The Colorado Department of Transportation is preparing for a unique Memorial Day holiday traffic pattern this year. While the three-day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, a dry winter and spring mean high-country roads and trails are more accessible than usual—potentially driving traffic well past normal holiday baselines.
To help ease congestion over Memorial Day weekend, CDOT will suspend all statewide construction and maintenance projects starting at noon on Friday, May 22. Work will not resume until Tuesday morning, May 26.
“Memorial Day is historically quiet in between winter and summer tourism seasons, but a low 2026 snowpack means more access in Colorado’s high country,” said CDOT Director of Maintenance and Operations Shawn Smith. “Despite some local fire restrictions, we anticipate this increased accessibility will entice a much higher volume of motorists into the mountains than we typically see for this holiday.”
CDOT warns that this year’s traffic numbers could easily surpass those historical averages. Motorists should also be aware that several counties and federal lands have already implemented fire restrictions due to dry conditions. Travelers should check local restrictions before heading out, as campfires may be barred outside of permanently developed metal or masonry fire rings. Before heading into the mountains, drivers are urged to visit COtrip.org or download the free COtrip Planner app to view live tracking, camera feeds, and real-time travel alerts.
I-70 Mountain Corridor expected volumes
For motorists planning to travel on the I-70 Mountain Corridor, CDOT advises to travel via Bustang or traveling before 10:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 22, and Monday, May 25. More I-70 Mountain Corridor information is available at codot.gov/travel/i70mountain or www.GoI70.com.
- Friday Westbound I-70: Traffic typically spikes in the afternoon. Last year, peak travel hit at 4 p.m. with more than 2,000 cars per hour pushing through Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel (EJMT).
- Saturday Westbound I-70: For those leaving Saturday morning, the rush peaks at midday. Last year, traffic surpassed 2,000 cars per hour at noon.
- Monday Eastbound I-70: The return rush hits hard right after lunch. Last year, eastbound traffic peaked at 1 p.m. with 2,500+ cars per hour traveling through the tunnel toward Denver.
