Tioga Pass opening for the 2026 season is anticipated for late May.
Clearing of the Tioga Road, which connects Yosemite Valley with Tuolumne Meadows and Hwy 395, begins on or around April 15 each year and usually takes between 1-2 months – this means the road is usually predicted to open in late May or early June. However, the area often receives late-season snow storms in April and May, which delays the opening of Tioga Road. The winter road closure extends from the Tuolumne Grove, just east of Crane Flat, to Tioga Pass Entrance Station. Highway 120, the continuation of the Tioga Road outside the park, is often closed in winter from Tioga Pass to five miles west of Lee Vining.
When the Tioga Road is closed, it is not possible to drive to Tuolumne Meadows or enter Yosemite National Park from the east. Until Tioga Pass opens for the season, you will also not be able to access HWY 395 from the west side of the national park (via Big Oak Flat, Arch Rock or the South entrance).