How High Is the I-90 Crossing Through the Cascades?

Editorially reviewed September 6, 2026. Stable geographic figures are distinguished below from time-sensitive highway conditions.

The short answer: Snoqualmie Pass is about 3,000 feet high

The Washington State Department of Transportation lists the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass summit at 3,022 feet (921 meters) above sea level. For an everyday answer, it is accurate to say that Snoqualmie Pass is about 3,000 feet high. WSDOT reports the elevation and identifies Snoqualmie Summit at I-90 milepost 52.

Several geographic and regional references instead list 3,015 feet, or approximately 919 meters. Wikipedia uses that elevation for the mountain pass and places it on the King–Kittitas county boundary. See the geographic description of Snoqualmie Pass. The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust also publishes the 3,015-foot figure in its regional scenic-drive itinerary.

The figures are close but not identical. When precision matters, the clearest wording is:

• 3,022 feet (921 meters) for the elevation WSDOT reports in its I-90 pass report.
• 3,015 feet (about 919 meters) when accurately quoting a geographic or regional source that uses that figure.
• About 3,000 feet when a rounded answer is sufficient.

Snoqualmie Pass facts

Fact	Detail
WSDOT elevation	3,022 feet / 921 meters
Alternate published elevation	3,015 feet / approximately 919 meters
Highway	Interstate 90
Summit reference	Approximately I-90 milepost 52
Mountain range	Cascade Range
County boundary	King and Kittitas counties

The source-specific distinction is more useful than trying to force every reference to use one number. “Snoqualmie Pass” can describe a broad mountain-pass area, while WSDOT’s figure appears in the specific context of its I-90 pass report. The available evidence does not document the measurement point or dataset behind every published elevation.

For ordinary route planning, both figures place the crossing at roughly the same height. The exact number becomes more important in mapping, source attribution, or writing that distinguishes the interstate summit from the surrounding community, recreation facilities, and nearby mountain peaks.

Why published elevations differ by seven feet

WSDOT’s 3,022-foot figure is seven feet higher than the 3,015-foot elevation found in several secondary and regional descriptions. The alternate figure is not confined to one source: both the geographic entry noted above and the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust itinerary use 3,015 feet.

The evidence does not establish why the figures differ. None of the supplied sources identifies, in enough detail for comparison, all of the following:

• The exact physical point represented by each elevation.
• The survey or map dataset used.
• The applicable vertical reference.
• The date of the underlying measurement.
• Whether the number refers specifically to the highway surface, the natural pass, the settlement, or another mapped point.

Without that documentation, explanations such as rounding, pavement height, construction, survey error, or measurement at two nearby locations remain possibilities rather than established facts. They should not be presented as the reason for the discrepancy.

The small difference also should not be used to declare one figure universally correct for every feature named Snoqualmie Pass. WSDOT is the strongest source here for the interstate crossing because its pass page directly identifies the route, summit camera location, and pass-report elevation. A geographic or regional source may use a different convention without explaining that convention in its published text.

The practical editorial rule is straightforward:

1. Use 3,022 feet (921 meters) when discussing WSDOT’s I-90 summit figure.
2. Use 3,015 feet (about 919 meters) only when reporting what a source using that number says.
3. Use about 3,000 feet if the context does not require source-level precision.
4. Do not attach an unsupported cause to the seven-foot difference.

The metric figures should be handled consistently. Converting 3,015 feet and rounding to the nearest whole meter gives approximately 919 meters. One travel narrative presents both 918 and 919 meters for that elevation, but the inconsistency does not justify introducing a third meaningful elevation into the comparison. The clearest rounded conversion is about 919 meters.

For most readers, the discrepancy is primarily a matter of attribution. Both published elevations describe a Cascade crossing at approximately 3,000 feet. Neither one, standing alone, gives information about present weather, road restrictions, or recreation access.

Where Snoqualmie Pass is on I-90

Interstate 90 crosses Snoqualmie Pass through Washington’s Cascade Range. In the highway context, WSDOT identifies Snoqualmie Summit at approximately I-90 milepost 52, the same location used for its summit camera.

The pass lies on the boundary between King County and Kittitas County. Published coordinates place the geographic pass at approximately 47.4233° north and 121.4108° west. Wikipedia provides the county-boundary description and coordinates.

Those coordinates may help when comparing maps, but the route and milepost provide a more direct highway reference. Someone traveling through the Cascades on I-90 does not need to leave the interstate and follow recreational local-road directions merely to cross the pass.

A third-party travel account describes Snoqualmie Pass as roughly 52 miles east of Seattle. The account provides that broad regional orientation. It should not be interpreted as an exact driving distance from every point in Seattle. A trip beginning in downtown, West Seattle, North Seattle, or elsewhere in the metropolitan area will have a different total distance to the summit.

The distinction matters because some regional itineraries approach the pass as a sightseeing destination. Such itineraries may combine I-90 with exits and local forest roads to reach particular stops. Those directions serve the itinerary; they do not redefine the basic interstate crossing. For a through trip, the relevant orientation is I-90 through the Cascades, with the WSDOT summit reference near milepost 52.

This location information also helps separate Snoqualmie Pass from similarly named or nearby features. A map search may display the mountain pass, the census-designated community, recreation areas, trail destinations, and mountain peaks in the same general area. Their labels do not mean that they share one exact elevation.

Pass elevation, community elevation, and nearby peaks are not interchangeable

The central figure in this article is the elevation of the mountain-pass crossing, especially WSDOT’s I-90 summit reference. It should not automatically be assigned to every place or facility carrying the Snoqualmie Pass name.

The available sources do not provide enough precision to determine whether every citation of 3,015 feet represents the road surface, natural saddle, community, or another mapped point. It would therefore be inappropriate to label that figure as a documented community elevation or to use it for a particular building, trailhead, ski facility, or parking area.

Nearby mountain summits are clearly different features. MountainZone lists Snoqualmie Mountain at approximately 6,256 feet and Guye Peak at approximately 4,977 feet. Its regional recreation overview identifies both as nearby peaks. Those elevations are substantially higher than the roughly 3,000-foot pass and are not alternate measurements of it.

The noun attached to an elevation usually reveals what the number describes:

• Mountain pass elevation refers to a crossing or stated point in the pass.
• I-90 summit elevation refers to the highway context identified by WSDOT.
• Community elevation requires a source that explicitly identifies the settlement and its measurement point.
• Peak elevation refers to the top of a named mountain.
• Facility elevation may describe a lodge, ski-area base, lift terminal, parking area, or another specific site.

This distinction is especially important in recreation material. Snoqualmie Pass is presented as a gateway to ski areas and backcountry routes, so pages about the area often mention higher mountains and multiple destinations alongside the pass. A larger elevation appearing in those results does not mean the interstate reaches that height.

For a driving itinerary, WSDOT’s 3,022-foot figure is the most relevant number. For a geographic description that relies on a source listing 3,015 feet, preserve that number and identify its context. For hiking, climbing, skiing, or another destination-specific activity, consult information for the actual route or facility rather than substituting the pass elevation.

What the elevation means for trip planning

The elevation provides stable geographic context: I-90 crosses the Cascades at roughly 3,000 feet above sea level. It helps identify the mountain crossing and distinguish it from the higher peaks around it.

What the number cannot do is describe current conditions. An elevation of 3,022 feet does not establish whether precipitation is occurring, what visibility is like, whether the pavement is clear, or whether WSDOT has posted a restriction. Those are time-sensitive questions requiring current information.

The same caution applies to snow, tires, chains, and traction requirements. None should be inferred from elevation alone. A fixed geographic number cannot establish what rules or conditions will apply at the time of a particular trip.

Snoqualmie Pass serves more than one type of traveler. I-90 provides a route through the Cascades, while the surrounding area offers access to ski facilities and backcountry routes. The relevant planning information depends on the trip:

• Through drivers need current highway restrictions, reported road conditions, alerts, and travel-time information.
• Visitors stopping near the summit need to identify the particular destination and its access details.
• Backcountry travelers need information specific to their selected route and activity.
• Recreation visitors should check the relevant operator or destination rather than assuming an open interstate establishes local access or operating conditions.

A report from one earlier trip is not a reliable substitute for current data. For example, the supplied travel narrative describes weather and snow observed during a visit on January 28, 2022. Those observations document that visit only; they do not establish typical conditions or predict another day.

A concise planning sequence keeps the elevation in its proper role:

1. Use about 3,000 feet for geographic orientation.
2. Determine whether the plan is to cross the pass or stop at a specific destination.
3. Check current WSDOT information shortly before departure.
4. Consult destination-specific information separately when leaving the interstate or pursuing a recreation activity.
5. Recheck time-sensitive information if the departure time changes.

The key point is not that a particular elevation guarantees difficult conditions. It is that knowing the elevation answers a geographic question, while current transportation and destination reports answer operational questions.

Where to check current Snoqualmie Pass conditions

For current I-90 information, consult the WSDOT Snoqualmie Pass page shortly before traveling. It provides time-sensitive information that may include:

• Posted restrictions.
• Reported road conditions.
• Weather information.
• Cameras.
• Traffic alerts.
• Travel times.

WSDOT identifies its summit camera as I-90 at milepost 52: Snoqualmie Summit. The agency also says routine seasonal weather and road reporting traditionally runs from November 1 through April 1, while updates may be provided when adverse weather outside that period is expected to affect travel. Check WSDOT’s Snoqualmie Pass I-90 page for the latest available information.

These information types should be read according to their labels and timestamps. A camera image is a visual reference from an identified location; an alert may describe an incident elsewhere on a broader route segment; and a travel-time estimate may cover considerably more roadway than the summit area itself.

Because the information changes, an archived status should not be reproduced as though it remains current. The absence or presence of restrictions at one update says nothing conclusive about a later departure. Weather observations, visibility reports, forecasts, camera images, and travel times can also become outdated.

Check the page near departure rather than relying only on information viewed days earlier. If the trip is delayed, consult it again. Elevation is useful for identifying the crossing, but the current WSDOT report is the relevant source for deciding how conditions may affect an I-90 trip.

Snoqualmie Pass elevation at a glance

The essential facts are:

• WSDOT elevation: 3,022 feet, or 921 meters.
• Alternate published elevation: 3,015 feet, or approximately 919 meters.
• Difference between the published figures: Seven feet.
• Reason for the difference: Not established by the available evidence.
• Rounded elevation: About 3,000 feet above sea level.
• Route: Interstate 90 through Washington’s Cascade Range.
• WSDOT summit reference: Approximately I-90 milepost 52.
• Location: On the King–Kittitas county boundary.
• Current travel information: Check WSDOT shortly before departure.

Use the source-specific figure that matches the subject. WSDOT’s number is appropriate for its I-90 pass report, while 3,015 feet remains a published geographic and regional figure. Neither elevation is a current road report, and neither should be substituted for the elevation of a nearby peak, community site, or recreation facility.

Frequently asked questions

What is the official Snoqualmie Pass elevation?

WSDOT lists the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass summit at 3,022 feet (921 meters). That is the most authoritative figure in the supplied evidence for the highway pass report.

The word “official” still benefits from context: 3,022 feet is WSDOT’s published I-90 figure. Other geographic and regional sources list the pass at 3,015 feet, so the WSDOT number should not be described as the sole elevation for every possible feature bearing the Snoqualmie Pass name.

Why is Snoqualmie Pass also listed at 3,015 feet?

Several secondary and regional references publish 3,015 feet for Snoqualmie Pass. That is seven feet below WSDOT’s 3,022-foot figure.

The sources do not identify the exact physical point, survey, or dataset behind each number. As a result, the discrepancy cannot responsibly be attributed to rounding, construction, surveying, pavement height, or different measurement locations. The safest approach is to retain the figure used by the source being discussed.

What is Snoqualmie Pass elevation in meters?

WSDOT gives the I-90 summit elevation as 921 meters. The alternate 3,015-foot figure is approximately 919 meters when rounded to the nearest whole meter.

For an approximate description, Snoqualmie Pass is about 920 meters above sea level. For precise source attribution, use 921 meters for WSDOT’s report or about 919 meters for sources publishing the 3,015-foot figure.

What milepost is Snoqualmie Summit on I-90?

WSDOT identifies Snoqualmie Summit at approximately I-90 milepost 52. Its summit camera uses the same milepost reference.

That highway marker helps connect the summit name with WSDOT’s pass report. It should not be interpreted as an elevation marker or as the location of every destination in the wider Snoqualmie Pass area.

Where should I check current Snoqualmie Pass road conditions?

Check WSDOT’s Snoqualmie Pass I-90 page shortly before departure. It provides the relevant restrictions, reported conditions, weather information, cameras, alerts, and travel times.

Do not use the elevation or an older travel account as evidence of current conditions. The elevation is fixed, while weather, restrictions, visibility, incidents, and travel times can change.

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WSDOT reports the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass summit at 3,022 feet (921 meters), while several other references list 3,015 feet (about 919 meters). For practical travel decisions, that minor discrepancy matters less than checking WSDOT immediately before departure for current restrictions, weather, cameras, and travel times.