MileCheckAre chains required on Snoqualmie Pass today?
Only when WSDOT’s restriction line for your direction says so. The line changes through the day, so read it again before you start the climb.
Chains and traction right now
WSDOT’s last restriction line for Snoqualmie Pass I-90: no restrictions posted (reported Nov 1, 11:01 AM PT).
Read from the WSDOT feed on Nov 1, 1:41 PM PT. The line changes through the day. Read it again on the WSDOT page, and go by the sign on the road: WSDOT page.
What each WSDOT line means
Read the eastbound and westbound lines separately. The rule shown for your direction controls.
| WSDOT line | Passenger car | AWD or 4WD passenger car | Truck or large vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traction tires advised | WSDOT advises traction tires. Check the posted signs before climbing. | The advisory still applies. AWD does not replace tire traction. | Oversize loads are prohibited under this advisory. Check commercial restrictions for the vehicle and load. |
| Traction tires required | Use approved traction tires. | Use approved traction tires. AWD is not an exception to this requirement. | Vehicles over 10,000 lb gross vehicle weight rating must use chains under WSDOT’s guide. |
| Chains required on all vehicles except all-wheel drive | Install approved chains or another device approved for this requirement. | The chain exception applies only when all wheels are engaged, approved traction devices are fitted, and chains for at least one set of drive tires are carried. | Do not use the passenger AWD exception for a vehicle over 10,000 lb GVWR. Follow the commercial chaining rules. |
| Chains required on all vehicles | Install chains. | Install chains. The AWD exception does not apply. | Install chains as specified for the vehicle and axles. |
| Oversize vehicles prohibited | An ordinary-size car is not an oversize load. Other posted restrictions still apply. | Same rule. | An oversize load cannot enter the restricted section. Check the permit and the posted restriction before continuing. |
An AWD badge is not a waiver for every chain sign. The wording can change during a storm. Follow the sign on the road if it differs from an earlier report on your phone.
Sources: WSDOT winter driving guide, WAC 204-24-050, WSDOT commercial chain requirements, RCW 47.36.250.
The tire and chain rules in Washington
WSDOT's approved traction tires carry an M+S, All Season or mountain-and-snowflake marking and need enough tread. Check the tire itself. Studded tires may be used in Washington from November 1 through March 31. Studs do not substitute for chains when chains are required.
For a passenger AWD vehicle under 10,000 lb, Washington’s chain exception requires all wheels engaged, approved traction devices and chains carried for at least one set of drive tires. WSDOT advises anyone driving in high elevations or winter conditions to carry chains. For vehicles over 10,000 lb GVWR, state rules require sufficient chains to be carried on I-90 between North Bend at MP 32 and Ellensburg at MP 101 from November 1 to April 1, or whenever chains are required. Those vehicles also need two extra chains. The installation pattern depends on the axles and trailer.
Failing to obey a posted traction or chain requirement carries a $500 penalty under RCW 47.36.250. A tire that qualifies for a traction-tire sign is not a substitute for an installed chain when the sign requires chains.
Sources: WSDOT winter driving guide, WSDOT studded-tire dates, WAC 204-24-050, RCW 47.36.250.
Where to put chains on
WSDOT labels the summit camera I-90 at MP 52: Snoqualmie Summit. Its pass report gives an elevation of 3,022 ft. North Bend is west of the climb. Easton and Cle Elum are east of it. WSDOT’s map marks chain-up and chain-off areas on both approaches, including Chester, Morse Lake and Keechelus west of the summit, and Easton to the east. Use those signed areas when the current rule requires installation. Do not stop on a travel lane to put on chains.
Check fuel and services in North Bend before an eastbound climb. For a westbound trip, check Easton or Cle Elum before climbing. Confirm a specific stop is open when you travel.
Sources: WSDOT Snoqualmie Pass report and summit camera, WSDOT I-90 chain-up map.
If the pass is closed
Check WSDOT’s statewide map before turning toward another Cascade crossing. US 2 over Stevens Pass is a northern crossing. US 12 over White Pass is a southern crossing. Both have their own weather, restrictions and possible closures. Neither is a short detour around the summit.
US 97 over Blewett Pass links the east side of the mountains between the US 2 area and the Ellensburg area. It does not, by itself, cross the Cascades from the Seattle side. Check the entire connected route, including US 2 or US 12, rather than treating Blewett as a direct replacement for I-90. Commercial vehicles also need to check route and chain restrictions separately.
Sources: WSDOT real-time travel map, WSDOT Stevens Pass report, WSDOT White Pass report, WSDOT chain routes in WAC 204-24-050.
How often this fall
From Sep 26 through Oct 29, MileCheck checked WSDOT’s Snoqualmie Pass report every hour and saved each check. 6 saved checks showed traction tires advised, 0 showed them required and 0 showed the pass closed. This counts saved checks from one early storm, not every minute a restriction was posted. See all Washington passes.
Questions
Are chains required on Snoqualmie Pass right now?
Read the live line at the top of this page, then WSDOT’s own pass report for your direction. The line can change within the hour.
Do I need chains on Snoqualmie Pass today?
Read WSDOT’s current restriction for your direction and the signs at the pass. A passenger car may need traction tires or installed chains as the line changes. An eligible AWD car can be exempt from one chain requirement, but must carry chains; when the sign says chains are required on all vehicles, AWD must install them too. Source WSDOT Snoqualmie Pass report, WAC 204-24-050.
Can I drive Snoqualmie Pass without snow tires?
The answer depends on the current restriction and your tires. WSDOT’s approved traction-tire category includes qualifying tires marked M+S, All Season or mountain-and-snowflake with enough tread. A chain sign adds its own requirement. Check the tire markings and WSDOT’s current line before travel. Source WSDOT winter driving guide, WSDOT Snoqualmie Pass report.