Winter Roads in Georgia: Jvari Pass Closures, Tires and Chains

Georgia's roads stay open through the winter, and the ski resorts can be reached by car or by marshrutka. The catch is the high mountain sections, where snow and avalanche risk can shut the road for a few hours or a few days.

The section that closes most often is the Jvari Pass, also known as the Cross Pass, on the Georgian Military Road to Gudauri and Stepantsminda. Winter tires are also compulsory on mountain roads from December 1 to March 1, and in bad weather the police can make chains mandatory.

Mountain Road Conditions Right Now

If in doubt, call the Roads Department of Georgia hotline on 032 2 31 30 76. For accidents and emergencies on the road, dial 112, which is staffed around the clock.

Map of Routes to the Ski Resorts

Choose a route below or plot your own: the map shows the road, the distance and the driving time. Each route ends at one of the ski resorts in Georgia or at one of the mountain villages most visited in winter.

The Jvari Pass: When and Why It Closes

The Jvari Pass lies at about 2,400 m between Gudauri and Kobi. A closure usually affects the Gudauri-Kobi section, about 14 km long, while the road from Tbilisi up to Gudauri stays open. In winter 2025/26 this section was shut to all traffic 13 times, exactly as often as in 2024/25.

The cause is almost always high avalanche risk, as assessed by the National Environmental Agency. Less often it is a blizzard and poor visibility. Closures happen between November and April, with February the worst month.

The pass usually reopens within about a day, and roughly half of all closures last under 24 hours. The longest ran for 4-5 days: February 18 to 23, 2025, and February 26 to March 2, 2026. When the road reopens, cars are let through first and trucks with trailers later.

The Tbilisi-Gudauri road itself closed just once each winter, for about a day. While the Gudauri-Kobi section is shut, there is no way to drive to Stepantsminda or to the Dariali checkpoint on the Russian border. A new Kvesheti-Kobi road bypassing the pass is under construction, and the most recent official target for its opening is 2028.

Winter Tires and Chains: What the Law Requires

Since 2024, cars on designated mountain sections must have winter tires on all four wheels from December 1 to March 1. In bad weather the Interior Ministry can extend this period and require chains on at least one drive axle.

To count as a winter tire, a tire must carry the snowflake symbol, have at least 3 mm of tread (on a passenger car) and be no more than 10 years old. Driving without winter tires, or without chains when they are required, means a 100 lari fine and 5 penalty points. The police can also turn you back before the restricted section.

The rule covers only the sections on the government list, not every road. These are the ones that matter if you are heading to the resorts:

If you are booking car rental in Georgia for the winter, check upfront that the car comes with winter tires and whether chains are available.

Other Mountain Roads in Winter

Most roads to the resorts stay open all winter, but a few high mountain routes close for the whole season.

This is why winter visitors reach the Goderdzi resort via Batumi and Khulo: on the Akhaltsikhe side, the road over the pass is closed until the end of April.

Getting There Without a Car

Marshrutkas to the mountains, like most intercity transport in Georgia, leave from Didube bus station in Tbilisi. A ticket to Stepantsminda costs 20 lari and the journey takes 3-3.5 hours. Bakuriani is served by 4 morning marshrutkas, also at 20 lari.

When the Jvari Pass is closed, marshrutkas and taxis to Stepantsminda can't get through either. A cable car connects Gudauri with the Kobi valley on the far side of the pass, but it stops running in strong winds.

Mestia can also be reached by air from Natakhtari airfield near Tbilisi: there are 6 flights a week, a ticket costs 90 lari and the flight takes about 40 minutes. In winter, flights are sometimes canceled due to the weather, so build in a spare day.

Practical Tips for Winter Trips to the Mountains

Aim to set off in the morning: in December and January Gudauri gets only about 9 hours of daylight, and in the gorges it gets dark even sooner. Check the road status the evening before and again right before you leave.

The Friendship Monument is on the Gudauri-Kobi section, so it is out of reach while the pass is closed. Right after a reopening, stopping in the avalanche galleries is often not allowed, so save your photos for viewpoints outside that section.