Next 7 departures
- SatOct 3
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 52–83°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny54°F Fort Collins8 AM MDT Mostly sunny53°F US-287 near Tie Siding8:45 AM MDT Partly sunny52°F Quealy Gap10 AM MDT Sunny55°F Rock Springs12 PM MDT Partly sunny64°F Wyoming–Utah line1:30 PM MDT Mostly sunny72°F Parleys Summit2:15 PM MDT Partly sunny76°F Salt Lake City2:30 PM MDT Partly sunny83°F - SunOct 4
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 44–86°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny53°F Fort Collins8 AM MDT Partly sunny49°F US-287 near Tie Siding8:45 AM MDT Partly sunny44°F Quealy Gap10 AM MDT Sunny51°F Rock Springs12 PM MDT Sunny61°F Wyoming–Utah line1:30 PM MDT Sunny75°F Parleys Summit2:15 PM MDT Sunny79°F Salt Lake City2:30 PM MDT Sunny86°F - MonOct 5
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 54–85°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Sunny57°F Fort Collins8 AM MDT Sunny54°F US-287 near Tie Siding8:45 AM MDT Sunny56°F Quealy Gap10 AM MDT Sunny58°F Rock Springs12 PM MDT Mostly sunny65°F Wyoming–Utah line1:30 PM MDT Partly sunny75°F Parleys Summit2:15 PM MDT Partly sunny76°F Salt Lake City2:30 PM MDT Partly sunny85°F - TueOct 6
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 55–82°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Partly sunny60°F Fort Collins8 AM MDT Partly sunny60°F US-287 near Tie Siding8:45 AM MDT Partly sunny55°F Quealy Gap10 AM MDT Partly sunny57°F Rock Springs12 PM MDT Mostly sunny65°F Wyoming–Utah line1:30 PM MDT Sunny73°F Parleys Summit2:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny74°F Salt Lake City2:30 PM MDT Sunny82°F - WedOct 7
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 52–82°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny59°F Fort Collins8 AM MDT Sunny57°F US-287 near Tie Siding8:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny52°F Quealy Gap10 AM MDT Sunny55°F Rock Springs12 PM MDT Sunny63°F Wyoming–Utah line1:30 PM MDT Sunny72°F Parleys Summit2:15 PM MDT Sunny74°F Salt Lake City2:30 PM MDT Sunny82°F - ThuOct 8
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 52–82°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Sunny59°F Fort Collins8 AM MDT Sunny57°F US-287 near Tie Siding8:45 AM MDT Sunny52°F Quealy Gap10 AM MDT Sunny56°F Rock Springs12 PM MDT Sunny63°F Wyoming–Utah line1:30 PM MDT Sunny71°F Parleys Summit2:15 PM MDT Sunny73°F Salt Lake City2:30 PM MDT Sunny82°F - FriOct 9
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 52–81°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Sunny59°F Fort Collins8 AM MDT Sunny56°F US-287 near Tie Siding8:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny52°F Quealy Gap10 AM MDT Sunny56°F Rock Springs12 PM MDT Mostly sunny64°F Wyoming–Utah line1:30 PM MDT Sunny72°F Parleys Summit2:15 PM MDT Sunny72°F Salt Lake City2:30 PM MDT 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
- US-287 near Tie Siding, WYMile 109 · 1 h 46 min 8,071 ftelevation
- Quealy Gap, WYMountain pass · Mile 190 · 2 h 57 min 7,453 ftelevation
- Rock Springs, WYMile 336 · 4 h 56 min 6,272 ftelevation
- Wyoming–Utah lineState line · Mile 442 · 6 h 24 min 6,757 ftelevation
- Parleys Summit, UTMountain pass · Mile 500 · 7 h 13 min 7,001 ftelevation
- Salt Lake City, UTMile 521 · 7 h 34 min 4,264 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at Denver, US-287 near Tie Siding and Salt Lake City.
| Month | Denver 5,228 ft | US-287 near Tie Siding Virginia Dale station · 7,015 ft | Salt Lake City 4,225 ft | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | |
| Jan | 49° / 21° | 2.4 | 38° / 16° | 2.6 | 39° / 24° | 3.6 |
| Feb | 49° / 22° | 2.6 | 39° / 15° | 3.4 | 45° / 29° | 3.0 |
| Mar | 58° / 30° | 2.5 | 47° / 22° | 3.7 | 55° / 36° | 2.3 |
| Apr | 64° / 36° | 1.5 | 53° / 27° | 4.3 | 62° / 42° | 1.0 |
| May | 73° / 46° | 0.3 | 62° / 35° | 1.9 | 73° / 50° | 0 |
| Jun | 85° / 56° | 0 | 74° / 43° | 0 | 84° / 59° | 0 |
| Jul | 91° / 62° | 0 | 81° / 50° | 0 | 94° / 68° | 0 |
| Aug | 90° / 60° | 0 | 80° / 48° | 0 | 92° / 67° | 0 |
| Sep | 82° / 51° | 0 | 72° / 40° | 0.3 | 81° / 56° | 0 |
| Oct | 68° / 38° | 0.8 | 57° / 30° | 2.0 | 66° / 44° | 0.3 |
| Nov | 56° / 28° | 1.6 | 45° / 22° | 2.6 | 51° / 33° | 2.1 |
| Dec | 47° / 21° | 2.2 | 38° / 15° | 3.0 | 39° / 25° | 3.8 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: DENVER WATER DEPT (USC00052223, 5,228 ft); VIRGINIA DALE 7 ENE (USC00058690, 7,015 ft); SALT LAKE CITY INTL AP (USW00024127, 4,225 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 Utah rather than repeat them.
- Colorado · CDOTCOtrip conditions and cameras
- Colorado · winter rulesTraction and chain laws
- Wyoming · WYDOTWyoming 511 road conditions
- Utah · UDOTUDOT Traffic road conditions
- Utah · winter rulesTraction law summary
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 Salt Lake 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 Salt Lake City?
521 miles, about 7½ hours of driving without stops, by way of I-25 and I-80. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
On US-287 near Tie Siding, at 8,071 ft. It comes at mile 109, about 1 h 46 min of driving after you leave Denver.
Does it snow on US-287 near Tie Siding in November?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Virginia Dale (7,015 ft), averages 9.9 inches of snow in November, with about 3 days of 1 inch or more (1991–2020 normals).
How cold is Salt Lake City in January?
Salt Lake City averages a high of 39°F and a low of 24°F in January (1991–2020 normals).