Next 7 departures
- TueOct 13
HighChance of light snow showers near Vail Pass around 8:30 AM MDT.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny49°F Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel8 AM MDT Slight chance of light snow showers34°F Vail Pass8:30 AM MDT Chance of light snow showers30°F Glenwood Springs9:30 AM MDT Chance of light rain showers46°F Clifton10:45 AM MDT Light rain showers57°F Montrose12 PM MDT Light rain showers likely57°F Dallas Divide12:30 PM MDT Light rain showers likely49°F Telluride1:15 PM MDT Light rain showers likely45°F - WedOct 14
HighLight snow showers near Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel around 8 AM MDT. Also at 3 other checkpoints.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Light rain showers46°F Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel8 AM MDT Light snow showers31°F Vail Pass8:30 AM MDT Light snow showers30°F Glenwood Springs9:30 AM MDT Light rain showers40°F Clifton10:45 AM MDT Light rain showers46°F Montrose12 PM MDT Light rain showers46°F Dallas Divide12:30 PM MDT Light snow showers likely39°F Telluride1:15 PM MDT Light snow showers likely38°F - ThuOct 15
HighChance of light snow showers near Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel around 8 AM MDT. Also at 1 other checkpoint.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Chance of light rain showers43°F Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel8 AM MDT Chance of light snow showers26°F Vail Pass8:30 AM MDT Slight chance of light snow showers24°F Glenwood Springs9:30 AM MDT Partly sunny37°F Clifton10:45 AM MDT Partly sunny46°F Montrose12 PM MDT Partly sunny46°F Dallas Divide12:30 PM MDT Mostly sunny42°F Telluride1:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny53°F - FriOct 16
CautionFreezing, 22°F near Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel around 8 AM MDT. Also at 1 other checkpoint.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny40°F Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel8 AM MDT Mostly sunny22°F Vail Pass8:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny22°F Glenwood Springs9:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny38°F Clifton10:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny50°F Montrose12 PM MDT Mostly sunny52°F Dallas Divide12:30 PM MDT Sunny49°F Telluride1:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny57°F - SatOct 17
CautionFreezing, 27°F near Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel around 8 AM MDT. Also at 1 other checkpoint.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny39°F Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel8 AM MDT Sunny27°F Vail Pass8:30 AM MDT Sunny27°F Glenwood Springs9:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny42°F Clifton10:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny53°F Montrose12 PM MDT Mostly sunny54°F Dallas Divide12:30 PM MDT Mostly sunny51°F Telluride1:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny57°F - SunOct 18
CautionFreezing, 31°F near Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel around 8 AM MDT. Also at 1 other checkpoint.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny47°F Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel8 AM MDT Mostly sunny31°F Vail Pass8:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny31°F Glenwood Springs9:30 AM MDT Partly sunny43°F Clifton10:45 AM MDT Partly sunny54°F Montrose12 PM MDT Mostly sunny55°F Dallas Divide12:30 PM MDT Slight chance of light rain showers51°F Telluride1:15 PM MDT Slight chance of light snow showers58°F - MonOct 19
CautionFreezing, 32°F near Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel around 8 AM MDT. Also at 1 other checkpoint.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny49°F Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel8 AM MDT Mostly sunny32°F Vail Pass8:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny32°F Glenwood Springs9:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny44°F Clifton10:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny56°F Montrose12 PM MDT Mostly sunny57°F Dallas Divide12:30 PM MDT Mostly sunny53°F Telluride1:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny58°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
- Clifton, COMile 238 · 3 h 49 min 4,720 ftelevation
- Montrose, COMile 297 · 4 h 55 min 5,810 ftelevation
- Dallas Divide, COMountain pass · Mile 333 · 5 h 37 min 8,984 ftelevation
- Telluride, COMile 362 · 6 h 20 min 8,789 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 Telluride.
| Month | Denver 5,228 ft | Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel Cabin Creek station · 10,020 ft | Telluride 8,646 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 | 36° / 0° | 7.1 |
| Feb | 49° / 22° | 2.6 | 32° / 12° | 6.2 | 38° / 5° | 6.6 |
| Mar | 58° / 30° | 2.5 | 38° / 17° | 6.8 | 44° / 13° | 6.4 |
| Apr | 64° / 36° | 1.5 | 43° / 23° | 7.0 | 51° / 22° | 4.5 |
| May | 73° / 46° | 0.3 | 53° / 31° | 2.9 | 60° / 29° | 1.7 |
| Jun | 85° / 56° | 0 | 64° / 40° | 0.2 | 73° / 34° | 0.1 |
| Jul | 91° / 62° | 0 | 69° / 46° | 0 | 77° / 41° | 0 |
| Aug | 90° / 60° | 0 | 67° / 44° | 0 | 74° / 40° | 0 |
| Sep | 82° / 51° | 0 | 61° / 38° | 0.4 | 68° / 34° | 0.2 |
| Oct | 68° / 38° | 0.8 | 50° / 29° | 3.2 | 57° / 23° | 1.9 |
| Nov | 56° / 28° | 1.6 | 39° / 19° | 4.7 | 45° / 13° | 5.0 |
| Dec | 47° / 21° | 2.2 | 32° / 12° | 5.5 | 36° / 2° | 6.2 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: DENVER WATER DEPT (USC00052223, 5,228 ft); CABIN CREEK (USC00051186, 10,020 ft); TELLURIDE 4WNW (USC00058204, 8,646 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 Telluride 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 Telluride?
362 miles, about 6½ hours of driving without stops, by way of I-70 and US-50. 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 Telluride in January?
Telluride averages a high of 36°F and a low of 0°F in January (1991–2020 normals).