Next 7 departures
- SatOct 3
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 65–76°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Austin7 AM CDT Chance of light rain showers73°F Brownwood9:15 AM CDT Light rain showers likely65°F Lubbock12:45 PM CDT Partly sunny65°F Dalhart3:45 PM CDT Sunny72°F Texas–New Mexico line3:15 PM MDT Sunny76°F Raton Pass5 PM MDT Sunny67°F Pueblo6:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny75°F Denver8:15 PM MDT Mostly clear71°F - SunOct 4
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 65–74°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Austin7 AM CDT Chance of light rain showers72°F Brownwood9:15 AM CDT Chance of light rain showers66°F Lubbock12:45 PM CDT Mostly sunny71°F Dalhart3:45 PM CDT Sunny74°F Texas–New Mexico line3:15 PM MDT Sunny74°F Raton Pass5 PM MDT Sunny65°F Pueblo6:15 PM MDT Sunny71°F Denver8:15 PM MDT Clear72°F - MonOct 5
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 66–77°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Austin7 AM CDT Partly sunny70°F Brownwood9:15 AM CDT Partly sunny66°F Lubbock12:45 PM CDT Mostly sunny70°F Dalhart3:45 PM CDT Sunny76°F Texas–New Mexico line3:15 PM MDT Sunny77°F Raton Pass5 PM MDT Sunny67°F Pueblo6:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny77°F Denver8:15 PM MDT Mostly clear75°F - TueOct 6
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 65–82°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Austin7 AM CDT Mostly sunny66°F Brownwood9:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny65°F Lubbock12:45 PM CDT Sunny74°F Dalhart3:45 PM CDT Sunny80°F Texas–New Mexico line3:15 PM MDT Sunny82°F Raton Pass5 PM MDT Sunny69°F Pueblo6:15 PM MDT Partly sunny78°F Denver8:15 PM MDT Partly cloudy73°F - WedOct 7
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 64–81°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Austin7 AM CDT Mostly sunny64°F Brownwood9:15 AM CDT Sunny65°F Lubbock12:45 PM CDT Sunny76°F Dalhart3:45 PM CDT Sunny81°F Texas–New Mexico line3:15 PM MDT Sunny80°F Raton Pass5 PM MDT Sunny66°F Pueblo6:15 PM MDT Sunny76°F Denver8:15 PM MDT Clear73°F - ThuOct 8
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 66–81°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Austin7 AM CDT Mostly sunny66°F Brownwood9:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny66°F Lubbock12:45 PM CDT Sunny77°F Dalhart3:45 PM CDT Sunny81°F Texas–New Mexico line3:15 PM MDT Sunny81°F Raton Pass5 PM MDT Sunny66°F Pueblo6:15 PM MDT Sunny77°F Denver8:15 PM MDT Clear72°F - FriOct 9
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 66–80°F along the way. The forecast does not reach the last checkpoint yet.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Austin7 AM CDT Mostly sunny67°F Brownwood9:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny67°F Lubbock12:45 PM CDT Sunny77°F Dalhart3:45 PM CDT Sunny78°F Texas–New Mexico line3:15 PM MDT Sunny80°F Raton Pass5 PM MDT Sunny66°F Pueblo6:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny77°F Denver8:15 PM MDT Not forecast yet—
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Austin (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Austin, TXStart 535 ftelevation
- Brownwood, TXMile 139 · 2 h 18 min 1,338 ftelevation
- Lubbock, TXMile 372 · 5 h 50 min 3,196 ftelevation
- Dalhart, TXMile 569 · 8 h 47 min 3,985 ftelevation
- Texas–New Mexico lineState line · Mile 606 · 9 h 20 min 4,734 ftelevation
- Raton Pass, NMMountain pass · Mile 705 · 10 h 56 min 7,834 ftelevation
- Pueblo, COMile 804 · 12 h 22 min 4,663 ftelevation
- Denver, COMile 915 · 14 h 8 min 5,276 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at Austin, Raton Pass and Denver.
| Month | Austin 670 ft | Raton Pass Lake Maloya station · 7,400 ft | Denver 5,228 ft | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | |
| Jan | 63° / 42° | 0 | 42° / 11° | 3.4 | 49° / 21° | 2.4 |
| Feb | 67° / 46° | 0 | 43° / 12° | 3.5 | 49° / 22° | 2.6 |
| Mar | 73° / 52° | 0 | 50° / 20° | 4.3 | 58° / 30° | 2.5 |
| Apr | 80° / 59° | 0 | 57° / 27° | 3.6 | 64° / 36° | 1.5 |
| May | 87° / 67° | 0 | 66° / 36° | 0.6 | 73° / 46° | 0.3 |
| Jun | 93° / 73° | 0 | 75° / 44° | 0 | 85° / 56° | 0 |
| Jul | 97° / 75° | 0 | 78° / 49° | 0 | 91° / 62° | 0 |
| Aug | 98° / 75° | 0 | 76° / 48° | 0 | 90° / 60° | 0 |
| Sep | 91° / 70° | 0 | 71° / 41° | 0.1 | 82° / 51° | 0 |
| Oct | 83° / 61° | 0 | 60° / 31° | 1.3 | 68° / 38° | 0.8 |
| Nov | 72° / 51° | 0 | 50° / 21° | 3.0 | 56° / 28° | 1.6 |
| Dec | 64° / 43° | 0 | 42° / 13° | 3.3 | 47° / 21° | 2.2 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: AUSTIN-CAMP MABRY (USW00013958, 670 ft); LAKE MALOYA (USC00294742, 7,400 ft); DENVER WATER DEPT (USC00052223, 5,228 ft). Snow days are days with at least 1 inch of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for Texas, New Mexico and Colorado rather than repeat them.
- Texas · TxDOTDriveTexas road conditions
- New Mexico · NMDOTNMRoads conditions and cameras
- Colorado · CDOTCOtrip conditions and cameras
- Colorado · winter rulesTraction and chain laws
Check the official National Weather Service forecast and each state's road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from Austin to Denver with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Austin to Denver?
915 miles, about 14 hours of driving without stops, by way of Lubbock, Dalhart and I-25. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
Raton Pass, at 7,834 ft. It comes at mile 705, about 10 h 56 min of driving after you leave Austin.
Does it snow at Raton Pass in November?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Lake Maloya (7,400 ft), averages 11.0 inches of snow in November, with about 3 days of 1 inch or more (1991–2020 normals).
How cold is Denver in January?
Denver averages a high of 49°F and a low of 21°F in January (1991–2020 normals).