What are driving conditions like on I-70 in late November?

Late November on I-70 brings Colorado's seasonal traction requirements and the possibility of storm-related restrictions at mountain passes. The corridor also crosses states where weather and traffic can change during Thanksgiving week. Review conditions on each part of your route before leaving.

Facts checked October 2026. Every number links to its source; prices and rules change, so confirm the day you travel.

Which stretches of I-70 should I check first?

Traveling west to east, I-70 starts in Utah before climbing into Colorado's mountain corridor. The Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel passes under the Continental Divide at an average elevation of 11,112 feet, according to CDOT. The westbound Eisenhower bore runs 1.693 miles. The eastbound Johnson bore runs 1.697 miles. The tunnel is an important condition checkpoint before crossing this section. See the Eisenhower Tunnel page and the official COtrip report.

Vail Pass is another Colorado segment to check. East Vail is Exit 180, and Vail Pass Summit is Exit 190. These were closure points during a November 2024 snow event. Use the Vail Pass page before departure rather than assuming conditions match those at the tunnel.

Glenwood Canyon is a separate I-70 restriction point. CDOT has closed the canyon for wildfire or debris risks. Those examples do not establish a late-November closure. Check COtrip for a current canyon restriction rather than treating its past closures as a Thanksgiving forecast.

After Colorado, review conditions across Kansas and Missouri, then Illinois and Indiana. NOAA documented a major pileup on I-70 near Terre Haute, Indiana, during Thanksgiving weekend 2025. Farther east, check Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland before starting the relevant stretch.

What rules apply to I-70 in late November?

Colorado's passenger-vehicle Traction Law is in effect every year from September 1 through May 31 on the I-70 mountain corridor between Dotsero and Morrison. CDOT can also activate that law on other state highways. The rule applies to motorists who are not driving a commercial motor vehicle.

Under CDOT's 2025 update, qualifying tires must have at least 3/16 inch of tread and carry an all-weather, M+S or mountain-snowflake rating. That tire standard applies regardless of whether the vehicle has two-wheel drive, all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. Drivers without qualifying tires must use chains or an approved alternative traction device. All-wheel drive by itself is not the compliance test.

Colorado may also activate its Passenger Vehicle Chain Law during severe storms. Under that rule, every vehicle needs chains or an approved alternative traction device. CDOT describes this as the final step before a highway closure. The traction requirement and an active chain requirement are not the same thing. Look at the current notice before deciding what equipment is required.

Utah permits studded tires from October 15 through March 31. Commercial drivers should check current CDOT chain-carry requirements before the trip.

What happened during recent late Novembers?

On Sunday, November 24, 2024, multiple semis spun out in snow, and CDOT closed eastbound I-70 between East Vail at Exit 180 and Vail Pass Summit at Exit 190. The closure began around 4:10 PM and the route reopened around 9 PM. That afternoon, westbound I-70 near the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnel closed after crashes west of the tunnel. That closure lasted from about 5:40 PM to 7 PM, between Exit 216 at Loveland Pass and Exit 205 at Silverthorne.

On November 22, 2023, CDOT warned drivers about snow forecast from Thanksgiving night through Saturday. That was an advisory, not a documented closure. During November 28 through 30, 2025, NOAA reported a 45-car pileup on westbound I-70 outside Terre Haute, Indiana, in the Thanksgiving weekend storm.

When does Thanksgiving travel build up?

AAA's national 2025 Thanksgiving forecast expected 81.8 million people to travel at least 50 miles between November 25 and December 1. At least 73 million were forecast to travel by car. These were national predictions for 2025, not measured I-70 traffic and not a 2026 forecast.

The accompanying INRIX 2025 forecast identified Tuesday noon to 9 PM and Wednesday 11 AM to 8 PM as the most congested pre-Thanksgiving windows, using local time in each metro. For the Sunday return, it identified 11 AM to 8 PM. Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, in 2026. The older travel windows can help explain the holiday pattern, but they cannot tell you whether Vail Pass or the tunnel will have a restriction on your day of travel.

Where can I check official I-70 conditions?

Start with UDOT Traffic for Utah and COtrip for the Colorado mountain corridor. Use COtrip for the mountain corridor before leaving. MileCheck also has an I-70 corridor page and a closures page.

For the rest of the west-to-east route, check KanDrive, Missouri Traveler Information, Getting Around Illinois, Indiana 511 and Ohio OHGO. Finish with West Virginia 511, Pennsylvania 511 and Maryland CHART. Check the sources for your route before departure. If your route changes, review the new stretch while parked.

Related: I-70 cameras and conditions · Live road closures · Chain laws by state · Mountain pass conditions