Mileage and Driving Tips

Help can be a long way away. Start out prepared.

Animal Warning Signs

Take the Moose Crossing signs seriously. Moose always have the right-of-way.

Last year 3,000 motorists in Colorado hit an animal on the road. Watch for the animal alert signs and scan the side of the road as you drive. Drive cautiously in areas where trees and brush are close to the side of the road.  Animals often are found near highways licking the salt left from sanding/salting after a snowstorm. At night, watch for shining animal eyes. Elk, deer, and bighorn sheep seldom travel alone. If one animal crosses the road, others are sure to follow. Stop your car to watch animals only if you can pull off the road safely.

Mountain Driving Tips

The key to safe mountain driving is to slow down and look further ahead than in normal driving. Most accidents occur because drivers are either driving too fast, and/or are following too closely to the car in front of them.

Unique mountain hazards include scenic overlooks that attract traffic and heavy truck traffic that speeds up on downhill sections while slowing down going uphill.

Four-wheel drive vehicles or SUVs can lead to a false sense of security in rain, snow and ice. SUVs do not stop any differently than conventional cars.

Observe posted speed limits on curves. Keep to the right of your lane when rounding a curve to put as large a cushion of safety as possible between you and oncoming traffic. According to the Colorado State Patrol, a large percentage of high country accidents are caused by drivers who don’t stay on their side of the road.

Blue Light warning! Colorado’s snowplows use distinctive amber and blue lights to warn you well in advance that snow removal operations are underway. When you see these lights, slow down and use caution.

Road Information

Major highways across Colorado, call (303) 639-1111, or call 511 or 877-315-ROAD from anywhere in the state..

For complete information, including road construction information, go online at www.cotrip.org.

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) web site tracks road conditions 24/7. The web site has traffic cameras you can click on to view road conditions at various locations.

State Highway Patrol (970) 824-6501 or 911.

When driving to Grand County from the Denver area: Take I-70 west to exit 232. Continue north on US Hwy 40.

• Winter Park Resort: 67 miles northwest of Denver
• Town of Winter Park: 69 miles northwest of Denver, 2.5 miles from Winter Park Resort
• Town of Fraser: 71 miles northwest of Denver, 2 miles north of Winter Park
• Granby Ranch: 79 miles northwest of Denver, 10 miles north of Winter Park
• Granby: 81 miles northwest of Denver, 12 miles north of Winter Park
• Grand Lake: 102 miles northwest of Denver, 33 miles north of Winter Park
• Kremmling: 115 miles northwest of Denver, 46 miles northwest of Winter Park

Road Conditions for Adjacent States

• Kansas           800-585-7623
• Nebraska        800-906-9069
• Wyoming        888-996-7623
• Utah               866-511-8824
• New Mexico     800-432-4269