Tioga Pass Snow Closure: SR-120 Shut From Crane Flat Toward US-395, Caltrans Says October 22

GROVELAND / TUOLUMNE COUNTY, California — October 22, 2026. Drivers heading across the Sierra on State Route 120 need to reconsider their routes this evening. In its highway-condition report updated at 6:17 p.m. Thursday, October 22, the California Department of Transportation listed a snow-related closure from Crane Flat to approximately 3.5 miles west of the junction with U.S. Highway 395 at Tioga Pass, covering the Tuolumne and Mono county corridor.

That is a specific high-elevation highway closure. It does not mean Groveland, every western approach to Yosemite, or the entire length of State Route 120 is closed. Visitors should check the exact endpoints and conditions for their intended destination rather than treating an advisory for Tioga Pass as a statewide travel warning.

What the October 22 Caltrans report actually says

Caltrans described the reason for the closure as snow and advised motorists to use an alternate route. The agency’s online road information is updated as conditions change, and its Thursday evening report did not provide a guaranteed reopening time. A trip that was possible earlier in the week may therefore not be possible on the same alignment now.

Primary source: Caltrans Highway Information — SR‑120 (consulted October 22, 2026, when the page’s reported update was 6:17 p.m.). Before leaving, refresh that page: conditions can change after this article is published.

Groveland visitors: distinguish the western gateway from the Tioga crossing

Groveland is a common gateway for visitors approaching Yosemite from the west via Highway 120. Tioga Pass, however, is the high-country connection toward the eastern Sierra and U.S. 395. The current Caltrans notice concerns the corridor beginning at Crane Flat, farther into the mountains. It would be inaccurate to describe all Groveland-to-Yosemite travel as shut down on the strength of this alert alone.

People visiting Yosemite Valley, planning a cross-Sierra drive, or meeting someone arriving from Mono County may have different routing options and restrictions. Confirm which roads are accessible on the day of travel through Yosemite National Park’s current conditions page and the Caltrans QuickMap. Caltrans also directs travelers to call 209‑372‑0200 for Yosemite park road information.

Another State Route 120 closure is in a different county

The same Caltrans report separately listed an overnight closure affecting the eastbound connector from State Route 120 to southbound State Route 99 in San Joaquin County, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly through October 23. That is a separate Central Valley construction operation, not part of the snow closure near Tioga Pass. Do not confuse the two notices when planning a trip.

Before departure

Check the latest SR‑120 status rather than relying on a screenshot or an earlier day’s social-media post.
Review Yosemite’s separate official road-status information if your destination is inside the park.
Plan an alternative route only after confirming it is open; nearby mountain passes can have their own conditions and restrictions.
Allow extra time and prepare for changing mountain weather. Never drive around a closure barricade.

Groveland News will identify new conditions by their actual report time instead of treating an old closure notice as permanently current. Readers with independently verifiable updates can write to the California58 local newsroom.

Source transparency: This is a time-stamped service article based on Caltrans’s public road-status report, not an eyewitness confirmation or a prediction about reopening. Check official live sources before traveling.

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