Tahoe Chain Control Today
Chains or snow tires are required on SR-28 between Tahoe City and the Nevada State Line. I-80 and US-50 have no chain controls right now.
As of Nov 9, 7:02 PM PST, from Caltrans chain-control checkpoints and highway reports. Page checked Nov 9, 7:04 PM PST.
Open Caltrans QuickMap (opens in a new tab)Status by highway
I-80
Sacramento to Truckee / North Tahoe
No traffic restrictions reported.
US-50
Sacramento to South Lake Tahoe
- • 1-way controlled traffic at various locations from 2.1 mi east of Riverton to 2.5 mi west of Kyburz /at 30 Milestone Tract/ (El Dorado Co) from 1900 hrs each night to 0600 hrs each morning Sunday thru Saturday thru 11/14/26 - Due to construction
SR-89
Truckee to Tahoe City to West Shore
No traffic restrictions reported.
SR-28
Tahoe City to Kings Beach (North Shore)
- • Chains or snow tires are required from Tahoe City (Placer Co) to the Nevada State Line
From Caltrans' highway report. Its checkpoints show no chain control right now.
SR-267
Truckee to Kings Beach (Northstar)
No traffic restrictions reported.
SR-88
Jackson to Kirkwood to Carson Pass
No traffic restrictions reported.
Peak Call reads Caltrans' public chain-control and highway feeds. It's a convenience, not an official source, and conditions change fast in a storm. Confirm on Caltrans QuickMap before you drive. By phone, Caltrans' highway information line is 1-800-427-7623.
What R-1, R-2 and R-3 mean
A chain control is a checkpoint, set up at a fixed spot once a storm moves in. The level decides who gets waved through. These are Caltrans' own requirements.
R-1
Snow tires can pass
Chains are required on all vehicles except passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks under 6,000 pounds gross weight and equipped with snow tires on at least two drive wheels. Chains must be carried by vehicles using snow tires.
R-2
AWD on snow tread can pass
Chains or traction devices are required on all vehicles except four-wheel/all-wheel drive vehicles with snow-tread tires on all four wheels. Four-wheel/all-wheel drive vehicles must carry traction devices in chain control areas.
R-3
No exceptions
Chains or traction devices are required on all vehicles, no exceptions.
Where controls usually go up
On I-80, Kingvale is the common checkpoint before the pull over Donner Summit. On US-50 it's Twin Bridges, near Strawberry, on the approach to Echo Summit. Kirkwood sits on SR-88, which has its own checkpoints. Controls can go up elsewhere, and the line often starts well before the checkpoint.
Either summit can be under control while the other is dry, which is why the two are split out above. Our I-80 vs US-50 guide helps you pick a route by where you're sleeping.
Before you leave
- Look at this page or QuickMap the night before, then again before you pull out.
- Check once more from the last town before the climb, because controls can change within the hour.
- Keep chains where you can reach them without unloading the car, plus gloves and a headlamp.
- Fit your chains once in a dry driveway. A checkpoint in the dark is a bad place to learn.
- Driving a rental? Many agreements don't allow chains, so read yours first.
More on this: chain control explained, which chains to buy, winter driving and where to ski this weekend.
Common questions
- Is there chain control on I-80 right now?
- The I-80 card at the top of this page shows what Caltrans' checkpoints and highway report say, and the as-of time tells you how fresh that is. If a checkpoint is under control, it's listed by name with the time it started.
- How often does this page update?
- Caltrans posts checkpoint status about once a minute. This page refreshes every few minutes, so QuickMap can be a little ahead of us. In a storm, look at QuickMap before you commit.
- Is Peak Call an official source for chain control?
- No. We read Caltrans' public feeds and put them on one page. Caltrans QuickMap and the signs at the checkpoint are what count.
- Do I need chains if I have all-wheel drive?
- It depends on the level in effect. At R-3, every vehicle needs chains or traction devices. At R-2, all-wheel drive with snow-tread tires on all four wheels can pass, but it has to carry traction devices. Read the rule for the level that's posted at your checkpoint.
- Does this cover the Nevada side of the lake?
- No. Caltrans reports California highways, so the Mt. Rose Highway and other Nevada roads aren't here. Check Nevada's road site for those.
Heading to Mt. Rose or the Nevada side? Check Nevada's road site ↗