Real-time open/closed reports, winter weather updates, webcams, and Great Smoky Mountains pass status across Newfound Gap (US-441), Cumberland Gap, Jellico Mountain (I-75), and Monteagle Pass (I-24). Verified live via TDOT SmartWay.
Open. Cherohala Skyway ridge crossing is dry to clear with high elevation mountain fog. Snow gates closed during winter freezing ice squalls.
Open. State route TN-143 clear for all vehicles. High winds and sudden rime ice at crest. Upper recreational road gated seasonally Nov–May.
Open continuous 24/7/365. 4-lane twin-bore tunnel bypass clear. Hazmat vehicles restricted. Electronic surveillance active.
Open. 2-lane paved mountain state highway clear. Winding curves and mountain runoff; watch for winter black ice on north faces.
Open. Trans-mountain highway clear with wet pavement. Commercial trucks banned. Subject to rapid NPS gate closures for winter ice/snow.
Open. Highest paved state highway crest in Tennessee. Highway plows active in winter. Heavy freezing fog and wind gusts at summit.
Open 24/7. Major 4-lane interstate pass corridor. Clear lanes; TDOT priority brine treatment & plowing. Dense mountain fog possible.
Open. 2-lane US highway clear. Scenic winding route connecting Erwin to Burnsville; dry pavement with clear visibility.
Open. World-famous 318 curves in 11 miles. Commercial trucks banned. Road clear and dry.
Deal's Gap TN/NCOpen with advisory. Remote route; unpaved gravel south of NC border. Mud & ruts during heavy rain/snow.
Low Gap Pass TNOpen. Northern entrance of Appalachian Trail into Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Clear lanes.
Davenport Gap GSMNP| Pass / Gap Name | Highway Route | Elevation | Live Status | Road Condition Summary | Governing Agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beech Gap (Eech Gap) | TN-165 / NC-143 (Cherohala Skyway) | 4,490 ft (1,369 m) | Open | Dry / clear; skyway fog near crest | TDOT Region 2 & NCDOT |
| Carver's Gap | TN-143 / NC-261 | 5,512 ft (1,680 m) | Open | Clear state route; wind & cold at top | TDOT Region 1 & USFS |
| Cumberland Gap | US-25E (Tunnel) | 1,600 ft / 1,305 ft | Open 24/7 | Twin-bore tunnel clear; no hazmat | TDOT, KYTC & NPS |
| Indian Grave Gap | TN-395 (Rock Creek Rd) | 3,166 ft (965 m) | Open | Paved 2-lane clear; winding curves | TDOT Region 1 |
| Newfound Gap | US-441 (Newfound Gap Rd) | 5,046 ft (1,538 m) | Open | Wet pavement; weather gate active | NPS GSMNP & TDOT |
| Roan Mountain Gap | TN-143 / NC-261 | 5,512 ft (1,680 m) | Open | Plowed & salted; rime ice potential | TDOT & NCDOT |
| Sams Gap (Sam's Gap) | Interstate 26 / US-23 | 3,760 ft (1,146 m) | Open 24/7 | 4-lane interstate clear; priority plows | TDOT Region 1 & NCDOT |
| Spivey Gap | US-19W | 3,220 ft (981 m) | Open | 2-lane US highway clear & dry | TDOT Region 1 |
Every road condition, mountain status, and travel restriction listed on LivePassWatch Tennessee is cross-verified live against official state department feeds and national park emergency alert systems. We pull real-time data directly from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT SmartWay 511), North Carolina Department of Transportation (DriveNC), National Park Service Great Smoky Mountains Dispatch (@SmokiesRoadsNPS), and US Forest Service Ranger District bulletins for the Cherokee and Pisgah National Forests.
Direct verified answers for Tennessee mountain gap road conditions and live open/closed status.
Beech Gap (also searched as Eech Gap) is located at elevation 4,490 ft (1,369 m) along the Cherohala Skyway (TN-165 in Monroe County, TN / NC-143 in Graham County, NC). The pass is currently OPEN. Road conditions are dry to clear with high elevation cloud fog. During severe winter snow squalls or freezing ice storms, TDOT and NCDOT activate snow gates near the crest to restrict access until plows clear the skyway.
Carver's Gap (elevation 5,512 ft / 1,680 m) on TN State Route 143 / NC Highway 261 at Roan Mountain is OPEN for state highway travel. TDOT Region 1 plows maintain the highway year-round. However, drivers should prepare for extreme sub-freezing wind chills, high winds, and rime ice at the crest. Note: The upper US Forest Service recreational access road to the Roan Mountain Rhododendron Gardens is gated closed during winter (Nov 1 to May 15).
Cumberland Gap (US Highway 25E Cumberland Gap Tunnel) is OPEN 24/7/365. The 4-lane divided highway twin-bore tunnel passes under the historic mountain ridge between Harrogate, TN and Middlesboro, KY. The tunnel features continuous electronic surveillance and ventilation. Commercial hazardous material (hazmat) cargo is strictly prohibited in the tunnel and must use marked highway detours (US-58 / VA-70 / KY-66).
Indian Grave Gap (elevation 3,166 ft / 965 m) on TN State Route 395 (Rock Creek Road) connecting Erwin, TN to Bakersville, NC across Unaka Mountain is OPEN. The paved 2-lane mountain pass is clear. Drivers should exercise caution on tight hairpin curves and watch for black ice on shaded north-facing turns during winter mornings.
Newfound Gap (elevation 5,046 ft / 1,538 m) on US-441 through Great Smoky Mountains National Park is currently OPEN. As the primary trans-mountain link between Gatlinburg, TN and Cherokee, NC, Newfound Gap Road is maintained continuously by National Park Service road crews. During winter snow, sleet, or freezing rain, NPS Rangers close gates at Sugarlands (TN side) and Oconaluftee (NC side). Commercial trucks are strictly prohibited at all times.
Roan Mountain Gap (Carver's Gap crest, elevation 5,512 ft) on TN-143 / NC-261 is OPEN. Sourced live from TDOT SmartWay, state highway lanes across the summit are open and treated with salt/brine during winter weather. Extreme mountain weather conditions, including sub-zero wind chills, dense clouds, and rime ice, occur frequently above 5,000 ft.
Sams Gap (Sam's Gap) (elevation 3,760 ft / 1,146 m) on Interstate 26 / US Highway 23 is OPEN 24/7/365. Serving as the primary 4-lane Interstate corridor between Erwin/Flag Pond, TN and Mars Hill/Asheville, NC across the Bald Mountains, TDOT and NCDOT treat Sams Gap as a top-priority plowing and anti-icing corridor. Heavy fog and high crosswinds near the Appalachian Trail overpass bridge require safe driving speeds.
Spivey Gap (elevation 3,220 ft / 981 m) on US Highway 19W in Unicoi County, TN near the Yancey County, NC border is OPEN. Verified live via TDOT Region 1, this 2-lane rural US highway follows Spivey Creek with clear, dry asphalt conditions and good visibility.
Subheading details
Detailed description
• TDOT SmartWay (TN 511): Dial 511 within TN or visit SmartWay.tn.gov
• NCDOT DriveNC (NC 511): Dial 511 within NC or visit DriveNC.gov
• Great Smoky Mountains NP Dispatch: (865) 436-1200
• USFS Cherokee National Forest: (423) 476-9700