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Old 02-18-2016, 12:38 PM
 
2 posts, read 4,005 times
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Are the roads safe for a novice snow driver going from the Denver airport to Fort Collins for a college visit first week of March 2016? Really don't want to drive in the snow but from what I can tell the road looks flat. Any advice is appreciated.


Thank you.
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Old 02-18-2016, 01:29 PM
 
Location: Aurora, CO
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March is typically our snowiest month of the year. That being said, your entire drive will be on controlled-access highways (freeways and/or E-470), and they're all relatively flat. It could be sunny and 70 or it could be in the 20s and snowing like crazy.

CDOT does a decent job of keeping those roadways clear; however, if we get slammed by a heavy winter storm the commute to the Fort could be messy. Bear in mind you'll also be in a rental car that will likely be a FWD with all season tires.
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Old 02-18-2016, 01:32 PM
 
Location: Colorado Springs
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Sure, if its not snowing. Seriously, though it's tough to call. March is our wettest, read snowiest, month. That flat drive means ground blizzards can blow in quickly, however, the roads tend to be attended to fairly quickly since the majority of that drive is on the interstate.
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Old 02-18-2016, 02:08 PM
 
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Thank you both for your prompt replies. Kid wants to go to college/live in Colorado so I guess we better get used to it!
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Old 02-18-2016, 08:08 PM
 
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It's a really easy drive from DIA to Fort Collins. No mountains, just normal highway.

I have 25+ years experience driving in snow and I had the trip from hell driving from Fort Collins to the airport during a massive snowstorm. I still talk about it years later!

There are shuttle services you can take to Fort Collins from airport and then rent a car in town at Enterprise, Budget, etc.
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Old 02-18-2016, 08:16 PM
 
Location: Salt Lake City
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My husband I visited in January to scout for a possible move and we drove all over, from the airport through Denver to Colorado Springs up to Fort Collins, and we didn't have any issues. We were very nervous as we are from Florida, but there was no issue at all. It didn't really snow when we were there, except a light snow the last day. I'm sure if there was a heavy snow, it would be nerve-racking, but we had no problem at all driving around in our rental car (a very small Nissan Versa). The drive from Denver to Fort Collins was flat, straight highway, as mentioned. The locals will have a much better read on the quickly changing weather, however. We were there for only three days .
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Old 02-18-2016, 08:39 PM
 
Location: Denver, CO
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Yes. You're on 470/25 the entire way. Both major highways on flat ground.
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Old 02-19-2016, 05:42 AM
 
Location: Eastern Colorado
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If you really are worried about that drive you can ride with either Green Ride or Super Shuttle, they will drop you off at your hotel or the campus in Fort Collins and are not all that expensive.
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Old 02-21-2016, 03:21 PM
 
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Only areas where driving is ever a concern regarding snow are the I-70 corridor and the mountain towns, and that's pretty much it.
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Old 02-21-2016, 05:10 PM
 
Location: Aurora, CO
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mac2279 View Post
Only areas where driving is ever a concern regarding snow are the I-70 corridor and the mountain towns, and that's pretty much it.
I disagree. The Eastern Plains are blizzard central. I-70 is typically closed more frequently between Denver and the Kansas border than it is in the mountains. That stretch of road can be deceptively dangerous.

What primarily makes the mountains challenging is the traffic volume and the number of folks who drive up there in cars that are inadequately equipped for the conditions.
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