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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.
Sept 22-24
The weather will be glorious this weekend with full sun, temps in the 60s and no rain in the forecast. Lots of folks will head to the mountains to see the Fall colors but a bit of planning will help you avoid I-70 congestion!
Friday WB – Volumes will be moderate from 11:30-5:30 p.m. with up to 15-minute delays in the 1:00-5:00 p.m. timeframe, primarily in the Floyd Hill area.
Saturday WB – There will be high volumes between 9:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Congestion will be at its worst from 11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. when travelers will experience up to one hour of extra travel time.
Saturday EB – Light traffic could develop between 1:00-4:00 p.m. but no delays are anticipated.
Sunday WB – There could be some slowing between 10:00 a.m. and Noon, but only minor delays.
Sunday EB – Expect very heavy traffic 11:00 a.m.- 8:30 p.m. with volumes peaking between 1:00-4:00 p.m. Traffic metering at the Eisenhower Tunnel is likely. Last year, travelers experienced well over an hour of extra travel time on a trip Silverthorne to 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
That's a wrap on the 2022-2023 winter season! Make sure to always stay tuned to the OpenSnow app and OpenSnow.com to always catch the best weather window for your next adventure, no matter the season. Thank you so much for your continued support of OpenSnow and we'll see you back here in November 2023.
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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
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 3:00-7:00 p.m. with congestion the most likely to occur in the Floyd Hill area.
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.
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