Next 7 departures
- SatOct 3
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 37–66°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny54°F Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel8 AM MDT Mostly sunny40°F Vail Pass8:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny37°F Glenwood Springs9:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny54°F Rifle10 AM MDT Mostly sunny61°F Grand Junction11 AM MDT Mostly sunny66°F - SunOct 4
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 36–65°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny53°F Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel8 AM MDT Mostly sunny39°F Vail Pass8:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny36°F Glenwood Springs9:30 AM MDT Sunny56°F Rifle10 AM MDT Sunny60°F Grand Junction11 AM MDT Sunny65°F - MonOct 5
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 40–68°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Sunny57°F Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel8 AM MDT Sunny40°F Vail Pass8:30 AM MDT Sunny40°F Glenwood Springs9:30 AM MDT Sunny57°F Rifle10 AM MDT Sunny63°F Grand Junction11 AM MDT Sunny68°F - TueOct 6
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 41–68°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Partly sunny60°F Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel8 AM MDT Partly sunny41°F Vail Pass8:30 AM MDT Partly sunny41°F Glenwood Springs9:30 AM MDT Partly sunny58°F Rifle10 AM MDT Partly sunny62°F Grand Junction11 AM MDT Mostly sunny68°F - WedOct 7
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 40–68°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny59°F Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel8 AM MDT Mostly sunny40°F Vail Pass8:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny40°F Glenwood Springs9:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny57°F Rifle10 AM MDT Mostly sunny62°F Grand Junction11 AM MDT Mostly sunny68°F - ThuOct 8
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 40–68°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Sunny59°F Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel8 AM MDT Sunny40°F Vail Pass8:30 AM MDT Sunny41°F Glenwood Springs9:30 AM MDT Sunny58°F Rifle10 AM MDT Mostly sunny63°F Grand Junction11 AM MDT Sunny68°F - FriOct 9
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 40–68°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Sunny59°F Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel8 AM MDT Sunny40°F Vail Pass8:30 AM MDT Sunny40°F Glenwood Springs9:30 AM MDT Sunny57°F Rifle10 AM MDT Mostly sunny62°F Grand Junction11 AM MDT Mostly sunny68°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
- Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel, COMile 59 · 1 h 3 min 11,162 ftelevation
- Vail Pass, COMountain pass · Mile 82 · 1 h 28 min 10,662 ftelevation
- Glenwood Springs, COMile 157 · 2 h 37 min 5,772 ftelevation
- Rifle, COMile 183 · 3 h 5,347 ftelevation
- Grand Junction, COMile 245 · 3 h 59 min 4,587 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at Denver, Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel and Grand Junction.
| Month | Denver 5,228 ft | Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel Cabin Creek station · 10,020 ft | Grand Junction 4,858 ft | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | |
| Jan | 49° / 21° | 2.4 | 32° / 12° | 5.6 | 38° / 17° | 1.5 |
| Feb | 49° / 22° | 2.6 | 32° / 12° | 6.2 | 46° / 24° | 1.1 |
| Mar | 58° / 30° | 2.5 | 38° / 17° | 6.8 | 58° / 32° | 0.6 |
| Apr | 64° / 36° | 1.5 | 43° / 23° | 7.0 | 66° / 38° | 0.3 |
| May | 73° / 46° | 0.3 | 53° / 31° | 2.9 | 77° / 47° | 0 |
| Jun | 85° / 56° | 0 | 64° / 40° | 0.2 | 89° / 57° | 0 |
| Jul | 91° / 62° | 0 | 69° / 46° | 0 | 95° / 64° | 0 |
| Aug | 90° / 60° | 0 | 67° / 44° | 0 | 91° / 62° | 0 |
| Sep | 82° / 51° | 0 | 61° / 38° | 0.4 | 82° / 53° | 0 |
| Oct | 68° / 38° | 0.8 | 50° / 29° | 3.2 | 67° / 40° | 0.1 |
| Nov | 56° / 28° | 1.6 | 39° / 19° | 4.7 | 52° / 28° | 0.7 |
| Dec | 47° / 21° | 2.2 | 32° / 12° | 5.5 | 39° / 18° | 1.7 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: DENVER WATER DEPT (USC00052223, 5,228 ft); CABIN CREEK (USC00051186, 10,020 ft); GRAND JUNCTION WALKER FLD (USW00023066, 4,858 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 passGoI70: CDOT’s I-70 mountain corridor travel site
- 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 Grand Junction 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 Grand Junction?
245 miles, about 4 hours of driving without stops, by way of I-70. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel, at 11,162 ft. It comes at mile 59, about 1 h 3 min of driving after you leave Denver.
Does it snow at Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel in November?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Cabin Creek (10,020 ft), averages 20.1 inches of snow in November, with about 5 days of 1 inch or more (1991–2020 normals).
How cold is Grand Junction in January?
Grand Junction averages a high of 38°F and a low of 17°F in January (1991–2020 normals).