Italy
Gavia Pass usually opens early june and shuts mid 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 Bormio to Ponte di Legno in Lombardy, Italy, 19.3 miles that take about 58 min if you drive it properly rather than chase it. We score it 9.5 out of 10 for driving and 9.6 out of 10 for scenery.
Narrow, unguarded in places and far quieter than the neighbouring Stelvio.
Summit
2621 m
Typically opens
Early June
Typically closes
Mid October
Country
Italy
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 14 April 2026
The drive
A narrow, unguarded ribbon past Lago Nero that feels wilder than its famous neighbour.
Hotels
Tracing the road between your start and finish
0%About 20 seconds left
Nearby
11.8 mi away
Cycling's cruellest climb doubles as a brutally steep, tightly hairpinned driving test.
13 mi away
Eighty four hairpins stacked above the treeline make this Europe's most theatrical mountain pass.
13.7 mi away
Switzerland's link into the Stelvio is a quieter alternative with the same drama.
23 mi away
Glaciers hang over the road as it threads past turquoise Lago Bianco to the Poschiavo valley.
32.3 mi away
A wild single track crossing between Val Camonica and the Val Sabbia.
Common questions
Gavia Pass typically opens early june and closes mid october. Treat that as a planning window rather than a promise, because the snow decides the date.
The summit sits at 2621 metres in Italy.
About 58 min for the 19.3 miles between Bormio and Ponte di Legno, without stops. Allow twice that if you want photographs and a coffee at the top.
We rate it 9.5 out of 10 for driving and 9.6 out of 10 for scenery, which puts it among the roads worth building a trip around.