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.
April 19-20: Weekend Travel Forecast
Spring rain and snow showers are expected for Friday and Saturday. Traction law-compliant tires are still needed this time of year! Sunday will be partly sunny to the east of Vail Pass. Weekend traffic will decline over the coming weeks, but delays at the typical times are still possible.
Friday WB – Traffic volume will be moderate 3:30-6:00 p.m. but there should not be any significant delays.
Friday EB – Delays are unlikely.
Saturday WB – There will be moderate traffic congestion between 6:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. with approximately 15 minutes extra travel time from C470 to Silverthorne.
Saturday EB – Slow travel is possible between 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. with 10 minutes of extra travel time.
Sunday WB – No delays are anticipated.
Sunday EB –Traffic will build around 2:00 and continue until approximately 6:30 p.m. Delays of approximately 20 minutes are possible 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:
Mostly dry on Wednesday ahead of off-and-on high-elevation snow showers from Thursday through Saturday. Heavy snow is possible Friday night and into Saturday. Mostly dry weather returns on Sunday and continues through most of next week. Monitoring the weekend of April 27/28 for more snow.
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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 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 daytrippers 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.
