Vail Pass is a high mountain pass in the Colorado Rockies just west of the Continental Divide. Vail Summit is located on Interstate 70 about 10 miles east of the town of Vail, Colorado. I-70 on both sides of the Vail Pass Summit has a steep descent. Vail Pass is one on three steep grades on I-70 between Denver and Utah with Eisenhower Pass and Floyd Hill to the east. Vail Pass receives a large amount of snow in the winter and often has chain restrictions for commercial trucks.

Westbound I-70 from the Vail Summit has a vertical descent of 2,267 feet over a distance of 9.4 miles. The reported grade for the westbound descent is 7% for 7 miles. The grade is steady for approximately 5 miles, where it flattens for a ½ mile or less before continuing its steep descent for about 4 more miles.

Eastbound I-70 from the Vail Summit has a vertical descent of 1508 feet over a distance of 12.7 miles. The eastbound descent is stepped with grades varying from steep to moderate. At the 195 milepost, the grade flattens for about a mile before continuing a lesser descent to the 205 milepost, where an uphill transition is encountered. Several ski areas are located in this area and traffic, particularly in the morning and late afternoon during the ski season, should be expected at the exits between mileposts 195 and 205.

Pass Name:	Vail
Traversed by Highway:	I-70
Summit Elevation:	10,662 ft
Summit Conditions:	Large pull out on right side of summit
Summit Milepost:	189

Base Elevation:	8,395 ft
Vertical Distance:	2,267 ft
Base Milepost:	180
Driving Distance:	9.4 miles from summit
Posted Speed Limit:	65 mph / Trucks over 15 tons, 45 mph
Steepest Reported Grade:	7% for 7 miles
Calculated Average Grade:	4.5% for 9.4 miles
Lowest Advisory Speed:	55 mph at 3.0 miles from summit
Number of Lanes:	Two westbound
Number of Switchbacks:	None
Number of Advisory Curves:	Four
Runaway Ramps:	One on right at 3.5 miles from summit. One on right at 7.0 miles from summit.
Number of Brake Check Stations:	One at summit
Number of Required Stops:	None

Advisory Speed	Location from Summit	Sign
60 mph	1.2 miles	Right Curve
60 mph	2.5 miles	Right Curve
55 mph	3.0 miles	Left Curve
60 mph	3.9 miles	Left Curve

MAXIMUM TRUCK WEIGHT (POUNDS)	MAXIMUM SAFE SPEED (MPH)	BRAKE TEMP FROM DECLINE (°F)	BRAKE TEMP FROM EMERGENCY STOP (°F)	TOTAL BRAKE TEMP. (°F)	TOTAL TRAVEL TIME (MIN.)
80,000	25	479	15	494	22.6
75,000	30	464	20	484	18.8
70,000	32	477	22	499	17.6
65,000	55	438	61	499	10.3
60,000	60	369	67	436	9.4
*These speeds are based on an average grade from the summit to the base. Some grade segments may be steeper than the average and require a slower speed.

Base Elevation:	9,165 ft
Vertical Distance:	1,508 ft
Base Milepost:	203
Driving Distance:	12.7 miles from summit
Posted Speed Limit:	65 mph
Steepest Reported Grade:	No reported grades
Calculated Average Grade:	2.2% for 12.7 miles
Lowest Advisory Speed:	55 mph at 4.5 miles from summit
Number of Lanes:	Two Eastbound
Number of Switchbacks:	None
Number of Advisory Curves:	Two
Runaway Ramps:	None
Number of Brake Check Stations:	One at summit
Number of Required Stops:	None

Advisory Speed	Location from Summit	Sign
55 mph	4.5 miles	Left Curve
60 mph	7.8 miles	Right Curve