We are careful with our RV to use engine braking to minimize “riding the brakes”. Today, we did not succeed, and when we pulled out on the way down, the brake pads were smoking quite a bit. But we made it successfully to our destination.
Here are the results from a search about Teton Pass, which we drove through:
Teton Pass has a maximum grade of 10%, making it one of the steepest highways in the continental United States. The pass is known for its steep uphill and downhill stretches, requiring careful driving and attention to speed and braking. Due to the steepness and potential hazards, trucks with trailers have restrictions during winter months, and larger trucks may be prohibited at any time.
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Steep Grade:
The 10% grade means that for every 100 feet traveled horizontally, the elevation changes by 10 feet, according to Wyoming Department of Transportation. This is significantly steeper than the typical 5-6% grade considered safe for most vehicles.
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Driving Considerations:
Due to the steepness and curves, drivers should use lower gears, maintain a safe speed, and be prepared to use brakes frequently.
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Winter Restrictions:
Trucks with trailers are often restricted from using the pass during winter months (November 15th to April 1st).
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Truck Weight Restrictions:
Trucks exceeding a certain weight (60,000 lbs) are restricted at all times.
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Alternative Routes:
In some cases, drivers may opt to use a secondary route through Idaho’s Swan Valley to Wyoming’s Hoback Jct., especially when conditions are unfavorable or during closures.
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Recent Collapse:In June 2024, a portion of the pass collapsed due to a landslide, requiring extensive reconstruction efforts. Details here Landslide at Teton PassThe roadway took one year to repair and was reopened just recently on June 30th 2025.
We have done 8% before without problems, and on the uphill, we limited engine RPM (2500 rpm) in favor of a slower speed, using pullouts as available to let people following us pass ahead. We did the same on the way down, but we would have been way above the 25 mph posted maximum truck speed limit using just engine braking, so we had to brake enough to decide at one pullout to wait for 10 minutes until the brakes stopped smoking. So that is our 4-mile 10%-grade experience.
We made it safely to our destination.