Driving from Denver to DC in December [closed]

We are planning on driving from Denver to DC before Christmas and back again before the New Year. We would be on I70 the entire time, and planning on two overnight stops. In general, what are the weather/road conditions at that time?

Best Answer

Throughout the United States, interstate highways are generally cleared quickly after snowstorms (within 24 hours at most). The only times when road conditions can get unsafe is during or immediately after snow & ice storms — and, of course, we cannot predict in August whether such a storms will occur on a particular day in December.

So the answer is "the weather and roads will probably be OK, but there's always a possibility of bad weather". The best tactics for long-distance road trips in the winter are:

Carefully monitor the long-range weather forecasts starting about a week before your departure. If a storm appears to be brewing, try to rearrange your schedule to depart a day later or a day earlier.
If despite your best efforts, you find yourself caught in a major storm, pull over and find a hotel.
Allow for an extra day or two of travel time. In other words, if you're leaving DC on the 1st and you think you'll be back home on the 3rd, don't schedule important appointments back home for the 4th.

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Can you drive through the Rocky Mountains in December?

Winter Driving in Rocky Mountain National Park Roads that tend to stay open all winter in the park, depending on weather, include Bear Lake Road, Fern Lake Road, Wild Basin Road, the Twin Sisters Trailhead Access Road, and the Upper Beaver Meadows Road.

Can you drive through Colorado in winter?

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has very specific laws for driving I-70 during winter. To start, there's the Traction Law), which states that \u201cmotorists must have either snow tires, tires with the mud/snow (M+S) designation, or a four-wheel/all-wheel drive vehicle.\u201d

Is it hard to drive in Denver in December?

The highway is plowed often, and our sunny weather usually leads to dry roads pretty quickly. December isn't a particularly snowy month in Colorado, but you never know. There'a always a chance of a snowstorm in the Rockies. Once you are in the park, the roads may be a little different.

Is it hard to drive in Denver in the winter?

Advice for Snowy and Icy Driving Conditions in Colorado. It doesn't take long for conditions to become treacherous in states that have winter weather for part of the year. Roads can get slick and icy fast, making driving a challenge for even the most seasoned driver.

❄Denver to Winter Park Colorado 4K via Berthoud Pass USA

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Ruvim Miksanskiy, Pavel Danilyuk, Trần Long, Trần Long