The Lincoln Highway Corridor (I-80) Road Conditions & Traffic

01 Route overview

Interstate 80 is the second-longest interstate in the United States and the main east-west route across the northern tier of the country. Stretching 2,899 miles from the San Francisco Bay Area to Teaneck, New Jersey, it shadows much of the original 1913 Lincoln Highway and remains one of the busiest freight routes in North America. I-80 is a designated Tier I east-west freight corridor (Mid-America Freight Coalition), one of the few highways that lets freight cross from one coast to the other on a single route, so a large amount of long-haul cross-country freight uses at least part of the corridor.

The route crosses three of the most consequential geographic barriers on the continent: the Sierra Nevada at Donner Pass (7,239 ft), the Wasatch Range east of Salt Lake City, and the Continental Divide at Sherman Hill, Wyoming (8,640 ft), the highest point on the entire interstate system. From there it rolls eastward through the Great Plains, hugs the Platte River across Nebraska, threads the corn belt of Iowa, brushes the south side of Chicago, and climbs the Allegheny Plateau before dropping into the New York metro area. Weather closures, chain controls and high-profile vehicle restrictions are routine across the western half between November and April.

For commercial drivers, I-80 is also a service-rich corridor: the original transcontinental truck stops at places like Walcott, Iowa and Sidney, Nebraska grew up alongside it, and the route is densely covered by fuel networks, weigh stations, and mandatory chain-up areas. Connections at Salt Lake City (I-15), Omaha (I-29), Des Moines (I-35), Chicago (I-94/I-294) and the Northeast (I-95/I-78/I-280) make it a key connector across the national freight network.

One of the primary transcontinental freight corridors, carrying heavy long-haul truck volumes
Crosses the Sierra Nevada at Donner Pass (7,239 ft). The most chain-controlled pass in the lower 48
Reaches its highest point at Sherman Summit, Wyoming (8,640 ft), the highest elevation on any US interstate
Designated wind-closure corridor between Laramie and Walcott Junction, WY (Elk Mountain segment closes 30+ days/year for high-profile vehicles)
Concurrent with I-90 across most of central Indiana / northern Ohio (Indiana / Ohio Turnpike)
Tolled across Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and the I-80/90 concurrency segment
Crosses the Mississippi River at Le Claire, Iowa and the Missouri River at Council Bluffs

02 Key cities & junctions

State	Mile	City / Junction
CA	MM 0	San Francisco
CA	MM 88	Sacramento (I-5 jct)
CA	MM 192	Truckee / Donner Pass
NV	MM 234	Reno
NV	MM 410	Winnemucca
NV	MM 562	Elko
UT	MM 729	Salt Lake City (I-15 jct)
WY	MM 845	Evanston
WY	MM 1018	Rock Springs
WY	MM 1188	Rawlins
WY	MM 1277	Laramie
WY	MM 1316	Cheyenne (I-25 jct)
NE	MM 1389	Sidney
NE	MM 1556	North Platte
NE	MM 1745	Lincoln
NE	MM 1804	Omaha (I-29 jct)
IA	MM 1879	Des Moines (I-35 jct)
IA	MM 2003	Iowa City
IA	MM 2058	Davenport / Quad Cities
IL	MM 2188	Joliet (I-55/I-355 jct)
IN	MM 2275	Gary (I-90/I-94 jct)
OH	MM 2412	Toledo
OH	MM 2519	Cleveland (I-90 jct)
PA	MM 2682	Sharon / Mercer
PA	MM 2800	Bloomsburg
PA	MM 2858	Stroudsburg
NJ	MM 2899	Teaneck (I-95 jct)

03 Mountain passes & summits

OPEN 44°F

Elk Mountain Summit (I-80)

Clear · 44°F, Clear

NB · No restrictions
SB · No restrictions

OPEN 41°F

I-80 Parleys Summit

Unknown · Roads will be dry. No weather-related delays are expected.

NB · No restrictions
SB · No restrictions

Pass conditions & guide →

OPEN 34°F

I-80 Wahsatch Summit

Dry · Roads will be dry. No weather-related delays are expected.

NB · No restrictions
SB · No restrictions

Pass conditions & guide →

OPEN 43°F

Sherman Summit (I-80)

Clear · 43°F, Clear

NB · No restrictions
SB · No restrictions

Pass conditions & guide →

OPEN N/A

Sr 20-E Onr to I-80 E (20/80 Jct) (FOR I-80 CC)

No data

NB · No chain controls are in effect at this time.
SB · No chain controls are in effect at this time.

OPEN N/A

Sr 20-E Onr to I-80 E (20/80 Jct) (FOR I-80 CC)

No data

NB · No chain controls are in effect at this time.
SB · No chain controls are in effect at this time.

OPEN N/A

Truckee - Jct I-80 (aka - Bypass)

No data

NB · No chain controls are in effect at this time.
SB · No chain controls are in effect at this time.

All US mountain pass conditions →

04 Notable hazards & trouble spots

Hazard

Most chain-controlled pass in the lower 48

Donner Pass, CA (MM 174-184)

Caltrans issues R-1, R-2, and R-3 chain controls frequently from November through April. Eastbound trucks must stop at the Kingvale chain-up area; westbound at Boreal. A full closure typically follows any cycle of 4+ inches per hour. Plan fuel and parking before Truckee. Chain delays of 4-8 hours are common during major systems.

Hazard

High-profile vehicle wind closures

Elk Mountain, WY (MM 255-279, between Laramie and Walcott Junction)

WYDOT closes this segment to light, high-profile, and empty trailers when sustained winds exceed 65 mph, typically 30 or more days each winter. There is essentially no alternate route; trucks routinely shut down at Laramie or Rawlins for 12-24 hours. Check 511 Wyoming or the WYDOT app before committing past Laramie westbound or Walcott eastbound.

Hazard

Steep grade with mandatory brake check

Parley's Canyon, UT (MM 132-140, east of Salt Lake City)

A sustained 6% downgrade for nearly 7 miles westbound into the Salt Lake Valley. UDOT operates a mandatory truck brake-check area at the summit. Runaway-truck ramps at MM 134 and MM 132 see regular use. Use engine brake aggressively and stay below the posted 45 mph truck speed limit.

Hazard

Highest point on the interstate system

Sherman Hill, WY (MM 335-345, between Cheyenne and Laramie)

I-80 climbs to 8,640 ft at the summit between Cheyenne and Laramie. Black ice and ground-blizzard conditions form rapidly even when valley weather looks clear. Snow fences run for miles, but blowing snow regularly drops visibility to zero. WYDOT closes the segment several times per winter.

Hazard

Rolling 6%+ grades and tight curves

Pennsylvania Mountains (MM 100-200)

The segment from the Ohio line east through the Allegheny Plateau is a string of long climbs and descents. Snow Shoe Mountain (MM 147-149) and Bald Eagle Mountain (MM 178) are particularly demanding. PennDOT enforces winter speed restrictions for commercial vehicles during snow events and routinely bans empty / tandem trailers.

05 Active incidents (100)

CONSTRUCTION NE

I-80 in both directions: Construction work.

I-80

CONSTRUCTION NE

I-80 westbound: Construction work.

I-80

CONSTRUCTION NE

I-80 westbound: Bridge repair.

I-80

CONSTRUCTION NE

I-80 in both directions: Night time construction work.

I-80

CLOSURE NE

I-80 westbound: Exit ramp closed.

I-80

CONSTRUCTION NE

I-80 westbound: Night time construction work.

I-80

CONSTRUCTION NE

I-80 in both directions: Long term road construction.

I-80

ACCIDENT NE

I-80 in both directions: Guardrails are being repaired.

I-80

CONSTRUCTION NE

I-80 in both directions: Long term road construction.

I-80

CONSTRUCTION NE

I-80 in both directions: Long term road construction.

I-80

CONSTRUCTION NE

I-80 in both directions: Bridge construction.

I-80

CONSTRUCTION NE

I-80 in both directions: Construction work.

I-80

CONSTRUCTION NE

I-80 westbound: Night time construction work.

I-80

CONSTRUCTION NE

I-80 in both directions: Long term road construction.

I-80

CONSTRUCTION NE

I-80 in both directions: Night time construction work.

I-80

CONSTRUCTION NE

I-80 eastbound: Construction work.

I-80

CONSTRUCTION NE

I-80 in both directions: Construction work.

I-80

CONSTRUCTION NE

I-80 in both directions: Construction work.

I-80

Showing 18 of 100. View all on map →

06 Active weather alerts (7)

EXTREME HEAT WARNING

Extreme Heat Warning issued June 30 at 3:45AM CDT until July 1 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

Marquette; Green Lake; Fond Du Lac; Sheboygan; Sauk; Columbia; Dodge; Washington; Ozaukee; Iowa; Dane; Jefferson; Waukesha; Milwaukee; Lafayette; Green; Rock; Walworth; Racine; Kenosha

RED FLAG WARNING

Red Flag Warning issued June 30 at 12:07AM MDT until June 30 at 7:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY

Box Butte/South Sioux/Niobrara River; Lower North Platte River Basin/Scottsbluff National Monument; Lodgepole Creek/Southern Nebraska Panhandle; Laramie Foothills and High Plains; Laramie East High Pl

RED FLAG WARNING

Red Flag Warning issued June 30 at 12:07AM MDT until June 30 at 7:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY

Pine Ridge/Nebraska National Forest; Niobrara/Lower Elevations of Converse/Thunder Basin National Grassland; Middle North Platte River Basin/Niobrara and Converse High Plains

EXTREME HEAT WARNING

Extreme Heat Warning issued June 30 at 12:43AM EDT until July 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH

Wayne; Fayette; Union; Franklin; Ripley; Dearborn; Ohio; Switzerland; Carroll; Gallatin; Boone; Kenton; Campbell; Owen; Grant; Pendleton; Bracken; Robertson; Mason; Hardin; Mercer; Auglaize; Darke; Sh

FIRE WEATHER WATCH

Fire Weather Watch issued June 29 at 9:46PM MDT until July 1 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO

Southwest Colorado Lower Forecast Area; Paradox Valley; North Fork; Southwest Colorado Upper West Forecast Area; Southeast Utah

RED FLAG WARNING

Red Flag Warning issued June 29 at 1:18PM MDT until June 29 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY

Pine Ridge/Nebraska National Forest

FIRE WEATHER WATCH

Fire Weather Watch issued June 29 at 1:18PM MDT until June 30 at 7:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY

Pine Ridge/Nebraska National Forest

07 FAQ

How long does it take to drive I-80 end to end?

A passenger car covering the full 2,899 miles between San Francisco and Teaneck, NJ takes about 41-44 hours of pure driving time. Commercial drivers respecting the FMCSA hours-of-service rules (11-hour driving limit, 14-hour on-duty window, 10-hour mandatory rest) typically need 5 to 7 days, allowing for a 34-hour reset and time spent at scales, fuel stops, and the Sierra/Wyoming weather closures that the corridor sees most winters.

Does I-80 close in winter?

Yes. Segments close several times each winter. Donner Pass in California shuts down for plowing during heavy Sierra snowfall, the Elk Mountain segment in Wyoming closes to high-profile vehicles dozens of days a year for wind, and Sherman Hill between Cheyenne and Laramie is regularly closed for ground blizzards. Closures rarely last more than 24 hours but cascade quickly across multiple states. Real-time status is published by Caltrans, NDOT, UDOT, WYDOT and 511.

Where is the highest point on I-80?

The highest point on Interstate 80 (and the highest point on any US interstate highway) is Sherman Summit between Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming, at 8,640 feet (2,634 m) above sea level. A roadside marker and the Lincoln Memorial monument at the eastbound rest area mark the spot.

Is I-80 a toll road?

Parts of it. I-80 is tolled across Pennsylvania (the Pennsylvania Turnpike concurrency west of Bedford), Ohio, Indiana, the Illinois Tollway around Chicago, and across the Bay Bridge into San Francisco. The roughly 1,800 miles between western Pennsylvania and eastern California are toll-free.

What major cities does I-80 connect?

I-80 runs through or directly serves San Francisco / Oakland, Sacramento, Reno, Salt Lake City, Cheyenne, Omaha, Des Moines, the Quad Cities, Chicago (south side), Cleveland, and the New York metro area. It is the only single interstate that ties the Bay Area directly to the New York metropolitan region.

Are chains required on I-80 over Donner Pass?

Frequently. Caltrans posts chain requirements (R-1, R-2, or R-3) any time conditions warrant, often more than 50 days per winter. R-2 requires chains on all vehicles except those with 4WD/AWD and snow tires; R-3 requires chains on every vehicle including 4WD. Commercial vehicles must always carry the legally required number of chains when traveling between October 1 and April 30 in California chain-control areas.

I-80: The Lincoln Highway Corridor

Elk Mountain Summit (I-80)

I-80 Parleys Summit

I-80 Wahsatch Summit

Sherman Summit (I-80)

Sr 20-E Onr to I-80 E (20/80 Jct) (FOR I-80 CC)

Sr 20-E Onr to I-80 E (20/80 Jct) (FOR I-80 CC)

Truckee - Jct I-80 (aka - Bypass)

Most chain-controlled pass in the lower 48

High-profile vehicle wind closures

Steep grade with mandatory brake check

Highest point on the interstate system

Rolling 6%+ grades and tight curves

Extreme Heat Warning issued June 30 at 3:45AM CDT until July 1 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

Red Flag Warning issued June 30 at 12:07AM MDT until June 30 at 7:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY

Red Flag Warning issued June 30 at 12:07AM MDT until June 30 at 7:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY

Extreme Heat Warning issued June 30 at 12:43AM EDT until July 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH

Fire Weather Watch issued June 29 at 9:46PM MDT until July 1 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO

Red Flag Warning issued June 29 at 1:18PM MDT until June 29 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY

Fire Weather Watch issued June 29 at 1:18PM MDT until June 30 at 7:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY

Interstate 80 Live Map