Highway conditions · Caltrans
Is the Grapevine open right now?
I-5 over Tejon Pass, the climb between Los Angeles and Bakersfield, checked against Caltrans while this page is open.
Is the Grapevine open right now? As of Sunday, October 11th, 2026 at 01:14 PM, I-5 over Tejon Pass is open with restrictions. The route is open with restrictions — see the details below. Elsewhere on I-5, Caltrans reports restrictions in San Joaquin Co — none of them on the pass.
Also see the Kern County road conditions hub — I-5, SR-58, and SR-99 status on one page.
I-5 · Grapevine (Tejon Pass)
Restrictions
The route is open with restrictions — see the details below. Elsewhere on I-5, Caltrans reports restrictions in San Joaquin Co — none of them on the pass.
Interstate 5 — Grapevine (Tejon Pass)
- RESTRICTIONS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: A high wind advisory is in effect from the Jct of SR-126 to the Los Angeles/Kern Co Line - Travel is not recommended for campers, trailers, or permit loads
- RESTRICTIONS CENTRAL CALIFORNIA: A high wind advisory is in effect from the Jct of I-580 to the Jct of I-205 (San Joaquin Co) - Travel is not recommended for campers, trailers, or permit loads
- OPEN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA: No traffic restrictions reported.
State Route 58 — Tehachapi
- RESTRICTIONS CENTRAL CALIFORNIA: Westbound traffic is reduced to 1 lane 14 mi west of the Jct of SR-14 (Kern Co) - Due to an overturned semi
State Route 99 — Central Valley
- RESTRICTIONS CENTRAL CALIFORNIA: Is reopened to northbound traffic 7.8 mi south of the Jct of SR-46 (Kern Co) at 0255 hrs on 10/11/26 A high wind advisory is in effect from the Stanislaus/San Joaquin Co Line to the San Joaquin/Sacramento Co Line - Travel is not recommended for campers, trailers, or permit loads
- OPEN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA: No traffic restrictions reported.
Why the Grapevine closes
The Grapevine is the I-5 crossing of Tejon Pass (elevation 4,144 feet), the highest point on the route between Los Angeles and the Central Valley. It closes for three reasons, in rough order of frequency: snow and ice (a few inches is enough to force chain controls or a full closure), dense fog that can drop visibility to near zero for miles, and high winds that tip trucks — the pass has a history of overturns that shut both directions for hours. Caltrans also schedules maintenance closures overnight, which appear on this page as restrictions with times.
Chain requirements are posted at the bottom of the grade. Under R2 chain controls, every vehicle needs chains except four-wheel or all-wheel drive with snow tires on all four wheels; under R3, every vehicle needs chains. Drivers without them are turned back at the chain-control checkpoints.
If it's closed: alternate routes
- SR-58 over Tehachapi Pass — the usual detour, but it's a mountain pass itself: check its status above before committing.
- SR-14 / US-395 loop — east around the mountains via Mojave and the Owens Valley; long, but it stays open when both passes close.
- US-101 coast route — the long way around; only worth it for multi-day closures.
- Amtrak San Joaquins — the train doesn't care about chain controls; Bakersfield is a main-line stop.
Live conditions and closure updates, 24/7: roads.dot.ca.gov or Caltrans at 1-800-427-7623.
Recent changes
| When | Route | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-07 7:46 AM | SR-99 in Kern County | CLOSED → OPEN |
| 2026-10-07 3:09 AM | SR-99 in Kern County | OPEN → CLOSED |
| 2026-10-03 | I-5, anywhere in California | updated → RESTRICTIONS |
| 2026-10-03 | I-5, anywhere in California | updated → RESTRICTIONS |
| 2026-10-02 | SR-58, whole route | updated → OPEN |
| 2026-10-02 | I-5, anywhere in California | CLOSED → RESTRICTIONS |
| 2026-10-02 | I-5, anywhere in California | updated → CLOSED |
| 2026-10-01 | I-5, anywhere in California | updated → CLOSED |
| 2026-09-30 | I-5, anywhere in California | updated → CLOSED |
| 2026-09-30 | I-5, anywhere in California | updated → CLOSED |
| 2026-09-29 | I-5, anywhere in California | updated → CLOSED |
| 2026-09-29 | SR-58, whole route | updated → OPEN |
Rows marked “anywhere in California” or “whole route” were logged before October 5, 2026, when this log covered the entire highway. They do not mean the pass itself was closed.
Grapevine questions
Is the Grapevine open right now?
The Grapevine (I-5 over Tejon Pass) is open with restrictions, as reported by Caltrans at Sunday, October 11th, 2026 at 01:14 PM. The route is open with restrictions — see the details below. Elsewhere on I-5, Caltrans reports restrictions in San Joaquin Co — none of them on the pass.
Is the Grapevine closed right now?
The Grapevine (I-5 over Tejon Pass) is open with restrictions, as reported by Caltrans at Sunday, October 11th, 2026 at 01:14 PM. The route is open with restrictions — see the details below. Elsewhere on I-5, Caltrans reports restrictions in San Joaquin Co — none of them on the pass.
Why does the Grapevine close?
Snow and ice, dense fog, and high winds. Caltrans also schedules overnight maintenance closures. Chain controls (R2/R3) are posted at the bottom of the grade.
What is the best alternate route if the Grapevine is closed?
SR-58 over Tehachapi Pass is the usual detour; SR-14/US-395 around the east side stays open when both passes close. Amtrak San Joaquins also serves Bakersfield.
How do I get current California highway conditions?
Call Caltrans at 1-800-427-7623 or visit roads.dot.ca.gov. This page also checks Caltrans in real time when you load it and refreshes every 60 seconds while it's open.
Conditions are Caltrans’ text, lightly cleaned for typos and spacing (facts and the agency’s timestamp are unchanged). Status words are per Caltrans area section; for I-5 the big answer reflects the Tejon Pass (Central) section only. Always confirm on the official source before driving.