Wrapping up a record-breaking summer travel season, here’s what to expect across Colorado over Labor Day weekend

During Labor Day weekend, Coloradans and visitors will be soaking up the remaining days of summer. However, before the rest and relaxation comes travel. To avoid the holiday travel headache, here’s what you can expect across Colorado.

Labor Day weekend wraps up what has been a “record-breaking, blockbuster summer travel season,” AAA reports.

Domestic travel is expected to be up 9% from Labor Day weekend last year, looking at travel bookings from Thursday, Aug. 29, to Monday, Sept. 2. Denver will be the seventh-most popular destination within the country, according to AAA.

From Thursday to Tuesday, Denver International Airport is preparing to break a passenger record for Labor Day weekend with over 444,500 passengers forecasted to travel through its security checkpoints. This represents a 5.1% increase from the same weekend last year.

Bookending the weekend, Friday and Monday are expected to be the busiest travel days, no matter how you travel.  

The Denver airport estimates that it will have over 177,895 passengers go through security both days.

As travelers hit the road, AAA is estimating that the average nationwide gas price will be around $3.50, lower than the $3.80 average during the same time period last year.

The average gas price was $3.43 on Thursday in Colorado heading into the weekend. Gas prices will be higher as travelers move into the mountains, with the highest prices expected throughout the northwest and in pockets of the southwest.

On Thursday, the average price of gas in Summit County was $3.70, $3.75 in Grand County, $3.69 in Garfield County, and $3.85 in Eagle and Routt counties. Gas in Pitkin County is the highest in the state, with an average price per gallon of $4.80. 

What to expect in Colorado’s High Country

While the I-70 Coalition reports that Labor Day typically brings less volume to Colorado’s High Country than other three-day holiday weekends, it will still be a busy for roadways through the mountain corridor.

“Give yourself plenty of time because there’s going to be a lot more people out on the roadway, not just driving, but you’re going to see more cyclists, more motorcyclists, and more pedestrians in recreational areas,” said Bob Wilson, spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Transportation. “Expect a lot more traffic, in all its various forms, on the roadways as people enjoy the last hurrah of summer.”

Starting Friday — the “getaway day” — there will be a big push of westbound traffic along I-70, he said.

The weekend follows the same Friday through Sunday summer traffic patterns through the mountains, with the typical Sunday patterns following on Monday instead, according to Margaret Bowes, Director of the I-70 Coalition.

It reports that traffic will begin as early as 11 a.m. on Friday and run until 7 p.m., with delays peaking between 2-6 p.m. On Friday, the greatest delays are expected to be along Floyd Hill and approaching the Eisenhower Tunnel.

Saturday and Sunday will be better days to travel westbound, with less traffic and fewer delays expected. The coalition reports that traffic will build up between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday. On Sunday, there will be moderate traffic between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Last year, delays were around 15 minutes on Saturday and “minimal” heading westbound on Sunday, it adds.

The traffic pattern will reverse on Sunday and Monday as travelers head back east along I-70. The coalition reports that Sunday “will be a busy travel day,” with traffic building up as early as 11 a.m. and continuing through 6 p.m. Delays could add at least 30 minutes of extra traffic.

Heavy eastbound traffic will continue on Monday, peaking between 1-4 p.m. The coalition recommends leaving before 10:30 a.m. or after 6:30 p.m. to avoid delays of 30 minutes or more.

Wilson added that travelers should expect some safety metering heading eastbound to the Eisenhower Tunnel on Sunday and Monday. Typically, this safety metering stops drivers for an average of 20 minutes and helps maintain traffic through the tunnel when traffic gets heavy.

In addition to I-70, heavy traffic can be expected across other highways and regions, Wilson said. This includes along Independence Pass to and from Aspen, Highway 24 through Leadville, as well as along the Front Range and south down Interstate 25.  

“You see a significant amount of traffic, not just on Interstate 70, but anywhere where you might have some good recreational facilities or places where people like to recreate in the High Country,” he said. “But you also see increased traffic to areas that are at the lower elevations too, be it at a state park or regular parks.”

Construction and maintenance projects across the state will be put on hold as travelers take to the road, he said. Workers are required to be off roadways by noon on Friday through Tuesday morning. The exception would be any emergency operations, he added.

As repairs continue on the Middle Bridge on U.S. Highway 50 at Blue Mesa Reservoir, the transportation department will be opening the bridge continuously over Labor Day. The department reported that “approved vehicles” will be able to cross the bridge between 6:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. from Friday to Monday. Only one lane of traffic is open, so vehicles will cross the bridge in an alternating pattern.

Beating the traffic does not necessarily mean avoiding any but rather requires planning and traveling at off-peak times, Bowes said.

Travelers can also try out bus and shuttle services that connect the Front Range and mountains, including Pegasus and Bustang, as well as try available carpool services, like TreadShare, she added.

Traffic updates and road conditions are available at COTrip.org. To view the I-70 Coalition’s travel forecast and tips for the weekend, visit GoI70.com/Travel.