Driving to Jackson Hole in winter does not mean tire chains are always required, but your route can be restricted when Wyoming activates its chain law. Conditions change quickly on Teton Pass, through Snake River Canyon, and across the Jackson Hole valley. Check Wyoming 511 immediately before departure, carry equipment your vehicle can safely use, and obey the restriction shown for the highway in front of you.
Research date: October 2, 2026. This is general trip-planning information, not legal advice. Restrictions, closures, and resort operations can change with weather and posted conditions.
What winter travelers need to know first
- Wyoming can activate Level 1 or Level 2 chain-law restrictions on a specific highway section when conditions warrant.
- WY22 over Teton Pass is the direct approach from eastern Idaho, but it can have rapidly changing restrictions and closures.
- A new WY22 Safe Pass self-certification requirement applies to RVs, vehicles towing any trailer, and vehicles or combinations rated at 10,000 pounds or more.
- Yellowstone's South Entrance is not a through-driving route to Jackson for regular vehicles in winter.
- Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has announced November 27, 2026 as its planned 2026–27 opening day; the closing date is still to be determined and operations remain condition-dependent.
Choose your route before the storm arrives
From Idaho: WY22 over Teton Pass
Travelers approaching from Idaho Falls, Victor, or Driggs commonly reach the valley by Idaho 33 and Wyoming 22 over Teton Pass. It is direct, scenic, and exposed to mountain weather. WYDOT posts current pavement conditions, advisories, closures, cameras, and chain-law levels on its WY22 route page.
Do not treat a clear forecast at your starting point as a forecast for the pass. Check WYDOT 511 before leaving, again near the approach when safely parked, and pay attention to variable signs. If WYDOT closes the road, wait or use an officially available alternate route; do not follow a navigation app around a closure.
New for 2026: WY22 Safe Pass
WYDOT began enforcing the WY22 Safe Pass program on October 1, 2026. Before using Teton Pass, the following drivers must complete the online self-certification:
- Anyone operating a recreational vehicle
- Anyone towing a trailer of any kind
- Anyone operating a vehicle or vehicle combination with a gross vehicle or combination weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more
The process covers mountain-pass safety material, including maps and braking information. Covered drivers who have not completed it are not permitted to use the pass and must take another route. Other Teton Pass restrictions still apply, including the posted 60,000-pound weight limit and any temporary trailer or seasonal restrictions. Ordinary passenger-car drivers are encouraged to review the material, but WYDOT says Safe Pass is not currently required for every vehicle type.
From the south: US 89/191 through Snake River Canyon
Drivers coming from the Salt Lake City direction typically approach Jackson from the south through the Alpine and Hoback areas. This avoids Teton Pass, but it does not avoid winter weather. Snow, ice, rockfall, crashes, and temporary restrictions can affect the canyon and connecting highways. Check the entire route on Wyoming 511 rather than looking only at Jackson conditions.
From the north: do not route through Yellowstone in winter
A map can make Yellowstone look like a convenient northern approach. It is not a normal winter through-route for passenger vehicles. For the 2026 season, the National Park Service lists the South Entrance-to-West Thumb road for regular vehicle travel only through October 31, weather permitting. Winter access from the South Entrance is scheduled for limited oversnow travel—not ordinary cars—from December 15, 2026 through March 15, 2027, with dates subject to change.
Grand Teton's main US 89/191 and US 26/287 corridor is plowed from Jackson to Flagg Ranch, just south of Yellowstone. That does not mean you can continue through Yellowstone by car. Confirm both parks' road maps before relying on any route near an entrance.
Wyoming chain-law levels in plain language
Wyoming applies restrictions to specific highway sections when conditions become hazardous. The official WYDOT definitions are:
| Restriction | Vehicles allowed |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Vehicles equipped with tire chains, vehicles with adequate snow tires, or all-wheel-drive vehicles. |
| Level 2 | Vehicles equipped with tire chains, or all-wheel-drive vehicles equipped with adequate mud-and-snow or all-weather-rated tires. |
Under Level 2, WYDOT also states that commercial vehicles must have chains on at least two drive wheels at opposite ends of the same drive axle. Never stop in a driving lane to install or remove chains. Follow posted signs and law-enforcement instructions even if an earlier report showed a different restriction.
AWD is not a promise that you can proceed. The vehicle and tires still must meet the active level, and WYDOT can close a road entirely. Conditions can also demand slower travel than the posted maximum.
Do you need to carry chains to Jackson Hole?
There is no single yes-or-no answer for every vehicle and day. A Level 1 restriction may allow an all-wheel-drive vehicle or a vehicle with adequate snow tires to proceed without installed chains. Level 2 is stricter. Weather can also change after you leave.
For a trip that crosses mountain passes, carrying a compatible traction device can preserve options when your vehicle is allowed to use one. Start with the passenger-car tire chain selection pages, but do not order by vehicle name or wheel diameter alone. Read the complete tire size on the sidewall and check the owner's manual for device type, axle placement, and clearance restrictions.
If you drive AWD or 4WD, review where tire chains go on AWD and 4WD vehicles. The owner's manual for your exact vehicle remains the controlling source.
Jackson, Teton Village, and Grand Teton winter access
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is in Teton Village, northwest of the town of Jackson via WY22 and WY390. You do not need to cross Teton Pass when driving from Jackson to Teton Village, but valley roads can still be snowy or icy. The resort says START Bus provides service between Jackson and Teton Village; check the current schedule before planning around it.
Do not assume Moose-Wilson Road through Grand Teton National Park provides a winter shortcut. The National Park Service says the section from Death Canyon Road to Granite Canyon Trailhead closes November 1 until mid-May, depending on conditions, and is not plowed.
If Grand Teton sightseeing is part of the trip, the main highway corridor north from Jackson is plowed in winter. The park warns that roads may still be covered by ice or hard-packed snow and that storms can create whiteout conditions. Teton Park Road closes to vehicles from Taggart Lake Trailhead to Signal Mountain Lodge from November 1 through April 30 and becomes a winter recreation route.
A practical pre-trip checklist
Several days before departure
- Confirm your route and a realistic fallback that does not use a closed park road.
- If your vehicle falls within WY22 Safe Pass scope, complete the certification and retain proof before choosing Teton Pass.
- Check the tire size, tread, pressure, and owner's-manual traction-device guidance.
- Practice installing the exact chains or cables you will carry using the product instructions.
- Pack warm gloves, a reflective outer layer, waterproof mat, light, ice scraper, food, water, blankets, and a charged phone.
On travel day
- Check Wyoming 511 for every highway segment, not just the destination.
- Review Idaho 511 too if approaching Teton Pass from Idaho.
- Check Grand Teton and Yellowstone road status separately if your plan touches either park.
- Leave time for controls, snow removal, avalanche work, crashes, or a complete closure.
- Install chains only in a designated area or another safe place fully outside the travel lane.
Practice matters. Use our tire chain installation instructions as a starting point, then follow the directions for your exact product. Once installed, treat the manufacturer's speed as a maximum and slow further for the road. Our guide to driving speed with tire chains explains why 30 mph is commonly a ceiling, not a target.
Frequently asked questions
Are tire chains always required on Teton Pass?
No. WYDOT activates Level 1 or Level 2 restrictions when conditions warrant, and it may close the highway. Check the live WY22 report and posted signs for the current requirement.
Does AWD satisfy Wyoming's chain law?
Under Level 1, WYDOT lists all-wheel-drive vehicles among those allowed. Under Level 2, the AWD vehicle must also have adequate mud-and-snow or all-weather-rated tires. A closure still means the road is closed.
Can I tow a ski trailer over Teton Pass?
Any vehicle towing a trailer must complete WY22 Safe Pass self-certification before using Teton Pass. That does not override a chain level, trailer restriction, closure, weight limit, or other posted control. Check WYDOT immediately before travel.
Can I drive from Yellowstone to Jackson in January?
Not through Yellowstone's South Entrance in an ordinary car. Most Yellowstone roads are closed to regular vehicles in winter and operate only for limited oversnow travel. Plan an open route outside the park and verify it with the responsible road agencies.
The bottom line
A Jackson Hole winter drive is a route-planning problem before it is a chain problem. Know whether your approach uses Teton Pass, complete WY22 Safe Pass if it applies to your vehicle, understand Wyoming's two restriction levels, and do not use Yellowstone as a winter car route. Carry only traction equipment approved for your vehicle, practice before the trip, and let current WYDOT signs and conditions—not a fixed itinerary—decide when to wait, reroute, or chain up.