Kuwohi Road
The road up to the highest point in the Smokies — the peak long known as Clingmans Dome, renamed Kuwohi in 2024. Unlike the western passes, its winter closure runs on fixed dates, December through March, with weather closures layered on top.
This year
Live plow-season reports load here. For today's conditions, go straight to Great Smoky Mountains NP's status page.
Conditions change by the hour at 6,300 feet — check Great Smoky Mountains NP's status page before you drive.
The record
Opens April 1 every year, on the calendar rather than the snowpack.
We're still putting this road's year-by-year record together from Great Smoky Mountains NP archives — it will appear here as it's confirmed. In the meantime, Great Smoky Mountains NP's page has current conditions.
When does Kuwohi Road close?
Closes November 30 every year; winter storms close it early and often in shoulder season. The winter closure covers the seven miles from Newfound Gap Road to the Kuwohi parking area.
We don't have this road's year-by-year closing dates yet — they'll appear here as Great Smoky Mountains NP's notices are worked through. Until then, Great Smoky Mountains NP's own page has the state of the gate.
Kuwohi Road: opening and closing questions
- When does Kuwohi Road close for the winter?
- Closes November 30 every year; winter storms close it early and often in shoulder season. The winter closure covers the seven miles from Newfound Gap Road to the Kuwohi parking area.
- Can you drive Kuwohi Road in winter?
- No. The seven miles from Newfound Gap Road to the Kuwohi parking area is gated once the season ends, and it stays shut until spring plowing gets through. Great Smoky Mountains NP posts the gate's current state.
- Is Kuwohi Road open right now?
- This page is the season record, not the road's condition this morning. National Park Service — Great Smoky Mountains National Park publishes today's state of the road, and that is the one to check before you drive — conditions turn over in hours at this elevation.
- When does Kuwohi Road open again?
- Opens April 1 every year, on the calendar rather than the snowpack.