Winter Driving Info

For the latest road conditions in Yosemite National Park, call (209)372-0200, 1, 1.

You are required to carry chains for your vehicle when you enter a chain control area.  Additionally, when driving in Winter conditions, it is wise to use caution, carry and know how to use your tire chains and to keep warm, dry clothing and extra water in your vehicle.  With a few precautions, you will have the confidence and peace of mind to get the most of your Yosemite experience.

The DOT provides a map showing current chain control areas and some great winter driving tips.

For DOT road conditions, click the link and enter the road you are interested in knowing about.

• From Fresno, LA, Monterey and other points South: Highway 41
• From Merced / Mariposa Highway 140
• From San Fransicso, Manteca, Sacramento and other points North Highway 120
• Not sure which road, click here for a California Map.

Here is a list of explanations for the Chain Control code used by the National Park Service in Yosemite National Park:

• R0 - No chains required.
• R1 - Tire chains required for all vehicles unless they have snow tires (even 4-wheel drive)
  Park signs will read "AUTOS & PICKUPS SNOW TIRES OK"
  This means chains are required for all vehicles unless they have snow tread tires - even 4-wheel drive vehicles must chain up unless they have snow tires.
• R2 - Tire chains required for all vehicles unless they have snow tires and 4-wheel drive
  Park Signs will read "4W DRIVE WITH SNOW TIRES OK"
  This means chains are required for all vehicles unless they have snow tread tires on all four wheels and the vehicle is engaged in 4-wheel drive.  This is for all 4-wheel drive passenger vehicles with an unladen weight of less than 6500 lbs.
• R3 - Tire chains required for ALL vehicles - no exceptions
  Park signs will read "NO EXCEPTIONS"
  This means chains are required on ALL vehicles.  There are no exceptions.  Yes, this means even 4-wheel drive vehicles!

Additional Information:

• Snow tires must have a minimum tread depth of 6/32 of an inch to be legal
• Tire traction devices (chains) can be link chain, cable chains and/or spider straps
• Studded snow tires may be used if the tires are also rated as snow tires, if not, the tires must be chained up as Studs do not replace chains.
• Any vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds must chain up. (Typically this applies to large vans and up.)
• All vehicles, including those with 4-wheel drive with snow tires that are towing trailers must have chains on one drive axel of the vehicle
• If the trailer has brakes, it must also have chains on one axel.