I-80 · WY
I-80 across Wyoming: road conditions right now
Cheyenne, WY to Evanston, WY
The 400 miles of I-80 between Cheyenne and Evanston run at 6,000 to 8,600 feet across open high plains. Wind, blowing snow, and black ice close it more often than any other interstate in the country, usually between Laramie and Rawlins or at Elk Mountain.
Conditions at Sat, 3:45 AM MDT
Highest risk along I-80: 3 of 5 (moderate), departing at that time.
- NWS Dense Fog Advisory, until Sat, 10:00 AM MDT
The road authority linked below has the final word on closures and chain requirements.
30 min of moderate risk, worst between Cheyenne, WY and Laramie, WY (dense fog advisory)
Time in weather: 30 min moderate · 4 h 16 min clear
Conditions: Cloudy, Light rain, Partly cloudy and more
Checkpoints along I-80
| Where | You pass | Weather | Risk | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheyenne, WY | Sat 4:00 AM | 42°F | moderate | NWS Dense Fog Advisory in effect until Sat 10:00 AM |
| Laramie, WY | Sat 4:30 AM – 5:00 AM | 45°F | low | Nothing flagged |
| Saratoga, WY | Sat 5:30 AM | 46°F | low | Nothing flagged |
| Rawlins, WY | Sat 6:00 AM | 44°F | low | Sources differ: NWS says Chance Rain Showers at 44°F |
| I-80 between Rawlins, WY and North Rock Springs, WY | Sat 6:30 AM – 7:00 AM | 42°F | low | Nothing flagged |
| North Rock Springs, WY | Sat 7:30 AM | 42°F | low | Nothing flagged |
| Lyman, WY | Sat 8:00 AM | 39°F | low | Nothing flagged |
| Mountain View, WY | Sat 8:30 AM | 38°F | low | Nothing flagged |
| Evanston, WY | Sat 8:45 AM | 39°F | low | Sources differ: NWS says Slight Chance Light Rain at 39°F |
Why this stretch is hard in winter
- Sherman Hill summit at 8,640 ft between Cheyenne and Laramie is the highest point on I-80.
- The Laramie–Rawlins stretch past Elk Mountain gets sustained crosswinds over 50 mph; high-profile vehicles are routinely restricted.
- Ground blizzards with clear skies overhead are common: the snow is blowing, not falling.
- When WYDOT closes the gates, motels in Laramie, Rawlins, and Rock Springs fill within the hour.
What this page checks
- Hourly forecast at every checkpoint for the time you would be there: temperature, precipitation type and rate, gusts, visibility.
- Active National Weather Service watches, warnings, and advisories on the route.
- Snow on the ground (NOAA SNODAS) and the Weather Prediction Center winter impact outlook.
- Pavement temperature and surface state from state DOT road sensors, when you are leaving within a few hours.
- Chain controls, closures, and winter road condition reports from state DOT feeds where they are published openly.
- Seasonal closures of mountain roads the router might otherwise use.
Official sources for this corridor
Questions drivers ask about I-80
- How often does I-80 close in Wyoming?
- Dozens of times each winter, most often between Laramie and Rawlins. Closures typically last a few hours to a day and are announced on WYDOT 511; this page shows active NWS warnings and forecast risk for each stretch.
- Is there an alternate route?
- Not a good one. US-30 parallels I-80 west of Laramie and closes under the same conditions. If a closure is likely, the honest answer is to wait it out in Cheyenne or Rock Springs.
Conditions change by the hour. This page is a planning aid built on public forecasts and DOT feeds; the road authority linked above has the final word on closures and chain requirements.
Other corridors: I-70 through the Colorado mountains · I-80 over Donner Pass · I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass · I-84 through the Blue Mountains · I-15 over Cajon Pass · I-90 across South Dakota · all corridors