Washington’s traction-tire and chain rules
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.
Why I-90 closes, and for how long
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.
Where the pass is on I-90
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.
If Snoqualmie 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.
Before you leave
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.