What are driving conditions like on I-90 in late November?

I-90 crosses mountain passes in Washington and the northern Rockies before continuing through the Upper Midwest. Late-November reports also document closures associated with lake-effect snow near Buffalo. Check the conditions for each section of your route before leaving for Thanksgiving.

Facts checked October 2026. Every number links to its source; prices and rules change, so confirm the day you travel.

Which stretches of I-90 should I watch?

Traveling west to east, start with Snoqualmie Pass in Washington. WSDOT provides a dedicated mountain-pass report with road conditions and any posted traction requirements. You can review the Snoqualmie Pass page and the official pass report before leaving. WSDOT also offers I-90 closure text alerts by texting START to 85107.

In Idaho, Lookout Pass sits near the Montana border. Farther along I-90, Montana's Homestake Pass east of Butte is a designated chain-up segment. Bozeman Pass is another mountain crossing. Check Montana's current report rather than assuming a chain requirement applies just because the calendar says November. I-90 also crosses northeastern Wyoming, where restrictions can apply.

Across South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin, check the state reports for the part of the route you will actually drive. I-90 passes Madison, Wisconsin, where a November 2025 storm produced 9.3 inches of snow in one day.

Farther east, pay attention to the Lake Erie snowbelt. The I-90 and New York State Thruway route toward Buffalo has documented late-November closures. New York and Pennsylvania both had I-90 closures during Thanksgiving weekend 2024.

Which winter rules are in effect in November?

Washington permits studded tires from November 1 through March 31. Studded tires do not replace chains when required. WSDOT describes approved traction tires as those with the mountain-snowflake marking and at least 1/8 inch of tread. Vehicles over 10,000 pounds must carry chains from November 1 to April 1 on listed routes, including I-90 from North Bend at milepost 32 to Ellensburg at milepost 101. Failing to chain up when required carries a $500 ticket.

Idaho allows studded tires from October 1 through April 30. Montana allows them from October 1 through May 31. Montana can require chains on designated roadway segments at any time. When chains are required, towing units must chain the drive wheels of one axle. From October 1 through April 30, towing units weighing 26,001 pounds gross vehicle weight or more must carry chains or approved devices where chains may be required, with an exemption for four-wheel drive. Montana also accepts AutoSocks as an alternative.

Wyoming has two chain-law levels that can apply to I-90 when conditions warrant. Level 1 accepts chains, adequate snow tires or all-wheel drive. Level 2 requires chains or all-wheel drive with appropriate mud-and-snow or all-weather tires. Commercial vehicles at Level 2 must chain at least two drive wheels at opposite ends of the same axle. Check WYOROAD for any active restriction. The brief does not establish one uniform set of November rules for the eastern half of I-90.

What happened in recent late Novembers?

From November 17 through 20, 2022, a lake-effect snowstorm brought 81.2 inches to Hamburg, New York, according to the National Weather Service. Its storm archive reports that the New York State Thruway section of I-90 from Rochester to the Pennsylvania line was shut down for part of the event.

On November 22, 2022, freezing rain and spinouts closed eastbound I-90 near Ellensburg and at North Bend in Washington. Westbound remained open with all-wheel drive or chains required. Eastbound traffic resumed around 10:30 PM.

On November 29, 2024, New York declared a state of emergency for 11 counties. By 6:40 PM, I-90 West was closed from Hamburg to the Pennsylvania line, with westbound traffic diverted at Exit 59. On November 30, part of I-90 in Pennsylvania also closed. Northwest Pennsylvania recorded 29 inches of snow during that event.

On November 29, 2025, Madison recorded 9.3 inches of snow, its largest single-day November snowfall on record. These storms do not predict 2026 conditions.

What were the national Thanksgiving travel times?

AAA's 2025 national Thanksgiving forecast projected 81.8 million people traveling at least 50 miles from November 25 to December 1, with at least 73 million traveling by car. These were forecast figures for 2025, not measured I-90 traffic or a 2026 estimate.

INRIX's accompanying forecast put the more congested pre-Thanksgiving periods at Tuesday noon to 9 PM and Wednesday 11 AM to 8 PM, in local metro time. Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026. A current pass restriction or lake-effect closure matters separately from any national travel pattern.

Where should I check I-90 before departure?

In the west, use WSDOT's mountain-pass report, Idaho 511, Montana 511 and WYOROAD.

Continue with South Dakota 511, Minnesota 511, Wisconsin 511 and Getting Around Illinois. For the eastern route, check Indiana 511, Ohio OHGO, Pennsylvania 511, New York 511 and Massachusetts 511. The New York Thruway site also reports road conditions. MileCheck's I-90 corridor page provides another route view. Check before leaving or while parked.

Related: I-90 cameras and conditions · Live road closures · Chain laws by state · Mountain pass conditions