– There are occasionally moderate delays heading westbound on Friday evenings. Traffic may build between Noon-3:00 p.m., peak around 4:00 p.m., and end between 6:00-7:00 p.m. Delays during this timeframe might mean an added 20 minutes to a trip from C470 to Frisco.
Saturday and Sunday Westbound –On Saturdays, you might experience congestion from 10:00-2:00 p.m. Get an earlier start to avoid traffic. There are rarely westbound delays on Sundays.
Saturday Eastbound– Saturday eastbound traffic tends to be much lower in volume than Sunday but slow traffic might be encountered mid-afternoon/early evening.
Sunday Eastbound – According to historical data, eastbound traffic starts to build around 11:00 a.m. The peak of traffic is consistently between 3:00 and 4:00 pm all summer long. With folks trying to enjoy every bit of daylight in the mountains, the traffic typically doesn’t diminish until approximately 7:00-8:00 p.m. To avoid the traffic, consider staying in the mountains for dinner, or spend Sunday night and head back to the Front Range early Monday morning. Check out the GoI70.com Peak Time Deals for discounts on dining, shopping, activities and Sunday night lodging deals!
Holiday Weekends – when a national holiday falls on a Monday, you can count on Monday afternoon EB traffic to mimic a typical Sunday pattern, but with potentially more volume.
Safety Metering – Safety metering eastbound at the Eisenhower Tunnel goes into effect during high volume times. This process controls the flow of traffic eastbound into the Eisenhower Tunnel, so traffic does not back up in the tunnel. Expect eastbound delays when metering is in effect.
Weather– In the summer, weather plays a large factor in traveler behavior. If rain showers move in early in the day, expect drivers to head back to the Front Range early as well.
Mountain Express Lane – This eastbound express lane provides a more reliable travel time to those willing to pay the toll. Get the ExpressToll pass to pay the posted toll rate. Those without a pass will be billed the posted rate plus a service charge. More info at ExpressToll.com.
