Conquer the Colorado I-70 Ski Traffic: Your Ultimate Weekend Survival Guide!

If you are traveling to the Colorado mountains this weekend — the final weekend before many schools resume — it will likely feel as congested as Denver’s rush hour.

The Colorado Department of Transportation anticipates unprecedented traffic levels on Interstate 70 as people head to the ski resorts, with some areas receiving between 2 to 4 feet of snow recently. Drivers should prepare for significant delays.

A series of light snowfalls is projected for the weekend but is expected to have little effect on travel conditions.

The volume of vehicles heading to the mountains will be the primary concern.

The Colorado Department of Transportation stated in a press release that 2020 had the highest travel figures through the Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnels. This was the last year that New Year’s Day fell on a Wednesday like it does this year.

Here are some travel volume statistics from 2020:

• Friday, Jan. 3: Fifth-highest total 24-hour traffic count for both eastbound and westbound vehicles with 55,224 vehicles passing through the tunnels.
• Friday, Jan. 3: Highest combined eastbound and westbound hourly traffic through the tunnels with 6,259 vehicles traveling through at 6 p.m.
• Friday, Jan. 3: Highest eastbound hourly count with 4,076 vehicles passing through at 6 p.m.
• Saturday, Jan. 4: Second-highest combined eastbound and westbound hourly count through the tunnels with 5,850 vehicles traveling through at 4 p.m.
• Saturday, Jan. 4: Third-highest eastbound hourly count with 3,762 vehicles passing through the tunnel at 4 p.m.
• From Friday, Jan. 3, to Sunday, Jan. 5: Fifth-highest non-holiday winter weekend total (Friday through Sunday) with 154,541 vehicles using the tunnels. For January 2023, the average daily total was 36,373 vehicles passing through for the entire month.

Colorado ski resort guide: Lift tickets, open dates, locations and more

Here are some tips to navigate the Colorado mountain traffic rush

• Bustang, Snowstang and Pegasus: Purchase a ticket for these Colorado Department of Transportation services, which offer complimentary WiFi and various amenities while making stops at several popular locations along the Western Slope.
• Winter Park Express: This option features a newly upgraded schedule and reduced fares.
• TreadShare app: This application allows you to carpool to your favorite Colorado destinations year-round and share travel costs while reducing congestion.
• COtrip.org: If you prefer to drive your own car, visit this site to check road conditions and traffic speeds to assist in planning your journey. GoI70.com provides the latest travel forecasts to help you avoid the worst traffic delays.