See the summit before you drive it. Live WSDOT cameras and real-time conditions on I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass. Snow, chains, and closures as they happen. WSDOT reports about 28,000 vehicles a day over the pass, on the main route between Seattle and Eastern Washington.
USDA SNOTEL station Olallie Meadows, 4,010 ft, 3.7 miles from the summit and about 1,000 feet above it. Depth and temperature are hourly readings from the station, not the resort's report.
Reading the station.
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The resort posts its own snow report and lift status. Mountain report · Tickets
Every camera in the feed on this stretch. Tap one to load its latest frame.
Snoqualmie Pass carries I-90 over the Cascade Range at 3,022 ft. Here's what to watch, and when it bites.
The pass stays open most of the year, but heavy Cascade snow and scheduled avalanche control work close I-90 over the summit several times each winter. Closures can happen with little notice, which is why the live cameras above are worth a look before you leave.
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.
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.
WSDOT closes the avalanche zone during active control. Crews clear vehicles from the area, release unstable snow and remove any snow that reaches the roadway. WSDOT says these delays typically run 30 minutes to two hours. Heavy releases can take several hours to clear. Crews try to work at night or when traffic is lighter, but weather determines when control is needed. Planned closures may be announced through WSDOT’s Snoqualmie Pass app notifications.
Severe weather, collisions, maintenance and vehicles without the required chains or traction tires also cause closures and delays. There is no single reopening time for those incidents. Look at the current WSDOT closure and restriction report before choosing a route.
Sources: WSDOT avalanche control, WSDOT Snoqualmie winter operations study, WSDOT Snoqualmie Pass report.
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.
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.
Read the WSDOT Snoqualmie report for your direction, then look at the cameras and closure map. Check fuel, bring warm layers, charge your phone and carry chains that fit your vehicle. Practice fitting them before the trip. If you drive a truck or tow a trailer, check the separate commercial chaining rules and the posted oversize restriction.
For updates, open the WSDOT mobile app and select Notifications → Snoqualmie Pass I-90. WSDOT ended the separate I-90 text-alert service on August 31, 2026. The pass report and WSDOT’s @SnoqualmiePass account on X are other places to check. Recheck the restriction line before the climb.
Sources: WSDOT winter driving guide, WSDOT alert migration notice, WSDOT mobile app and social media.
The live map above shows active closures and incidents on I-90 over the pass as red and orange markers, straight from WSDOT. For closures across the whole US, see the road closures map. The pass shuts for avalanche control and heavy snow several times each winter.
Requirements change with conditions and are set by WSDOT for each direction. Read the restriction lines above, watch the live cameras for snow and ice, and follow the posted signs. See what each restriction line means below.
The summit is 3,022 feet, according to WSDOT. See every camera in Washington and 24 other states for the rest of your route.
About 52 miles east on I-90, roughly an hour in good conditions. Track your exact mile marker over the pass hands-free with the MileCheck app on CarPlay or Android Auto.
The snow block above reads the USDA SNOTEL station at Olallie Meadows, 3.7 miles from the summit at 4,010 feet. It shows depth, the change over 24 hours, snow water and temperature, updated hourly. The Summit at Snoqualmie posts its own mountain report and lift status for Alpental, Summit West, Summit Central and Summit East.
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.
The status can change. Check the live WSDOT pass report and the closure map above for I-90. A camera image alone does not tell you whether the road is open. Source WSDOT Snoqualmie Pass report.
There is no fixed hour. WSDOT tries to work at night or during lighter traffic, but conditions decide when crews close the road. Its typical control delay is 30 minutes to two hours, and severe conditions can take longer. Source WSDOT avalanche control.
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.
MileCheck shows your exact mile marker in real time as you drive I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass, plus the nearest camera and any alert on your route. Works offline and runs on CarPlay and Android Auto.
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