CDOT urges leaf peepers to plan ahead for heavy traffic on mountain corridors this weekend

Travel Advisory

Statewide - The Colorado Department of Transportation is warning motorists to expect another busy weekend of travel along the Interstate 70 Mountain Corridor, with heavy leaf-peeping traffic likely both eastbound and westbound. Similarly, motorists should expect extreme congestion along US Highway 285, especially between South Park and Denver, as folks head to Kenosha Pass.

Based on data from the same weekend in 2024, traffic volumes were among the highest of the fall season. At the Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnels, CDOT had to meter traffic for 11 and a half hours, from 11 a.m. until 10:30 p.m., to keep vehicles moving safely. Peak volumes at the tunnels hit nearly 3,000 vehicles per hour at noon. The long return home for mountain travelers headed eastbound extended well past 10 p.m.

Adding to congestion, westbound motorists saw significant delays during the mornings, generally starting at 9 a.m. through 5 p.m., between Evergreen and Georgetown, an unusual pattern for this time of year. These delays were largely driven by large numbers of day-trippers wanting to see the leaves change in the high country.

Travelers also experienced extreme backups on Guanella Pass between Georgetown and Grant. Traffic queues stretched for miles through Georgetown and up the interstate.

Last weekend, Sept. 19 through Sept. 21, traffic peaked at 6 p.m. on Friday, although speeds at Floyd Hill were in the single digits from noon until 7 p.m. Peak traffic on Saturday occurred between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday traffic was slow most of the day, with the peak at 11 a.m.

What drivers should know for the weekend:

• Expect heavy traffic heading westbound late morning through early afternoon and eastbound from late morning well into the evening.
• Leave early or late in the day to avoid the worst congestion.
• Be cautious when seeking alternate routes, as local roads such as Guanella Pass cannot accommodate interstate-level traffic.
• Pack patience and allow extra travel time - delays are inevitable.
• Check COtrip.org or download the COtrip Planner app to stay up to date on travel conditions.
• Visit GoI70.com to check the traffic forecast for this weekend.

Leaf Peeping Safety Tips:

• Be aware of vehicles traveling at lower speeds
• Watch for vehicles pulling off the roadway or parked along the road
• Find safe, designated areas to park
• Drivers, be aware of pedestrians out of their vehicles taking photos
• Pedestrians, watch out for passing vehicles

CDOT's traffic expert provides a travel forecast of what folks can expect along the I-70 Mountain Corridor the weekend of Sept. 26, 2025.

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