Next 7 departures
- FriNov 13
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 48–62°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Austin7 AM CST Sunny53°F Brownwood9:15 AM CST Sunny57°F Lubbock12:45 PM CST Partly sunny59°F Dalhart3:45 PM CST Partly sunny62°F Texas–New Mexico line3:15 PM MST Mostly cloudy62°F Raton Pass5 PM MST Mostly cloudy50°F Pueblo6:15 PM MST Mostly cloudy51°F Denver8:15 PM MST Mostly cloudy48°F - SatNov 14
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 41–54°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Austin7 AM CST Partly sunny52°F Brownwood9:15 AM CST Mostly cloudy54°F Lubbock12:45 PM CST Chance of light rain showers51°F Dalhart3:45 PM CST Light rain showers48°F Texas–New Mexico line3:15 PM MST Light rain showers likely47°F Raton Pass5 PM MST Light rain showers likely41°F Pueblo6:15 PM MST Chance of light rain showers51°F Denver8:15 PM MST Slight chance of light rain showers45°F - SunNov 15
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 39–56°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Austin7 AM CST Light rain showers56°F Brownwood9:15 AM CST Light rain showers55°F Lubbock12:45 PM CST Partly sunny50°F Dalhart3:45 PM CST Mostly cloudy48°F Texas–New Mexico line3:15 PM MST Mostly cloudy47°F Raton Pass5 PM MST Mostly sunny39°F Pueblo6:15 PM MST Mostly sunny47°F Denver8:15 PM MST Clear46°F - MonNov 16
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 43–53°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Austin7 AM CST Mostly cloudy52°F Brownwood9:15 AM CST Mostly cloudy48°F Lubbock12:45 PM CST Mostly cloudy45°F Dalhart3:45 PM CST Partly sunny53°F Texas–New Mexico line3:15 PM MST Mostly sunny52°F Raton Pass5 PM MST Sunny43°F Pueblo6:15 PM MST Mostly sunny47°F Denver8:15 PM MST Mostly clear48°F - TueNov 17
CautionGusts to 36 mph near Dalhart around 3:45 PM CST. Also at 1 other checkpoint.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Austin7 AM CST Mostly cloudy51°F Brownwood9:15 AM CST Mostly cloudy50°F Lubbock12:45 PM CST Mostly cloudy46°F Dalhart3:45 PM CST Partly sunny56°F Texas–New Mexico line3:15 PM MST Mostly sunny55°F Raton Pass5 PM MST Mostly sunny46°F Pueblo6:15 PM MST Mostly sunny52°F Denver8:15 PM MST Mostly clear48°F - WedNov 18
CautionGusts to 33 mph near Dalhart around 3:45 PM CST. Also at 1 other checkpoint.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Austin7 AM CST Mostly cloudy54°F Brownwood9:15 AM CST Mostly cloudy53°F Lubbock12:45 PM CST Mostly cloudy52°F Dalhart3:45 PM CST Mostly sunny61°F Texas–New Mexico line3:15 PM MST Partly sunny58°F Raton Pass5 PM MST Mostly sunny42°F Pueblo6:15 PM MST Mostly sunny51°F Denver8:15 PM MST Slight chance of light rain showers45°F - ThuNov 19
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 44–62°F along the way. The forecast does not reach the last 2 checkpoints yet.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Austin7 AM CST Chance of light rain showers60°F Brownwood9:15 AM CST Chance of light rain showers59°F Lubbock12:45 PM CST Partly sunny57°F Dalhart3:45 PM CST Mostly sunny62°F Texas–New Mexico line3:15 PM MST Partly sunny58°F Raton Pass5 PM MST Mostly sunny44°F Pueblo6:15 PM MST Not forecast yet— Denver8:15 PM MST Not forecast yet—
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Austin (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Austin, TXStart 535 ftelevation
- Brownwood, TXMile 139 · 2 h 18 min 1,338 ftelevation
- Lubbock, TXMile 372 · 5 h 50 min 3,196 ftelevation
- Dalhart, TXMile 569 · 8 h 47 min 3,985 ftelevation
- Texas–New Mexico lineState line · Mile 606 · 9 h 20 min 4,734 ftelevation
- Raton Pass, NMMountain pass · Mile 705 · 10 h 56 min 7,834 ftelevation
- Pueblo, COMile 804 · 12 h 22 min 4,663 ftelevation
- Denver, COMile 915 · 14 h 8 min 5,276 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at Austin, Raton Pass and Denver.
| Month | Austin 670 ft | Raton Pass Lake Maloya station · 7,400 ft | Denver 5,228 ft | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | |
| Jan | 63° / 42° | 0 | 42° / 11° | 3.4 | 49° / 21° | 2.4 |
| Feb | 67° / 46° | 0 | 43° / 12° | 3.5 | 49° / 22° | 2.6 |
| Mar | 73° / 52° | 0 | 50° / 20° | 4.3 | 58° / 30° | 2.5 |
| Apr | 80° / 59° | 0 | 57° / 27° | 3.6 | 64° / 36° | 1.5 |
| May | 87° / 67° | 0 | 66° / 36° | 0.6 | 73° / 46° | 0.3 |
| Jun | 93° / 73° | 0 | 75° / 44° | 0 | 85° / 56° | 0 |
| Jul | 97° / 75° | 0 | 78° / 49° | 0 | 91° / 62° | 0 |
| Aug | 98° / 75° | 0 | 76° / 48° | 0 | 90° / 60° | 0 |
| Sep | 91° / 70° | 0 | 71° / 41° | 0.1 | 82° / 51° | 0 |
| Oct | 83° / 61° | 0 | 60° / 31° | 1.3 | 68° / 38° | 0.8 |
| Nov | 72° / 51° | 0 | 50° / 21° | 3.0 | 56° / 28° | 1.6 |
| Dec | 64° / 43° | 0 | 42° / 13° | 3.3 | 47° / 21° | 2.2 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: AUSTIN-CAMP MABRY (USW00013958, 670 ft); LAKE MALOYA (USC00294742, 7,400 ft); DENVER WATER DEPT (USC00052223, 5,228 ft). Snow days are days with at least 1 inch of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for Texas, New Mexico and Colorado rather than repeat them.
- Texas · TxDOTDriveTexas road conditions
- New Mexico · NMDOTNMRoads conditions and cameras
- Colorado · CDOTCOtrip conditions and cameras
- Colorado · winter rulesTraction and chain laws
Check the official National Weather Service forecast and each state's road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from Austin to Denver with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Austin to Denver?
915 miles, about 14 hours of driving without stops, by way of Lubbock, Dalhart and I-25. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
Raton Pass, at 7,834 ft. It comes at mile 705, about 10 h 56 min of driving after you leave Austin.
Does it snow at Raton Pass in November?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Lake Maloya (7,400 ft), averages 11.0 inches of snow in November, with about 3 days of 1 inch or more (1991–2020 normals).
How cold is Denver in January?
Denver averages a high of 49°F and a low of 21°F in January (1991–2020 normals).