Highway conditions · Caltrans
Is the Grapevine closed right now?
Live I-5 conditions over Tejon Pass — the 40-mile climb that connects Los Angeles and Bakersfield — plus SR-58 over Tehachapi and SR-99 up the valley.
I-5 · Grapevine (Tejon Pass)
Restrictions
The route is open with restrictions — see the details below. Note: other I-5 sections report closed — see the details below.
Interstate 5 — Grapevine (Tejon Pass)
- CLOSED SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: The northbound connector to eastbound I-10 /in Los Angeles/ (Los Angeles Co) is closed from 0900 hrs to 1200 hrs on 8/5/26 - Due to guardrail repair - Motorists are advised to use an alternate route
- RESTRICTIONS CENTRAL CALIFORNIA: Northbound traffic is reduced to 2 lanes 8.2 mi north of the Los Angeles/Kern Co Line - Due to a traffic collision
- OPEN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA: No traffic restrictions reported.
State Route 58 — Tehachapi
- RESTRICTIONS CENTRAL CALIFORNIA: Eastbound traffic is reduced to 1 lane from 0.5 mi east to 2.5 mi east of Tehachapi (Kern Co) - Due to emergency work
State Route 99 — Central Valley
- RESTRICTIONS CENTRAL CALIFORNIA: 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: 1-way controlled traffic at various locations from 3 mi north of Gridley /at B St/ to 4.5 mi north of Gridley /at Fran Phil Dr/ (Butte Co) from 0700 hrs to 1700 hrs Monday thru Friday thru 8/7/26 - Due to construction
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. When R2 or R3 chain controls are in effect, traction devices are mandatory — Caltrans officers turn vehicles around at the chain-installation points.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-05 | Interstate 5 — Grapevine (Tejon Pass) | updated → CLOSED |
| 2026-08-05 | State Route 99 — Central Valley | updated → RESTRICTIONS |
| 2026-08-05 | State Route 58 — Tehachapi | updated → RESTRICTIONS |
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.