I-70, Highway 9 and the passes
Breckenridge road conditions
Driving to Breckenridge: the routes, what Colorado’s traction law means for your rental car, and where to check I-70 before you leave.
Photo: Idawriter, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Roads to Breckenridge
Getting here
Almost everyone arrives on I-70 from Denver. Take I-70 west through the Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel, the highest point of the drive, to Frisco (exit 203), then Highway 9 south for about 10 miles into Breckenridge. From Denver International Airport it's roughly 100 miles.
From the west, I-70 east crosses Vail Pass (10,662 ft) before the same exit 203. From the south, Highway 9 comes over Hoosier Pass (11,542 ft) from Fairplay and Alma. It's a proper mountain pass and can close in storms.
The mountains are only half the problem. Weekend traffic on I-70 is heavy: westbound on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings, eastbound on Sunday afternoons. Leaving early or late saves hours.
Official sources
Check the roads before you leave
Road cams for I-70 (Eisenhower Tunnel, Vail Pass) and Highway 9 (Frisco to Breck, Hoosier Pass) are on COtrip's map: switch on the cameras layer.
The traction law, in plain English
On I-70 between Morrison and Dotsero, Colorado's traction law can apply from September 1 to May 31, and CDOT can switch it on for any state highway in a storm. When it's on, passenger cars need one of these:
- Tires with at least 3/16" of tread that are winter or all-weather rated (marked with the mountain-snowflake symbol, M+S or M/S)
- Chains, or an approved alternative traction device
CDOT strongly recommends four-wheel or all-wheel drive in the mountains. The chain law is the step before a closure: every vehicle needs chains or an approved alternative.
Get caught without the right tires and it's a $100 fine plus a $33 surcharge. If your car blocks a lane, it's $500 plus a $157 surcharge.
Renting a car? Most rental tires won't meet the tread rule, so ask for AWD with winter or M+S tires.
Skip the car
- From Denver: CDOT's Bustang and Pegasus run along I-70, and private shuttles run from DEN.
- Around town: the Town of Breckenridge's Free Ride buses are free and cover town, the bases and most lodging.
- Around Summit County: the Summit Stage connects Breck with Frisco, Silverthorne, Keystone and Copper.
- To the lifts: the BreckConnect Gondola is free from town to Peak 7 and Peak 8, and the resort runs a free shuttle between Peaks 7, 8 and 9.
Slope-side parking is limited and mostly paid, so the gondola lots and the buses are usually the easier option.
National Weather Service
Weather on the drive
Ski & snowboard rental
Book online before you arrive and pick your gear up in town the evening before. The morning rush at the base shops can eat your first hour, and booking ahead can be cheaper.
Lift tickets & the Epic Pass
Breck is on the Epic Pass. Buying a ticket at the window on the day is the most expensive way up the hill, so buy ahead online or look at an Epic Day Pass if you're here for a few days.
The Friday snow email
One short email a week in season: what fell, what's open, and where to ride this weekend.