Sierra Mountain Passes

The Best Roads

  • About the Passes
    • Northern Sierra
    • Central Sierra
    • Southern Sierra
    • Map
    • Weather
    • Road Closures
  • More
    • Blog
    • Newsletter
    • About Us
    • Policies
  • Contact us
  • Shop
    • Gift cards
    • Accessories
    • Drinkware
    • Home and Décor
    • Seasonal
    • Stationery
  • Cart
You are here: Home / Central Sierra / Tioga Pass is Open

Tioga Pass is Open

May 15, 2026 By J. Brandon

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

  • Tioga Pass opened today, May 15, 2026.
  • Tioga Pass closed for the winter on November 12, 2025.
  • Sonora Pass opened on April 30.
  • Ebbetts Pass opened on May 6.
  • Monitor Pass opened on March 5.
  • Late-season storms sometimes close the pass temporarily.
  • Check the Caltrans Quickmap for the latest road conditions.

With the pass open it is now possible to drive completely through Yosemite National Park, from the Eastern Sierra to the foothills of the Central Valley.

Caltrans has had Highway 120 open from the winter closure gate just east of US 395 up to the entrance to Yosemite, about 10 miles away, for several weeks. Road clearing inside the park is managed by the National Park Service.

motorcycling when Tioga Pass is open
Headed down from Tioga Pass toward US 395

Tioga Pass is the highest pass in the Sierra Nevada range, at 9,943 feet (3,031 meters) above sea level. It is usually the last past to open up after seasonal winter closures.

When is Tioga Pass open?

These are the dates that Tioga Pass closed for the winter and then opened up again in the spring, going back to 2010.

ClosedOpened
11/12/20255/15/2026
11/25/20245/26/2025
11/21/20236/10/2024
10/31/20227/22/2023
10/21/20215/27/2022
11/5/20205/27/2021
11/19/20196/15/2020
11/28/20187/1/2019
11/29/20175/21/2018
12/1/20166/29/2017
12/9/20155/18/2016
12/19/20145/4/2015
12/12/20135/2/2014
12/19/20125/11/2013
1/25/20125/7/2012
12/15/20106/18/2011

Yosemite is one of the most-visited national parks in the US. And Tioga Pass is world famous. There is almost always heavy, slow-moving traffic on Highway 120.

The scenery on Tioga Pass is breathtaking. Unfortunately, the traffic erodes the quality of the motorcycling. It is still worth going, but it’s best to temper your expectations.

Our favorite way to enjoy Tioga Pass on our bikes is to ride up from US 395, turn around somewhere short of the park entrance gate, take a break and some pictures, then ride back down.

Read our Road Closures page to learn more about temporary and seasonal road closures on the Sierra passes.

Things can change suddenly in the mountains. Check the Caltrans QuickMap for the current conditions.


  • Tioga Pass Stainless Steel Travel Mug 15oz
    Tioga Pass Stainless Steel Travel Mug 15oz
    $33.00
  • Tioga Pass coffee mug right hand view
    Tioga Pass Mug 11oz white
    $15.00
  • Tioga Pass Yosemite embroidered patch
    Tioga Pass Embroidered Patch
    $8.00
  • Tioga Pass CA 120 Sticker
    Tioga Pass CA 120 Sticker
    $7.00

Filed Under: Central Sierra, Southern Sierra Tagged With: Tioga Pass

Cart

Search the Passes

Shop by product

From Our Blog

  • Tioga Pass is Open
  • Ebbetts Pass is Open
  • Sonora Pass is Open
  • Monitor Pass is Open
  • How to Get Over the Sierra Without Going Through Yosemite

Shop Our Merch!

  • Donner Pass greeting card showing front, back, and open view Donner Pass Greeting Cards $6.00 – $77.00Price range: $6.00 through $77.00
  • Luther Pass Wrapping Paper Luther Pass Wrapping Paper $13.00 – $30.00Price range: $13.00 through $30.00
  • Donner Pass Ceramic Ornament Donner Pass Ceramic Ornament $18.00
  • Five Sierra passes sticker pack Five Sierra Passes Sticker Pack $17.00

Copyright © 2026 · Sierra Mountain Passes

For our privacy policy, and our other policies, please see our Policies Page.