The Front Range Freightway (I-25) Road Conditions & Traffic

01 Route overview

Interstate 25 runs 1,062 miles from Las Cruces, New Mexico to Buffalo, Wyoming, hugging the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains and serving the major cities of the Front Range — Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Denver, and Cheyenne. It is the only continuous north-south interstate between I-15 in Utah and I-35 in central Texas, making it the lifeline of the central Mountain West.

The corridor climbs and descends repeatedly. From Las Cruces it gains elevation steadily through New Mexico, crests Raton Pass (7,834 ft) at the Colorado border, drops into Trinidad, climbs again across the Palmer Divide between Colorado Springs and Denver, and stays above 5,000 ft through Cheyenne and into Wyoming. Weather is the dominant operational concern: high-wind closures across the Wyoming portion are routine, the Front Range is exposed to ground blizzards, and the Raton Pass segment closes regularly in winter.

For freight, I-25 connects the Permian Basin energy economy via I-40, the Denver intermodal hubs, and the freight gateway at Casper / Buffalo where I-25 meets I-90 for connections east. Truck volumes through the Denver metro are heavy and the I-25 / I-70 interchange ("Mousetrap") is one of the most reconstruction-prone in the country.

Crosses Raton Pass (7,834 ft) at the New Mexico-Colorado border
Spans the entire Front Range — Albuquerque to Buffalo, WY
Concurrent with US-87 across most of Wyoming
Highest elevation in metro use (Monument Hill, CO) ~7,352 ft
Designated high-wind closure corridor across most of Wyoming
Connects to I-10, I-40, I-70, I-76, I-80, and I-90
Only continuous N-S interstate between I-15 in UT and I-35 in TX

02 Key cities & junctions

State	Mile	City / Junction
NM	MM 0	Las Cruces (I-10 jct)
NM	MM 156	Socorro
NM	MM 226	Albuquerque (I-40 jct)
NM	MM 282	Santa Fe
NM	MM 366	Las Vegas, NM
NM	MM 451	Raton
CO	MM 12	Trinidad
CO	MM 87	Walsenburg
CO	MM 99	Pueblo
CO	MM 144	Colorado Springs
CO	MM 184	Monument Hill (summit)
CO	MM 210	Denver (I-70/I-76 jct)
CO	MM 269	Fort Collins
WY	MM 8	Cheyenne (I-80 jct)
WY	MM 95	Wheatland
WY	MM 184	Douglas
WY	MM 235	Casper
WY	MM 365	Buffalo (I-90 jct)

04 Notable hazards & trouble spots

Hazard

Steep, exposed mountain pass with chronic winter closures

Raton Pass, NM/CO (MM 451 NM - 12 CO)

A sustained 6% grade climbing to 7,834 ft at the state line. CDOT and NMDOT close Raton Pass to all traffic dozens of times each winter for snow and ice. Chain stations are at Trinidad (northbound) and Raton (southbound). The detour via US-87 adds 200+ miles.

Hazard

Ground blizzards and rapid weather changes

Monument Hill / Palmer Divide, CO (MM 175-185)

The 100-mile climb between Colorado Springs and Denver crests at 7,352 ft on Monument Hill. Wind-driven snow drops visibility to zero with little warning, and the segment is the single most-frequently-closed urban interstate in Colorado. CDOT issues commercial vehicle restrictions before passenger-vehicle restrictions.

Hazard

High-wind closures statewide

Wyoming (MM 8-365)

Sustained winds of 50-70 mph are routine across the Wyoming I-25 corridor. WYDOT issues "no light, high-profile, or empty trailer" advisories regularly and closes segments to all traffic when gusts exceed 80 mph. The Wheatland-Douglas stretch is particularly exposed.

Hazard

Major reconstruction zone with chronic congestion

Denver "Mousetrap" interchange (MM 213)

Where I-25 meets I-70 in north Denver is one of the most-reconstructed interchanges in the country. Lane shifts, narrowed widths, and reduced speed limits change frequently. Plan deliveries outside the 6-9 AM and 3-7 PM peaks.

Hazard

Complex stack interchange

Albuquerque "Big I" (MM 224-226)

The I-25/I-40 interchange in central Albuquerque is a multi-level stack. Tight curves and short merge zones make it incident-prone, and the surrounding urban segments narrow to two lanes each direction during construction.

4a National parks along this route

CO National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park

Exit 243 (US-34 / Loveland)

36 mi west on US-34 (the Big Thompson Canyon road) to the Beaver Meadows Entrance at Estes Park

Plan a stop →

NM National Park

White Sands National Park

Exit 6 (US-70 East / Las Cruces, NM)

55 mi east on US-70 to the visitor center

Plan a stop →

CO National Park

Great Sand Dunes National Park

Exit 52 (Walsenburg, CO / US-160 W)

75 mi west on US-160 then north on CO-150 to the visitor center

Plan a stop →

05 Active incidents (2)

WEATHER WY

I-25: I 25 / US 87 at milepost 191.640Single unit 6+ axles: 36T

I-25

WEATHER WY

I-25: I 25 from milepost 184.000 to 184.300Width restriction: 13 ftI 25 from milepost 185.330 to 186.790Height…

I-25

06 Active weather alerts (3)

HIGH WIND WARNING

High Wind Warning issued May 15 at 11:56PM PDT until May 18 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV

Lake Havasu and Fort Mohave; Lake Mead - AZ side; Lake Mohave - AZ side; San Bernardino County-Upper Colorado River Valley; Lake Mead - NV side; Lake Mohave - NV side

RED FLAG WARNING

Red Flag Warning issued May 15 at 10:59AM MST until May 17 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ

Northeast Plateaus and Mesas Hwy 264 Northward; Little Colorado River Valley in Coconino County; Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County; Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County; Eastern M

WIND ADVISORY

Wind Advisory issued May 16 at 12:50AM MST until May 17 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ

Kaibab Plateau; Grand Canyon Country; Coconino Plateau; Yavapai County Mountains; Northeast Plateaus and Mesas Hwy 264 Northward; Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau; Little Colorado River Valley in

07 FAQ

How long does it take to drive I-25 end to end?

A passenger car can cover the 1,062 miles in about 16-18 hours of driving time. Commercial drivers respecting hours-of-service rules typically need 2 to 3 days, with weather delays common in winter on Raton Pass and across Wyoming.

Does I-25 close in winter?

Frequently. Raton Pass, the Monument Hill segment between Colorado Springs and Denver, and the Wyoming portion all close regularly for snow, ice, and high winds. NMDOT, CDOT, and WYDOT publish real-time status; check all three before committing to a long-haul winter run.

Is I-25 a toll road?

No. I-25 is toll-free for its entire 1,062-mile length. Denver's I-25 Express Lanes carry tolls but are optional and not part of the general-purpose lanes.

What is the highest point on I-25?

Raton Pass at 7,834 ft on the New Mexico-Colorado border is the highest point on I-25, narrowly beating Monument Hill (7,352 ft) in Colorado.

What major cities does I-25 connect?

I-25 directly serves Las Cruces, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Trinidad, Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Denver, Fort Collins, Cheyenne, and Casper.

I-25 — The Front Range Freightway

Steep, exposed mountain pass with chronic winter closures

Ground blizzards and rapid weather changes

High-wind closures statewide

Major reconstruction zone with chronic congestion

Complex stack interchange

Rocky Mountain National Park

White Sands National Park

Great Sand Dunes National Park

High Wind Warning issued May 15 at 11:56PM PDT until May 18 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV

Red Flag Warning issued May 15 at 10:59AM MST until May 17 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ

Wind Advisory issued May 16 at 12:50AM MST until May 17 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ

Interstate 25 Live Map