- Roadwork Westbound between Floriston and Hinton Rd, traffic getting through — emergency work, about 10 min; until 5:01 p.m.
Cameras and chain-control points on SR-431 Mt Rose and I-80. Click a marker to open the camera.
The live tracker above displays active controls on both corridors. An R-2 restriction on either pass means four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive with snow tires on all 4 wheels, or chains on every vehicle. If either route drops to R-3 or posts a full closure, take the other corridor or wait out the storm.
Always confirm conditions with Caltrans or NDOT before driving. This site processes feeds quickly, but state agencies run the official checkpoints.
The Summit Elevation Difference
Elevation determines which route turns to ice first. SR-431 climbs higher than any year-round Sierra corridor. The pass at the SR-431 at Mt Rose Summit webcam sits at 8,887 feet. Roadway cameras at the SR-431 at Mt. Rose Dugway webcam document conditions at 8,854 feet, while the SR-431 at West Side Meadows webcam monitors 8,570 feet. Near the resort, cameras sit at 8,249 feet at the Mt Rose Ski Area and 8,206 feet at the Brake Check Area.
Interstate 80 crosses the crest much lower. The I-80 at Donner Summit webcam sits at 7,221 feet. The camera at Castle Peak sits at 7,165 feet, followed by Soda Springs at 6,692 feet and Donner Lake at 6,394 feet. Further down the western approach, Kingvale cameras record at 6,128 feet and 6,095 feet.
Because Mt Rose Summit is 1,666 feet higher than Donner Summit, rain switches to snow on SR-431 long before it freezes on I-80. When a storm system brings warm Sierra cement with a snow line near 7,500 feet, I-80 stays wet pavement while SR-431 turns to packed powder and ice. Check the SR-431 Mt Rose webcams to see whether snow is sticking at Diamond Peak at 8,139 feet, Country Club Dr at 7,154 feet, or Bullseye at 6,928 feet.
Chain Controls from R-0 to R-3
Both routes use the same standardized winter restriction codes:
- R-0: Minimum speed limits apply. Highway is clear.
- R-1: Chains or snow tires required on all vehicles.
- R-2: Chains required on all vehicles except four-wheel or all-wheel drive with snow tires on all 4 wheels.
- R-3: Chains required on all vehicles without exception.
R-3 is rare on both routes. Highway departments usually shut the gates instead of staffing an R-3 checkpoint during high winds. Watch the I-80 webcams between Truckee at 5,928 feet and Donner Summit at 7,221 feet to see if traffic is crawling at the checkpoints.
When to Pick I-80
Interstate 80 is built to interstate highway standards. It has multiple lanes, wider shoulders, gentler curves, and continuous plowing priority from Caltrans. When Mt Rose Highway closes due to high winds, drifting snow, or avalanche mitigation, I-80 into Truckee via SR-267 is the standard alternate route.
Choose I-80 if the freezing line is high. If temperatures sit in the mid-30s in the valleys, I-80 will often stay wet slush over Donner Summit while SR-431 is fully white. View current operations on I-80 road conditions to confirm chain screening stations.
When to Pick Mt Rose Highway
SR-431 is the direct line from South Reno to Incline Village. In moderate winter weather with cold system dynamics, SR-431 avoids commercial freight traffic. Semi-truck spinouts frequently stop all traffic on I-80 between Kingvale and Donner Summit. Commercial haulers cannot use SR-431 as a primary trans-Sierra route.
If I-80 closes because of spun-out freight trucks, check SR-431 Mt Rose road conditions. If NDOT keeps SR-431 at R-1 or R-2, properly equipped passenger vehicles can reach North Lake Tahoe over the pass. Check all road conditions across the region if both summits see whiteout conditions.