RVers planning to drive over Wyoming’s Teton Pass will soon have an extra step to complete before making the trip.
The Wyoming Department of Transportation announced that it is developing a new WY22 SAFE PASS program that will require RV drivers, motorists towing trailers, and drivers of vehicles weighing or rated for more than 10,000 pounds to complete an online self-certification before using the pass.
WYDOT hopes to launch the program by October 2026. Once it takes effect, drivers covered by the new requirement will be restricted from using Teton Pass unless they have completed the certification.
Who Will Need the Teton Pass Certification?
WYDOT lists three groups that will need to complete the program:
- Drivers operating recreational vehicles
- Anyone towing a trailer
- Drivers of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight or gross vehicle weight rating above 10,000 pounds
The 10,000-pound threshold does not appear to be a minimum weight for RVs or trailers. WYDOT separately identifies RV drivers and motorists towing trailers from the group of other vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds.
The new requirement is a self-certification program, not a special driver’s license or license endorsement.
Drivers will complete the process online by entering basic information and reviewing safety materials covering steep grades, brake fade, weight and load limits, vehicle operation, current restrictions, and alternate routes. After completing the process, the driver will receive a certification letter valid for one year.
Drivers will then need to reapply annually.
Enforcement Details Are Still Being Worked Out
The SAFE PASS program is not active yet. WYDOT said on September 10 that it was still developing the application, educational materials, and policy.
Some enforcement details also remain unsettled.
According to reporting from Jackson Hole community radio station KHOL, local law enforcement and the Wyoming Highway Patrol will be responsible for checking certification. The amount drivers could be fined for violating the restriction is still being determined.
Teton County Sheriff Matt Carr told KHOL that the program is intended to prevent problems rather than generate large numbers of tickets.
The goal is to reach drivers who may not understand the demands of taking a large vehicle down a steep mountain pass before they find themselves in trouble.
Why Wyoming Is Adding the Requirement
Teton Pass carries Wyoming Highway 22 through the mountains between Wilson, Wyoming, and the Idaho state line.
Driving a large vehicle down the pass can put considerable strain on its braking system. WYDOT’s mountain-driving guidance notes that Teton Pass reaches a 10 percent grade and advises drivers to use lower gears when descending rather than relying heavily on their brakes.
The new certification program comes after several serious crashes during the summer of 2026.
WyoFile reported that an RV lost its brakes while descending toward Wilson in July. Then, on August 17, another RV pulling a trailer crossed the centerline, collided with an oncoming vehicle, and struck a rock wall near the bottom of the pass.
Five people in the RV and two people in the other vehicle were taken to medical facilities. The crash closed Teton Pass for more than six hours.
Six days later, another motorhome developed overheated brakes while descending the pass. The driver pulled over near the runaway truck ramp and had the RV towed the rest of the way down.
The safety concerns extend beyond RVs.
A July 7 crash killed two people after a loaded dump truck traveling toward Wilson lost stopping power. According to WyoFile’s reporting on the crash, court records state that the truck’s brakes overheated before the collision.
KHOL reports that more than 60 crashes occur on Teton Pass during an average year, based on state data.
Existing Teton Pass Restrictions Will Still Apply
Completing SAFE PASS will not override the restrictions already in place.
WYDOT currently imposes a 60,000-pound gross vehicle weight limit on Wyoming Highway 22 between Wilson and the Idaho state line.
A major seasonal restriction also affects RVers towing trailers. From November 15 through April 1, all trailer traffic, including towed units, is prohibited on that section of Highway 22.
That means a SAFE PASS certification will not allow someone towing a travel trailer, fifth wheel or other trailer to cross Teton Pass during the seasonal closure.
More Safety Changes Are Coming to Teton Pass
SAFE PASS is only one of several changes WYDOT is making.
Beginning the week of September 21, WYDOT plans to install new “Must Stop Brake Check” signs at the summit. WYDOT will also install new “No Parking” signs at the gravel escape ramp and vehicle arrestor system.
Other signs warning about sharp curves, steep grades, and the need to stay in low gear are being changed as well.
Some currently address “Truckers.” WYDOT plans to replace that wording with “All Vehicles,” making the warnings apply more clearly to motorhomes, pickups and other vehicles using the pass.
The agency is also developing larger diagram-style signs showing roadway grades, restrictions and an alternate route through Swan Valley.
What RVers Should Know Before Traveling Teton Pass
Nothing changes immediately while WYDOT finishes developing the SAFE PASS system.
Once the program launches, RV drivers and anyone towing a trailer will need to complete the online certification before using Teton Pass. The requirement will also apply to other vehicles weighing or rated above 10,000 pounds.
The certification will be valid for one year, but all existing weight limits and seasonal restrictions will remain in place.
RVers planning a trip through the area later this year should check WYDOT’s current Highway 22 travel information before heading toward the pass, particularly as the new certification program approaches its expected October launch.
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