Denver Traffic Cameras: Monitor the Mile High City's Highway Network
Access 950+ live traffic cameras across the Denver metropolitan area. Our interactive map provides real-time access to live street feeds and intersection cameras throughout downtown Denver and the Cherry Creek district. Track conditions on I-25, I-70, the notorious Mousetrap interchange, and Peña Boulevard to Denver International Airport. Free, real-time CDOT feeds updated 24/7.
View Denver Cameras →Coverage Areas
I-25 Corridor
280+ cameras | Downtown to Tech Center
Monitor Denver's north-south spine from Castle Rock through downtown to Thornton. Includes Santa Fe Drive, Broadway, and the Mousetrap.
I-70 Corridor
200+ cameras | Mountains to Plains
Track mountain access westbound and airport access eastbound. Full coverage from the Mousetrap to Tower Road and Peña Boulevard junction.
I-225 & Southeast Metro
120+ cameras | Aurora & Southeast
Complete coverage of I-225 loop, Parker Road, and southeast suburban corridors through Aurora.
C-470 & E-470 Loops
150+ cameras | Suburban Beltway
Monitor the southern and eastern toll loop serving Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, and the Tech Center.
US-36 & Northwest
100+ cameras | Boulder Turnpike
Track the Boulder commuter corridor and northwest Denver connections to Broomfield and Westminster.
Peña Boulevard & DIA
100+ cameras | Airport Access
Complete coverage of the 23-mile airport expressway from I-70 to Denver International Airport terminals.
Denver's highway network serves 2.9 million residents across a sprawling metro area stretching from the Rocky Mountain foothills to the High Plains. According to 2023 MSA rankings, Denver metro commuters spend an average of 116.9 minutes in their vehicles daily—nearly two hours per day.
According to the INRIX 2024 Global Traffic Scorecard, Denver experienced the largest increase in traffic congestion in the country, with a 19% rise in traffic delays compared to the previous year. Local drivers lost an average of 43 to 76 hours annually to traffic jams, costing each commuter significant time and fuel.
The city's rapid growth over the past two decades has strained infrastructure, with the I-25/I-70 Mousetrap interchange becoming one of the nation's worst bottlenecks. Users can also monitor live street feeds along Colfax Avenue and Speer Boulevard to check for road-level gridlock near the State Capitol or Pepsi Center events.
Research published by the Federal Highway Administration found that access to real-time traffic camera feeds reduces secondary accident rates by up to 30% by enabling faster incident detection and response. This is essential in Denver, where CDOT real-time feeds help monitor rapid weather shifts and significant daily volumes at the Mousetrap interchange.
Add altitude-related weather challenges, ski resort traffic on I-70, and a 23-mile airport expressway, and real-time camera monitoring becomes essential for navigating the Mile High City.
Check Denver Traffic Now
View live conditions on I-25, I-70, and the Mousetrap. See current camera feeds before you leave.
View Cameras →I-25: The Front Range Spine
Interstate 25 runs 300 miles through Colorado, but the Denver metro section carries the heaviest traffic. This north-south corridor connects Castle Rock, the Tech Center, downtown Denver, and northern suburbs like Thornton and Northglenn. The route serves as the primary commuter artery for hundreds of thousands of daily drivers.
I-25 Key Segments
- The Mousetrap (I-25/I-70) — Denver's worst interchange, 11 lanes converging
- Santa Fe Drive/Broadway — South Denver parallel routes with frequent backups
- Tech Center Corridor (County Line to I-225) — Suburban office hub, AM/PM crush
- Castle Rock Gap (south terminus) — Mountain traffic merges, ski weekend bottleneck
The Tech Center section between County Line Road and I-225 sees severe AM southbound and PM northbound congestion as workers commute to office parks. Downtown approaches near Speer Boulevard and Colfax Avenue back up during rush hours. Winter weather compounds problems when snow accumulates on overpasses and bridges.
I-70: East-West Lifeline
I-70 is Denver's most critical east-west route, serving dual purposes: airport access via Peña Boulevard eastbound, and mountain recreation access westbound. The route carries ski traffic, freight to the Western Slope, and tourists heading to Rocky Mountain National Park.
I-70 Key Segments
- The Mousetrap (I-25/I-70) — Eastbound exit chaos, westbound merge mayhem
- Peña Boulevard Junction (Tower Road) — DIA airport split, high-speed merges
- Mountain Approaches (west of I-25) — Idaho Springs, Georgetown Hill, Eisenhower Tunnel access
- Tower Road to Strasburg — Plains section, strong crosswinds, livestock traffic
Westbound I-70 from Denver to the ski resorts experiences legendary weekend backups during winter months. Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings can see 2-3 hour delays from Denver to the Eisenhower Tunnel. Eastbound returns on Sunday afternoons turn the mountain corridor into a parking lot.
The Mousetrap: Denver's Worst Bottleneck
The I-25/I-70 interchange northeast of downtown Denver earned its "Mousetrap" nickname through decades of traffic misery. This spaghetti-bowl design forces 300,000+ vehicles daily through 11 lanes of merging, weaving, and lane drops. The interchange serves as the gateway to downtown, the airport, the Tech Center, and mountain access.
Mousetrap Congestion Patterns
AM Rush (6-9 AM): Southbound I-25 backs up 3 miles to 38th Avenue. Eastbound I-70 slows from Colorado Boulevard.
PM Rush (3-7 PM): Northbound I-25 stops at Speer Boulevard. Westbound I-70 crawls from Brighton Boulevard.
Accident Impact: Single crash can close lanes for hours. Rubbernecking delays ripple for miles in all directions.
The interchange's design forces drivers to make quick lane changes across multiple lanes of traffic. The westbound I-70 to southbound I-25 flyover ramp becomes particularly dangerous during wet or icy conditions. Multi-vehicle pileups occur multiple times per year, shutting down major sections for hours.
DIA Airport Access: The Peña Boulevard Corridor
Denver International Airport sits 23 miles northeast of downtown, connected by Peña Boulevard (State Highway 470). This dedicated airport expressway features 100+ cameras monitoring the entire route from the I-70 junction at Tower Road to the terminal complex.
DIA Access Routes
- Peña Boulevard (primary) — 23 miles, 75 mph limit, minimal traffic lights
- I-70 East + Tower Road — High-speed approach, truck traffic, crosswind prone
- E-470 Toll Road — Southeast alternative, avoids I-70 congestion, $15+ toll
- I-76 North (from Boulder/Fort Collins) — Secondary route via Tower Road
Peña Boulevard opened in 1995 with DIA and remains relatively uncongested except during major weather events. Winter blizzards can close the route entirely, stranding airport travelers. Strong crosswinds from plains weather buffet high-profile vehicles. Summer thunderstorms bring sudden visibility drops and hail.
Check Airport Route Conditions
Monitor Peña Boulevard and I-70 before heading to DIA. See live camera feeds and weather conditions.
View Airport Cameras →Rush Hour Patterns: When to Avoid Denver's Highways
Denver's rush hour patterns follow typical urban trends with mountain recreation traffic adding weekend chaos.
Denver Traffic Timing
AM Rush (6:30-9:00 AM): Southbound I-25 to Tech Center stops. Eastbound US-36 from Boulder crawls. Downtown approaches on all routes congest.
PM Rush (3:30-6:30 PM): Northbound I-25 backs up 10 miles. Westbound I-70 slows at Mousetrap. US-36 to Boulder becomes parking lot.
Friday PM (2:00-7:00 PM): Westbound I-70 ski traffic starts early. Northbound I-25 to Fort Collins backs up. Southbound I-25 to Colorado Springs slows.
Sunday PM (2:00-8:00 PM): Eastbound I-70 from mountains creates 3-hour delays. Return ski traffic dominates all westbound routes.
The worst congestion occurs when rush hour coincides with weather events. A winter storm hitting during PM rush can paralyze the entire metro area. Snow accumulation rates of 1-2 inches per hour overwhelm CDOT plowing capacity, leaving highways gridlocked.
Weather Impacts: Altitude and Climate Challenges
Denver's 5,280-foot elevation creates unique weather challenges. Rapid temperature swings cause bridge icing when roads appear clear. Spring and summer hail storms damage vehicles and reduce visibility to zero. Winter snowfall accumulates quickly at altitude.
Denver Weather Hazards
Bridge Icing: I-25 and I-70 overpasses ice before surface roads. Black ice forms when temperatures drop to 32°F even if roads look dry.
Hail Storms: May-August hail events strike with minimal warning. Golf ball-sized hail can shatter windshields and damage vehicles.
Blizzard Conditions: October-April snow can accumulate 2-3 inches per hour. Visibility drops to zero. Highways close entirely during severe events.
High Winds: Plains crosswinds gust 40-60 mph on I-70 and Peña Boulevard. High-profile vehicles risk rollover.
The combination of altitude, continental climate, and mountain proximity creates rapid weather changes. A sunny morning can turn into a whiteout blizzard by afternoon. CDOT cameras become critical for monitoring real-time conditions.
C-470 & E-470: The Suburban Toll Loop
The C-470/E-470 beltway circles Denver's southern and eastern suburbs, providing alternatives to congested I-25 and I-70 routes. C-470 runs toll-free from I-70 in Golden through Highlands Ranch to I-25 south of Denver. E-470 continues the loop as a toll road through Aurora and north to I-25 near Denver International Airport.
The routes serve suburban communities, the Tech Center, and provide DIA access from southern suburbs. Traffic builds during rush hours but remains lighter than I-25. Weekend traffic increases when shoppers visit Park Meadows Mall and Outlets at Castle Rock.
150+ cameras monitor the entire beltway system, covering interchanges at I-25, I-70, I-225, and major arterials like Parker Road and Smoky Hill Road.
Regional Connections: Beyond the Metro
Denver's highway network extends connections to Colorado's major cities and mountain destinations.
Colorado Springs (70 miles south via I-25) — Monument Hill climb, Castle Rock bottleneck, Academy Boulevard approach. 60+ cameras monitor the route.
Fort Collins (65 miles north via I-25) — US-36 to Boulder connection, Longmont bypass, CSU campus traffic. 50+ cameras cover the corridor.
Mountain Resorts (70-100 miles west via I-70) — Idaho Springs, Georgetown, Loveland Pass, Eisenhower Tunnel, Vail, Breckenridge. 80+ mountain cameras track conditions.
Cheyenne, Wyoming (100 miles north via I-25) — Plains route, high winds, truck traffic. 30+ cameras monitor cross-border commerce.
Looking to monitor traffic in nearby Colorado cities? Check out our Colorado Springs Traffic Cameras guide for I-25 south of Denver. For statewide coverage, see our Colorado Traffic Cameras guide.
Heading to the mountains? Our Colorado Mountain Pass Cameras guide covers I-70 west of Denver, including Loveland Pass, Eisenhower Tunnel, and Vail Pass.
How many traffic cameras cover Denver metro area?
950+ cameras monitor Denver highways including I-25, I-70, I-225, C-470, E-470, US-36, and Peña Boulevard to DIA. CDOT operates the network with real-time feeds updated every 30-60 seconds.
Where is the worst traffic in Denver?
The I-25/I-70 Mousetrap interchange northeast of downtown is Denver's worst bottleneck. 300,000+ vehicles daily navigate 11 lanes of merging and weaving. Rush hour backups extend 3-5 miles in all directions. Single accidents shut down major sections for hours.
What time is rush hour in Denver?
AM rush runs 6:30-9:00 AM with southbound I-25 and eastbound US-36 worst affected. PM rush runs 3:30-6:30 PM with northbound I-25 and westbound I-70 crawling. Friday PM ski traffic starts at 2:00 PM westbound. Sunday PM return traffic from mountains creates 3-hour delays eastbound I-70.
How do I check Peña Boulevard conditions to Denver airport?
Monitor 100+ cameras along Peña Boulevard and I-70 from Tower Road to DIA terminals. Cameras update every 30 seconds showing current traffic, weather, and visibility. Check before departure during winter storms or high wind warnings.
When does I-70 ski traffic get bad?
Friday PM westbound I-70 backs up 2:00-7:00 PM from Denver to Georgetown. Sunday PM eastbound returns create 3-hour delays 2:00-8:00 PM from Eisenhower Tunnel to Denver. Holiday weekends extend delays through Monday. Check mountain cameras before leaving.
Where can I find Denver street feeds?
You can find live Denver street feeds and intersection cameras by using our interactive map, which aggregates CDOT and city data for major surface routes like Broadway and Lincoln Street.
Monitor Denver Traffic Live
Access 950+ real-time traffic cameras and city street feeds across Denver. Track I-25, the Mousetrap, and city street feeds instantly. Free CDOT feeds on TrafficVision.Live.
View All Denver Cameras →