It’s not exactly a news flash to Colorado residents or frequent visitors, but Colorado highways are going to be busy this holiday weekend. 

Whether travelers are headed to resort town for Oktoberfests scheduled this weekend, trying to get in one last camping weekend or looking for a jump on the fall foliage in the Rocky Mountains — motorists are pounding the pavement in earnest. 

Feeding that trend even more this year is the lower gas prices from 2024, domestic hotel prices dropping and rental cars being more affordable, according to a AAA travel study. 

Denver, the study shows, is the eighth most popular domestic travel location, behind cities like Seattle, Orlando, Fla., New York, Atlanta, Boston and Chicago.   

“Colorado hospitality businesses are set to enjoy a final summer surge ahead of the fall’s seasonal slowdown,” said Skyler McKinley, regional director of public affairs for AAA in a news release. “Colorado travelers, meanwhile, should take the time to chart out their plans for the remainder of 2025: Costs are trending lower, with noticeable savings on hotels, rental cars, and international cruises.”

Domestic round-trip flights are 6% cheaper, the study shows, averaging $720 per ticket. Hotel stays within the United States have seen an 11% decrease, with multi-night stays averaging $495. Car rentals are 3% less expensive, with the average cost for multi-day bookings at $545.

Coloradans pay less for gas than the national average, the AAA study shows, and less than Labor Day 2024. Colorado’s average is $3.10, with Vail showing the highest per-gallon price at $3.62 and Greeley notching the lowest at $2.95. The national average is $3.16, and motorists in Colorado were paying $3.36 last year about this time. 

“Heavier traffic should be anticipated over the holiday weekend along the Front Range, on mountain highways, and most notably on Interstate 70 west of Denver,” according to a CDOT news release. “Traffic on I-70 is at its peak primarily from mid-morning until early evening on Friday, and from early morning to mid-afternoon on Saturday. Eastbound I-70 traffic will be at its highest on Labor Day from mid-morning to late afternoon, especially from Eagle and Summit counties to the Denver area.”

“Colorado’s lucky to enjoy four seasons of fun – with fall foliage is never far off from Labor Day, and opening day for the ski resorts shortly behind,” McKinley said. 

Two of the state’s seasonal roadways — CO 82 over Independence Pass between Twin Lakes and Aspen and Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mountain National Park — remain open through the fall until adverse weather requires a full closure for the winter, according to CDOT. The highway to the top of Mount Blue Sky remains closed for construction. 

CDOT data shows that travel through the Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnels on non-holiday weekends during the summer high-travel season averages 44,744 vehicles per day, but with Labor Day Weekend traffic averages climb to 46,890 vehicles.

For up-to-date travel information, check with www.cotrip.org or call 511. I-70-specific information is available at www.GoI70.com.