Yes, you can drive to Yosemite all winter, but you need to carry tire chains, even in a four-wheel drive or a rental car. Wawona Road (Highway 41), the route to our cabin in Wawona, stays open all year, while Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road close once the snow comes. Here's how chain controls work, which roads close, and how my husband Drew and I plan a winter drive in.
Last year, Drew and I got caught in a snowstorm driving from Yosemite Valley back to Wawona, and we were asked to put on chains on the way home. It can be tricky the first time, so practice once before your trip. You don't want to be figuring it out in the freezing cold while the snow is piling up.
Do you need snow chains to drive to Yosemite?
From late fall through early spring, yes, carry them. The Park Service says tire chains are often required on park roads, and when they are, you must carry them and know how to use them, whatever you drive. That includes four-wheel drive and rental cars. Cable chains and approved tire socks count; plastic or strap-on devices do not.
You won't always have to put them on. Many winter days the roads are bare and dry. But a storm can arrive in an afternoon, and the rule is about having chains in the car when the signs go up.
What do R1, R2 and R3 chain controls mean?
Chain controls are posted on signs as you drive in. The park's tire chain page explains the three levels:
- R1: Chains required, except on cars, pickups and SUVs under 6,000 pounds with snow tires on at least two drive wheels (tread at least 6/32 inch) and no trailer.
- R2: Chains required, except on four-wheel or all-wheel drive vehicles under 6,500 pounds with snow tires on all four wheels, four-wheel drive engaged, and no trailer.
- R3: Chains required on every vehicle. No exceptions.
Even when your car qualifies for an R1 or R2 exception, it only means you can skip putting chains on. You still need them in the car. Speed under chain control is 25 mph, and the park notes that skipping chains when required can mean a citation of up to $5,000.
Is it possible to drive to Yosemite in December?
Yes. The Park Service says Yosemite Valley and Wawona remain accessible by car all year. Four routes stay open through winter: Wawona Road (Highway 41) from the south, El Portal Road (Highway 140) and Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120 from the west), plus Hetch Hetchy Road, which is open in daylight only and closes during snowfall.
December just asks for more planning. Days are short, storms come and go, and the park can be busy over the holidays. The Park Service notes that late December and early January can bring traffic and limited parking, so plan early starts if you're coming over Christmas or New Year's.
Which Yosemite roads close in winter?
- Tioga Road (Highway 120 through the high country) closes for snow, usually from November until late May or June. While it's closed, you can't reach Tuolumne Meadows or enter the park from the east side.
- Glacier Point Road also closes for the season, usually in November. From about mid-December through March, the first five miles are plowed to the Badger Pass ski area, but Glacier Point itself is out of reach by car until late spring.
- Mariposa Grove Road and its shuttle close on or about November 30. The grove stays open on foot: the Washburn Trail from the Welcome Plaza is about 2 miles each way with 500 feet of climb, and it can be snowy or icy.
As I write this on November 6, the park's road status page still lists Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road as open, with no overnight parking. That can change with the first big storm, so check before you count on either one.
Driving Highway 41 to Yosemite in winter
Most of our guests come in on Highway 41 from Fresno, and it's the road we know best. Here's how it unfolds:
- Fresno to Oakhurst. The foothills. Snow is uncommon here, but a cold storm can bring chain controls down to Oakhurst itself.
- Oakhurst. The last real town on the way in, with big grocery stores, gas and auto parts shops. Fill the tank and buy groceries here. If you don't already have chains, stop by O'Reilly Auto Parts to grab a set. Don't tell them I told you so, but if you keep the receipt and don't end up using them, you can return them on your way out. Cell service and GPS get patchy after this point.
- Fish Camp to the South Entrance. The road climbs into the pines and the air turns colder. Watch for chain control signs as you go, and use the pullouts if you need to chain up.
- South Entrance to Wawona. Once you're through the gate, you're inside the park, and our cabin is about 10 minutes away. The Wawona General Store has gas and EV charging if you need to top off.
- Wawona to Yosemite Valley. About 40 to 45 minutes. Wawona Road climbs well above Wawona before dropping through the Wawona Tunnel to Tunnel View, and the Park Service lists it among the roads where chains are most often required. A morning that's just rain at the cabin can be snow on the way to the Valley.
Coming from the Bay Area or the north? Highway 140 through El Portal and Highway 120 through Big Oak Flat also stay open. Our post on staying inside Yosemite in Wawona has more on why we love arriving from the south.
Snow chain rental near Yosemite: where to get chains
Buy them before you go. The Park Service is plain about it: it's difficult to find businesses that rent chains, but most auto parts stores and gas stations near the park sell them. A few tips that make chain day much easier:
- Buy the right size. Check the size printed on your tire sidewall and match it on the box.
- Practice once at home. Putting chains on for the first time in the cold, on a dark shoulder, is no fun. A dry run in the driveway takes ten minutes.
- Know your drive wheels. Chains go on the drive wheels, so check whether your car is front- or rear-wheel drive.
- Rental cars aren't exempt. Most come with all-season tires, so check with your rental company about chains before you pick up the car.
- Pack a small chain kit: gloves, a flashlight or headlamp, a towel or mat to kneel on, and a rain jacket.
Outside the park, Caltrans chain installers sometimes work the chain control areas. They're independent businesses who can put on chains you already own, but they can't sell or rent chains.
Is it difficult to drive in Yosemite in winter?
On most winter days, no. The main roads are plowed and the drive is beautiful, with snow on the pines and granite. It gets harder during and right after a storm, on shaded curves that stay icy into the afternoon, and after dark. These are the habits that make it easy:
- Check conditions the morning you leave. Call the park's road line at 209-372-0200 (press 1, then 1), check the road status page, and use Caltrans QuickMap for Highway 41 outside the park.
- Arrive before dark. In December the sun sets before 5 pm. Forest roads near Wawona have no streetlights, and everything is easier in daylight.
- Keep the tank full and carry water, snacks and warm layers in case of a delay.
- Put chains on at the sign. Pull fully off the road in the chain-up area. Take them off only after the "End Chain Control" sign.
- Slow down and leave space. Give snowplows plenty of room, and watch bridges and shaded corners.
- Download your directions. Cell service fades past Oakhurst, so save offline maps before you leave.
Driving to our cabin in winter
The last stretch to The Wildernest Yosemite is an unpaved forest road, part of what keeps the cabin so quiet. It's never plowed: the road sits on protected National Park Service land, so plowing isn't allowed. Light snow is usually fine with chains and an all-wheel or four-wheel drive vehicle, which we recommend for every winter stay. If a heavy storm is on the way, we'll likely need to close the cabin. We watch the weather before every winter arrival and keep you updated, and if a road closure or heavy snow makes the cabin unreachable, we cancel and fully refund the booking. Confirmed guests get detailed directions and a short video of the road the day before.
Arrive, and stay in
The reward for a careful winter drive is the quiet at the end of it: snow settling on the pines, the hot tub steaming on the deck, and nowhere you need to be until morning. Because the cabin is already inside the park, you make the drive in once and then let the weather decide your days. If you'd like to spend a winter weekend with us, The Wildernest Yosemite sleeps eight in Wawona, about 10 minutes inside the South Entrance. Booking direct on our site is always the best rate. Next week, I'll share what to pack for a winter cabin weekend.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need snow chains to drive to Yosemite?
In winter, you need to carry them. From late fall through early spring, chains may be required on park roads, and when they are, every vehicle must have chains in the car, including four-wheel drive and rental cars. Check the park's tire chain page before you go.
Do four-wheel drive cars need chains in Yosemite?
They must still carry chains. Under R2 chain control, a four-wheel or all-wheel drive vehicle under 6,500 pounds with snow tires on all four wheels can drive without putting them on, but under R3 every vehicle must use chains.
Can you rent snow chains near Yosemite?
Rentals are hard to find, so plan to buy chains before you arrive. Most auto parts stores and gas stations near the park sell them, and Oakhurst is the last town with full services on Highway 41.
Is it possible to drive to Yosemite in December?
Yes. Yosemite Valley and Wawona are open by car all year by Highway 41, Highway 140 and Highway 120 from the west, but carry chains and check current road conditions before you leave.
Can you drive to Glacier Point in winter?
No. Glacier Point Road closes for snow, usually in November, and Glacier Point can't be reached by car until late spring. From about mid-December through March, the road is open only as far as the Badger Pass ski area.
