Gas prices were down and traffic was up big this past weekend on the I-70 mountain corridor.
In three days, June 5-7, close to 122,000 vehicles traveled the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnels, making it the busiest three days since March 20-22. It was nearly 15% busier than the fifth and final weekend of May and close to 46% busier than the slowest weekend of the year in mid-April.
For just the fourth time this year, traffic was busier than the same weekend last year by about 2,000 cars.
Falling gas prices made the drive easier. Most stations in Summit are selling a gallon of unleaded for close to $1 less than April.
The City Market in Dillon, just off Exit 205, is selling for $3.75 per gallon. That is cheaper than the state average ($4.14) and much cheaper than neighboring states like Arizona, where gas is still $4.55 and up.
Also falling in the High Country were temperatures. The average daytime temp in Denver this weekend was 75 degrees Fahrenheit – 14 degrees warmer than three-day average at the Krystalized weather station in Dillon, of 61 degrees.
Then, there was all the summer stuff. Saturday, June 6, was the opening night of summer concert season at Dillon Amphitheater with a sold-out performance by Denver house DJ Lane 8.
The annual GoPro Mountain Games brought dozens of athletes and thousands of spectators to Vail during four days of pro-am competition.