When it closes
"The Grapevine is closed" makes the news in LA for a reason: snow and high wind shut this stretch of I-5 several times each winter, sometimes stranding traffic for hours because there's no easy detour. When a storm drops the snow level to pass elevation, this is the first place it bites.
Why does the Grapevine close so often?
At 4,144 feet, Tejon Pass catches snow and fierce wind when storms push through, and there's no quick detour, so Caltrans closes I-5 rather than risk it.
How high is the Grapevine?
Tejon Pass, the summit of the Grapevine, is 4,144 feet, the second big winter closure point on I-5 after Siskiyou Summit in Oregon.
Where is the Grapevine on I-5?
About 40 miles north of Los Angeles, between the San Joaquin Valley and the LA Basin. Track your mile marker over the pass with the MileCheck app on CarPlay or Android Auto.