Next 7 departures
- TueOct 13
CautionGusts to 31 mph near Gallup around 3:30 PM MDT. Also at 2 other checkpoints.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny49°F Colorado Springs8 AM MDT Sunny51°F Pueblo8:45 AM MDT Sunny55°F Raton Pass10:15 AM MDT Sunny54°F Glorieta Pass12:30 PM MDT Sunny60°F Albuquerque1:30 PM MDT Mostly sunny72°F Gallup3:30 PM MDT Slight chance of light rain showers60°F New Mexico–Arizona line3:45 PM MDT Chance of light rain showers60°F Holbrook3:45 PM MST Chance of light rain showers66°F Payson5:30 PM MST Chance of light rain showers58°F Phoenix7:15 PM MST Mostly clear71°F - WedOct 14
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 44–72°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Light rain showers46°F Colorado Springs8 AM MDT Light rain showers44°F Pueblo8:45 AM MDT Chance of light rain showers49°F Raton Pass10:15 AM MDT Mostly sunny49°F Glorieta Pass12:30 PM MDT Mostly sunny57°F Albuquerque1:30 PM MDT Mostly sunny68°F Gallup3:30 PM MDT Sunny58°F New Mexico–Arizona line3:45 PM MDT Mostly sunny54°F Holbrook3:45 PM MST Sunny60°F Payson5:30 PM MST Sunny61°F Phoenix7:15 PM MST Clear72°F - ThuOct 15
CautionGusts to 31 mph near Payson around 5:30 PM MST.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Chance of light rain showers43°F Colorado Springs8 AM MDT Slight chance of light rain showers41°F Pueblo8:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny45°F Raton Pass10:15 AM MDT Mostly sunny42°F Glorieta Pass12:30 PM MDT Sunny57°F Albuquerque1:30 PM MDT Sunny69°F Gallup3:30 PM MDT Sunny59°F New Mexico–Arizona line3:45 PM MDT Sunny60°F Holbrook3:45 PM MST Sunny65°F Payson5:30 PM MST Sunny64°F Phoenix7:15 PM MST Clear77°F - FriOct 16
HighGusts to 43 mph near Holbrook around 3:45 PM MST. Also at 1 other checkpoint.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny40°F Colorado Springs8 AM MDT Mostly sunny38°F Pueblo8:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny42°F Raton Pass10:15 AM MDT Partly sunny36°F Glorieta Pass12:30 PM MDT Mostly sunny51°F Albuquerque1:30 PM MDT Mostly sunny64°F Gallup3:30 PM MDT Mostly sunny59°F New Mexico–Arizona line3:45 PM MDT Mostly sunny60°F Holbrook3:45 PM MST Slight chance of thunderstorms65°F Payson5:30 PM MST Chance of light rain showers64°F Phoenix7:15 PM MST Mostly clear79°F - SatOct 17
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 39–77°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny39°F Colorado Springs8 AM MDT Mostly sunny42°F Pueblo8:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny41°F Raton Pass10:15 AM MDT Mostly sunny44°F Glorieta Pass12:30 PM MDT Mostly sunny52°F Albuquerque1:30 PM MDT Partly sunny62°F Gallup3:30 PM MDT Mostly sunny59°F New Mexico–Arizona line3:45 PM MDT Slight chance of thunderstorms61°F Holbrook3:45 PM MST Mostly sunny65°F Payson5:30 PM MST Slight chance of thunderstorms63°F Phoenix7:15 PM MST Mostly clear77°F - SunOct 18
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 47–79°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny47°F Colorado Springs8 AM MDT Mostly sunny50°F Pueblo8:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny50°F Raton Pass10:15 AM MDT Mostly sunny51°F Glorieta Pass12:30 PM MDT Mostly sunny56°F Albuquerque1:30 PM MDT Mostly sunny66°F Gallup3:30 PM MDT Mostly sunny62°F New Mexico–Arizona line3:45 PM MDT Mostly sunny62°F Holbrook3:45 PM MST Mostly sunny66°F Payson5:30 PM MST Sunny66°F Phoenix7:15 PM MST Clear79°F - MonOct 19
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 49–70°F along the way. The forecast does not reach the last checkpoint yet.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny49°F Colorado Springs8 AM MDT Mostly sunny51°F Pueblo8:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny52°F Raton Pass10:15 AM MDT Mostly sunny53°F Glorieta Pass12:30 PM MDT Sunny59°F Albuquerque1:30 PM MDT Sunny70°F Gallup3:30 PM MDT Mostly sunny64°F New Mexico–Arizona line3:45 PM MDT Sunny64°F Holbrook3:45 PM MST Mostly sunny68°F Payson5:30 PM MST Sunny66°F Phoenix7:15 PM MST 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 Denver (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Denver, COStart 5,276 ftelevation
- Colorado Springs, COMile 68 · 1 h 5 min 6,009 ftelevation
- Pueblo, COMile 111 · 1 h 44 min 4,663 ftelevation
- Raton Pass, NMMountain pass · Mile 210 · 3 h 10 min 7,834 ftelevation
- Glorieta Pass, NMMountain pass · Mile 372 · 5 h 28 min 7,500 ftelevation
- Albuquerque, NMMile 445 · 6 h 31 min 4,956 ftelevation
- Gallup, NMMile 581 · 8 h 28 min 6,504 ftelevation
- New Mexico–Arizona lineState line · Mile 603 · 8 h 47 min 6,191 ftelevation
- Holbrook, AZMile 677 · 9 h 50 min 5,077 ftelevation
- Payson, AZMile 773 · 11 h 35 min 4,958 ftelevation
- Phoenix, AZMile 862 · 13 h 10 min 1,088 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at Denver, Raton Pass and Phoenix.
| Month | Denver 5,228 ft | Raton Pass Lake Maloya station · 7,400 ft | Phoenix 1,107 ft | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | |
| Jan | 49° / 21° | 2.4 | 42° / 11° | 3.4 | 68° / 46° |
| Feb | 49° / 22° | 2.6 | 43° / 12° | 3.5 | 71° / 49° |
| Mar | 58° / 30° | 2.5 | 50° / 20° | 4.3 | 78° / 55° |
| Apr | 64° / 36° | 1.5 | 57° / 27° | 3.6 | 86° / 61° |
| May | 73° / 46° | 0.3 | 66° / 36° | 0.6 | 95° / 70° |
| Jun | 85° / 56° | 0 | 75° / 44° | 0 | 104° / 79° |
| Jul | 91° / 62° | 0 | 78° / 49° | 0 | 107° / 85° |
| Aug | 90° / 60° | 0 | 76° / 48° | 0 | 105° / 84° |
| Sep | 82° / 51° | 0 | 71° / 41° | 0.1 | 100° / 78° |
| Oct | 68° / 38° | 0.8 | 60° / 31° | 1.3 | 89° / 66° |
| Nov | 56° / 28° | 1.6 | 50° / 21° | 3.0 | 77° / 54° |
| Dec | 47° / 21° | 2.2 | 42° / 13° | 3.3 | 66° / 45° |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: DENVER WATER DEPT (USC00052223, 5,228 ft); LAKE MALOYA (USC00294742, 7,400 ft); PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTL AP (USW00023183, 1,107 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, New Mexico and Arizona rather than repeat them.
- Colorado · CDOTCOtrip conditions and cameras
- Colorado · winter rulesTraction and chain laws
- New Mexico · NMDOTNMRoads conditions and cameras
- Arizona · ADOTAZ511 road conditions
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 Phoenix 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 Phoenix?
862 miles, about 13 hours of driving without stops, by way of I-25 and I-40. 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 210, about 3 h 10 min of driving after you leave Denver.
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 Phoenix in January?
Phoenix averages a high of 68°F and a low of 46°F in January (1991–2020 normals).