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 morning and is based on past years traffic history, weather modeling, and CDOT advisories. Unless otherwise noted, this forecast encompasses Golden through Vail.
Weekend Travel Forecast: March 13th-15th
I-70 DAILY SNOW
Travel weather for the weekend will be windy with snow showers likely starting Saturday evening around 6:00 pm and continuing into Sunday mid-morning. Blowing snow during this time will make travel more challenging.
To avoid the peak travel times, check out the weekend travel forecast below!
Friday WB –
Traffic will increase from 5:00-7:00 pm, with minimal delays.
Friday EB – Between 3:00-7:00 traffic will slow with delays up to 30 minutes expected.
Saturday WB – Traffic will build between 5:00 am-10:00 am, with the peak delays between 45-60 minutes occurring between 6:00-8:00 am. This traffic pattern has maintained the same consistency for the last three years.
Saturday EB – Congestion will increase between 2:00-7:00 pm with the peak of these delays being 30-45 minutes and occurring between 3:00-5:00 pm.
Sunday WB – No delays are expected.
Sunday EB – Traffic delays can be expected between 11:00 am – 7:00 pm. The peak delays will be up to an hour and occur between 1:00-5:00 pm.
*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
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Update:
Cloudy with off-and-on snow showers on Monday and into Tuesday. Hot temperatures under sunny skies prevail on Wednesday and remain in place through Sunday. Slightly cooler with a few chances for light snow during the final stretch of March.
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.
- 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
With just a bit of planning, travelers can enjoy More Mountains, Less Traffic. 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. Below is additional information to know prior to your travels:
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.
