Caltrans Requires Chains on Westbound I-80
Chain controls apply to most vehicles on Interstate 80 between Kingvale and Truckee as a winter storm moves into the Sierra.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Current Conditions
Caltrans requires chains on all vehicles except 4-wheel-drive vehicles with snow tires on westbound Interstate 80 from Kingvale to Truckee. Chains are also required on Mt. Rose Highway for vehicles other than 4-wheel-drive vehicles with snow tires.
Why it matters
Winter weather is bringing snow and hazardous driving conditions to the Sierra, and chain controls are in effect as the storm moves in. Drivers traveling through the mountain passes should plan for delays and carry chains.
The chain requirement is an official Caltrans control covering westbound I-80 from the Donner Lake Interchange to Truckee, with exemptions only for 4-wheel-drive vehicles fitted with snow tires on all four wheels. The end time of the controls has not been announced in the available information.
The players
Caltrans
The California Department of Transportation, the state agency that manages the state highway system and issues chain control requirements on routes such as Interstate 80.
Nevada 511
Nevada's official traveler information service that publishes real-time road conditions and restrictions for the state's highways.
The details
Caltrans requires chains on all vehicles except 4-wheel-drive vehicles with snow tires on westbound Interstate 80 from Kingvale to Truckee, and from the Donner Lake Interchange to Kingvale. Separately, Mt. Rose Highway carries the same chain requirement for vehicles other than 4-wheel-drive vehicles with snow tires.
Timeline
Chain controls were in effect as of November 13, 2026, when the storm moved into the Sierra.
Seasonal Patterns
Chain controls on Interstate 80 between Kingvale and Truckee are a recurring part of Caltrans' winter operations in the Sierra, activated when storms bring snow to the mountain passes. This event follows that established seasonal pattern, with the same corridor and exemption rules applied to the current storm.
Drivers heading over Donner Summit or to Truckee should carry chains and check Caltrans for updates before departing. Vehicles without 4-wheel drive and snow tires must install chains to travel through the controlled segments.
The takeaway
Check road conditions before traveling in the Sierra during winter storms, since chain requirements can change quickly. Carry chains even if your vehicle has 4-wheel drive, because the exemption applies only when snow tires are fitted on all four wheels.
Further reading
For the latest snow and road status across the state, see Current Conditions for California.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 2 News Nevada.
