France
Col du Tourmalet usually opens late may and shuts late october. Those dates move with the snow every single year, so a late spring can hold the opening back by two or three weeks and an early autumn storm can close it without warning.
The pass road runs Luz-Saint-Sauveur to Sainte-Marie-de-Campan in Hautes-Pyrenees, France, 11.8 miles that take about 36 min if you drive it properly rather than chase it. We score it 9.4 out of 10 for driving and 9.6 out of 10 for scenery.
Pyrenean rather than alpine, but it follows the same seasonal pattern.
Summit
2115 m
Typically opens
Late May
Typically closes
Late October
Country
France
Checked by the Drivers Atlas desk
Scored and written by the Drivers Atlas editorial desk, drawing on driven routes across the UK and Europe, mapping data and member road reports. Opening dates reflect the long term pattern of the pass, not a single season. Always check on the day. How we score roads.
Last reviewed 23 March 2026
The drive
The highest paved pass in the Pyrenees and the Tour de France's most storied climb.
Hotels
Tracing the road between your start and finish
0%About 20 seconds left
Nearby
17.4 mi away
A classic Pyrenean crossing of open pasture and hairpins on the Route des Pyrenees.
18 mi away
A dramatic balcony road along the Litor cliff face connecting straight into the Aubisque.
21.7 mi away
A short dramatic climb into a canyon rimmed by sheer limestone walls and waterfalls.
24.9 mi away
Cliff cut hairpins and cirque views link two valleys via the dramatic Litor shelf.
28 mi away
A long alpine valley run past reservoirs and ski towns to the French border ridge.
Common questions
Col du Tourmalet typically opens late may and closes late october. Treat that as a planning window rather than a promise, because the snow decides the date.
The summit sits at 2115 metres in France.
About 36 min for the 11.8 miles between Luz-Saint-Sauveur and Sainte-Marie-de-Campan, without stops. Allow twice that if you want photographs and a coffee at the top.
We rate it 9.4 out of 10 for driving and 9.6 out of 10 for scenery, which puts it among the roads worth building a trip around.