Next 7 departures
- TueOct 13
CautionGusts to 30 mph near Poncha Pass around 10 AM MDT. Also at 2 other checkpoints.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny49°F Kenosha Pass8:15 AM MDT Mostly sunny33°F Red Hill Pass8:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny38°F Trout Creek Pass9 AM MDT Mostly sunny41°F Poncha Pass10 AM MDT Partly sunny44°F Center11 AM MDT Mostly sunny53°F Wolf Creek Pass12 PM MDT Light snow showers34°F Durango1:30 PM MDT Chance of thunderstorms55°F - WedOct 14
HighLight snow showers near Wolf Creek Pass around 12 PM MDT. Also at 4 other checkpoints.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Light rain showers46°F Kenosha Pass8:15 AM MDT Light snow showers35°F Red Hill Pass8:30 AM MDT Light snow showers35°F Trout Creek Pass9 AM MDT Light rain showers37°F Poncha Pass10 AM MDT Light snow showers38°F Center11 AM MDT Chance of light snow showers48°F Wolf Creek Pass12 PM MDT Light snow showers30°F Durango1:30 PM MDT Chance of light rain showers53°F - ThuOct 15
CautionFreezing, 29°F near Kenosha Pass around 8:15 AM MDT. Also at 2 other checkpoints.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Chance of light rain showers43°F Kenosha Pass8:15 AM MDT Slight chance of light snow showers29°F Red Hill Pass8:30 AM MDT Slight chance of light snow showers30°F Trout Creek Pass9 AM MDT Mostly sunny31°F Poncha Pass10 AM MDT Mostly sunny33°F Center11 AM MDT Sunny41°F Wolf Creek Pass12 PM MDT Sunny35°F Durango1:30 PM MDT Sunny59°F - FriOct 16
CautionFreezing, 26°F near Kenosha Pass around 8:15 AM MDT. Also at 3 other checkpoints.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny40°F Kenosha Pass8:15 AM MDT Mostly sunny26°F Red Hill Pass8:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny30°F Trout Creek Pass9 AM MDT Mostly sunny30°F Poncha Pass10 AM MDT Mostly sunny33°F Center11 AM MDT Mostly sunny41°F Wolf Creek Pass12 PM MDT Mostly sunny35°F Durango1:30 PM MDT Sunny59°F - SatOct 17
CautionFreezing, 32°F near Kenosha Pass around 8:15 AM MDT.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny39°F Kenosha Pass8:15 AM MDT Sunny32°F Red Hill Pass8:30 AM MDT Sunny34°F Trout Creek Pass9 AM MDT Mostly sunny33°F Poncha Pass10 AM MDT Mostly sunny38°F Center11 AM MDT Mostly sunny43°F Wolf Creek Pass12 PM MDT Mostly sunny39°F Durango1:30 PM MDT Mostly sunny58°F - SunOct 18
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 35–60°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny47°F Kenosha Pass8:15 AM MDT Mostly sunny35°F Red Hill Pass8:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny37°F Trout Creek Pass9 AM MDT Mostly sunny37°F Poncha Pass10 AM MDT Mostly sunny40°F Center11 AM MDT Mostly sunny45°F Wolf Creek Pass12 PM MDT Partly sunny41°F Durango1:30 PM MDT Mostly sunny60°F - MonOct 19
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 36–61°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny49°F Kenosha Pass8:15 AM MDT Mostly sunny36°F Red Hill Pass8:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny38°F Trout Creek Pass9 AM MDT Mostly sunny38°F Poncha Pass10 AM MDT Mostly sunny42°F Center11 AM MDT Mostly sunny47°F Wolf Creek Pass12 PM MDT Mostly sunny40°F Durango1:30 PM MDT Mostly sunny61°F
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 Denver (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Denver, COStart 5,276 ftelevation
- Kenosha Pass, COMountain pass · Mile 62 · 1 h 15 min 10,000 ftelevation
- Red Hill Pass, COMountain pass · Mile 79 · 1 h 32 min 10,052 ftelevation
- Trout Creek Pass, COMountain pass · Mile 105 · 1 h 57 min 9,347 ftelevation
- Poncha Pass, COMountain pass · Mile 146 · 2 h 56 min 9,009 ftelevation
- Center, COMile 208 · 3 h 57 min 7,643 ftelevation
- Wolf Creek Pass, COMountain pass · Mile 259 · 4 h 59 min 10,857 ftelevation
- Durango, COMile 342 · 6 h 37 min 6,563 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at Denver, Center and Durango.
| Month | Denver 5,228 ft | Center 7,673 ft | Durango 6,761 ft | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | |
| Jan | 49° / 21° | 2.4 | 32° / 4° | 1.4 | 39° / 13° | 4.3 |
| Feb | 49° / 22° | 2.6 | 38° / 10° | 1.1 | 45° / 19° | 4.5 |
| Mar | 58° / 30° | 2.5 | 49° / 20° | 1.6 | 54° / 25° | 1.9 |
| Apr | 64° / 36° | 1.5 | 58° / 27° | 0.6 | 63° / 30° | 1.2 |
| May | 73° / 46° | 0.3 | 67° / 36° | 0.2 | 71° / 37° | 0.1 |
| Jun | 85° / 56° | 0 | 76° / 42° | 0 | 81° / 46° | 0 |
| Jul | 91° / 62° | 0 | 80° / 48° | 0 | 85° / 53° | 0 |
| Aug | 90° / 60° | 0 | 79° / 46° | 0 | 82° / 52° | 0 |
| Sep | 82° / 51° | 0 | 73° / 40° | 0 | 76° / 45° | 0 |
| Oct | 68° / 38° | 0.8 | 61° / 29° | 0.4 | 64° / 33° | 0.4 |
| Nov | 56° / 28° | 1.6 | 46° / 17° | 1.3 | 50° / 23° | 1.6 |
| Dec | 47° / 21° | 2.2 | 33° / 5° | 1.4 | 40° / 13° | 3.4 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: DENVER WATER DEPT (USC00052223, 5,228 ft); CENTER 4 SSW (USC00051458, 7,673 ft); DURANGO (USC00052441, 6,761 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 Colorado rather than repeat them.
- For this passColorado Avalanche Information Center
- 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 Denver to Durango 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 Denver to Durango?
342 miles, about 6½ hours of driving without stops, by way of US-285 and US-160. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
Wolf Creek Pass, at 10,857 ft. It comes at mile 259, about 4 h 59 min of driving after you leave Denver.
How cold is Durango in January?
Durango averages a high of 39°F and a low of 13°F in January (1991–2020 normals).