Next 7 departures
- SatOct 3
CautionGusts to 33 mph near Wyoming–South Dakota line around 11:30 AM MDT. Also at 1 other checkpoint.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny54°F Fort Collins8 AM MDT Mostly sunny53°F Colorado–Wyoming line8:15 AM MDT Mostly sunny57°F I-25 north of Cheyenne8:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny56°F Wheatland9:30 AM MDT Sunny64°F Lusk10:45 AM MDT Sunny62°F Wyoming–South Dakota line11:30 AM MDT Sunny70°F Rapid City1:15 PM MDT Sunny72°F - SunOct 4
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 47–70°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny53°F Fort Collins8 AM MDT Partly sunny49°F Colorado–Wyoming line8:15 AM MDT Mostly sunny47°F I-25 north of Cheyenne8:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny47°F Wheatland9:30 AM MDT Sunny55°F Lusk10:45 AM MDT Sunny59°F Wyoming–South Dakota line11:30 AM MDT Sunny64°F Rapid City1:15 PM MDT Sunny70°F - MonOct 5
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 54–80°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Sunny57°F Fort Collins8 AM MDT Sunny54°F Colorado–Wyoming line8:15 AM MDT Sunny61°F I-25 north of Cheyenne8:45 AM MDT Sunny58°F Wheatland9:30 AM MDT Sunny63°F Lusk10:45 AM MDT Sunny66°F Wyoming–South Dakota line11:30 AM MDT Sunny68°F Rapid City1:15 PM MDT Sunny80°F - TueOct 6
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 60–81°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Partly sunny60°F Fort Collins8 AM MDT Partly sunny60°F Colorado–Wyoming line8:15 AM MDT Partly sunny64°F I-25 north of Cheyenne8:45 AM MDT Partly sunny60°F Wheatland9:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny63°F Lusk10:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny67°F Wyoming–South Dakota line11:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny71°F Rapid City1:15 PM MDT Sunny81°F - WedOct 7
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 56–77°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny59°F Fort Collins8 AM MDT Sunny57°F Colorado–Wyoming line8:15 AM MDT Sunny59°F I-25 north of Cheyenne8:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny56°F Wheatland9:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny60°F Lusk10:45 AM MDT Sunny63°F Wyoming–South Dakota line11:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny68°F Rapid City1:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny77°F - ThuOct 8
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 56–75°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Sunny59°F Fort Collins8 AM MDT Sunny57°F Colorado–Wyoming line8:15 AM MDT Sunny59°F I-25 north of Cheyenne8:45 AM MDT Sunny56°F Wheatland9:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny60°F Lusk10:45 AM MDT Sunny62°F Wyoming–South Dakota line11:30 AM MDT Sunny68°F Rapid City1:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny75°F - FriOct 9
CautionGusts to 30 mph near Rapid City around 1:15 PM MDT.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Sunny59°F Fort Collins8 AM MDT Sunny56°F Colorado–Wyoming line8:15 AM MDT Sunny58°F I-25 north of Cheyenne8:45 AM MDT Sunny57°F Wheatland9:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny62°F Lusk10:45 AM MDT Sunny65°F Wyoming–South Dakota line11:30 AM MDT Sunny71°F Rapid City1:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny81°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
- Fort Collins, COMile 60 · 56 min 4,983 ftelevation
- Colorado–Wyoming lineState line · Mile 89 · 1 h 20 min 6,106 ftelevation
- I-25 north of Cheyenne, WYMile 116 · 1 h 44 min 6,384 ftelevation
- Wheatland, WYMile 168 · 2 h 25 min 4,751 ftelevation
- Lusk, WYMile 257 · 3 h 42 min 5,017 ftelevation
- Wyoming–South Dakota lineState line · Mile 313 · 4 h 34 min 3,887 ftelevation
- Rapid City, SDMile 406 · 6 h 9 min 3,236 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at Denver, Lusk and Rapid City.
| Month | Denver 5,228 ft | Lusk 5,090 ft | Rapid City 3,379 ft | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | High / low °F | Snow days | |
| Jan | 49° / 21° | 2.4 | 35° / 13° | 37° / 16° | 2.1 |
| Feb | 49° / 22° | 2.6 | 37° / 13° | 38° / 18° | 2.6 |
| Mar | 58° / 30° | 2.5 | 47° / 22° | 47° / 26° | 3.0 |
| Apr | 64° / 36° | 1.5 | 55° / 28° | 55° / 34° | 2.4 |
| May | 73° / 46° | 0.3 | 64° / 39° | 65° / 45° | 0.5 |
| Jun | 85° / 56° | 0 | 76° / 47° | 76° / 55° | 0 |
| Jul | 91° / 62° | 0 | 84° / 54° | 84° / 62° | 0 |
| Aug | 90° / 60° | 0 | 83° / 52° | 83° / 60° | 0 |
| Sep | 82° / 51° | 0 | 74° / 42° | 74° / 51° | 0 |
| Oct | 68° / 38° | 0.8 | 58° / 31° | 59° / 38° | 1.2 |
| Nov | 56° / 28° | 1.6 | 46° / 20° | 47° / 27° | 1.8 |
| Dec | 47° / 21° | 2.2 | 37° / 12° | 38° / 19° | 2.1 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: DENVER WATER DEPT (USC00052223, 5,228 ft); LUSK 2 SW (USC00485830, 5,090 ft); RAPID CITY WFO (USC00396948, 3,379 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, Wyoming and South Dakota rather than repeat them.
- Colorado · CDOTCOtrip conditions and cameras
- Colorado · winter rulesTraction and chain laws
- Wyoming · WYDOTWyoming 511 road conditions
- South Dakota · SDDOTSD511 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 Rapid City 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 Rapid City?
406 miles, about 6 hours of driving without stops, by way of I-25 and US-18. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
On I-25 north of Cheyenne, at 6,384 ft. It comes at mile 116, about 1 h 44 min of driving after you leave Denver.
How cold is Rapid City in January?
Rapid City averages a high of 37°F and a low of 16°F in January (1991–2020 normals).