Switzerland • Central Switzerland
Susten Pass Scenic Drive (2026): Road Status, Route & Practical Tips
The Susten Pass links Innertkirchen in Canton Bern with Wassen in Canton Uri and climbs to 2,224 m. Use this page for the route logic, road-status context and practical planning notes - not a made-up fixed stop count.
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Editorially reviewed: September 14, 2026 · Status snapshot updated: October 16, 2026
Visitor Snapshot
Use this quick summary to decide whether the Susten fits your actual route day.
- Route
- Innertkirchen ↔ Wassen
- Summit
- 2,224 m
- Best bases
- Meiringen, Innertkirchen, Andermatt
Status snapshot · checked October 16, 2026
Road status checked:
At that check, TCS listed the Susten as open to all vehicles with no night-closure note, as on October 10, 11 and 13; on October 9 TCS had marked it closed to all vehicles between 18:00 and 08:00 for safety reasons, which shows how quickly the status changes in October. The Grimsel and the Nufenen were listed as open to all vehicles; the Furka was listed as closed to all vehicles until 08:00 that morning, with TCS noting that it is closed between 18:00 and 08:00 for safety reasons, as on October 9. The Gotthard Pass road was listed as open to all vehicles, as on October 11 and 13; on October 9 and 10 TCS had still marked it closed with only an expired overnight-closure note attached, so its status could not be confirmed then. Pass roads can close again at short notice, so check TCS and Kanton Uri before you drive and keep the Gotthard road tunnel as the fallback. The standing 32 t limit between Wassen and Innertkirchen still applies, and TCS gives the usual winter closure of the Susten as November to June. Kanton Uri’s media releases (newest item October 13, 2026) contained no winter-closure announcement, but the closure is set at short notice: in 2025 Uri closed the Susten at 08:00 on October 27, announcing it the same day. Kanton Uri said the single-lane, signal-controlled works at the Untere Rässeggbach bridge would last until mid-October 2026; at our October 16 check Uri had not published an end-of-works notice, so expect the traffic lights until it does. This is a dated snapshot, not live data; check TCS again on the morning you drive.
This snapshot is older than 24 hours. Use the authoritative links below before relying on it.
Check current conditions: TCS pass portal · Kanton Uri road map
Quick Answer
- ✓The Susten is a free cantonal pass road; normal motorway-vignette rules still apply on motorways used to reach it.
- ✓It connects Innertkirchen and Wassen and reaches 2,224 m.
- ✓It reopened for the 2026 season on June 12; that date does not establish today's condition.
- ✓Use TCS and Kanton Uri for current status and restrictions before a through-drive or multi-pass loop.
What makes Susten worth doing separately
Switzerland Tourism describes the Susten as the link between the Reuss Valley at the foot of the Gotthard and the Hasli Valley in the Bernese Oberland, joining Wassen in Uri with Innertkirchen in Bern. It is also one of the first Alpine pass roads purpose-built for motor traffic, which is why the engineering and tunnel sequence still feel distinctive today.
The reason to drive Susten is the road itself: the climb through valleys and tunnels, the high-mountain scenery near the summit, and the fact that it connects cleanly into other major Swiss road-trip hubs. It is not a route that needs inflated stop lists to justify itself.
If you are choosing between Susten and a long overstuffed loop, Susten works best as a focused pass drive with enough time for weather, photos and a flexible turnaround plan.
Best direction: west to east
West to east is a very practical direction if you are starting in the Bernese Oberland, Meiringen or Innertkirchen and want to finish near Andermatt or the Gotthard corridor. East to west is equally reasonable if Andermatt is your base and you want the pass as a day out.
The real planning question is not scenic purity. It is what you want to connect on either side. The west side links naturally with Grimsel planning. The east side links naturally with Gotthard, Oberalp and the Uri network.
- Start from the side that makes your overnight logistics simplest.
- Keep the day flexible enough to turn back or reroute if the weather closes in.
- If you are attempting a multi-pass day, confirm the status of every pass separately before leaving.
Key stops on the Susten Pass drive
Keep the stops realistic and route-based. The best Susten day normally includes a valley fuel or coffee stop, one or two scenic pauses on the climb, and the summit itself.
- Innertkirchen or Wassen: fuel, snacks and a final weather check before the climb.
- Gadmen or the Meien Valley sections: good places for short scenic pauses without inventing a major detour.
- Susten summit area: the essential pass-top stop.
- Steingletscher area: worthwhile only if current parking and trail conditions look straightforward on your day.
If the weather is poor, keep it simple and treat Susten as a pure drive rather than forcing extra stops that will not add much in cloud or rain.
Practical tips: fuel, parking, and weather
The Susten Pass itself is a public road with no separate entry charge. If you use Swiss motorways on the approach, the normal Swiss motorway vignette rules apply. The official vignette price is CHF 40.
Current status for Susten, Furka, Grimsel and Gotthard is maintained on our Swiss pass opening dates page, updated through the season.
Fuel before you climb. Treat Innertkirchen, Wassen or Andermatt as your service points rather than assuming anything useful exists on the pass road itself.
The Susten Pass reopened for the 2026 season on June 12. That milestone does not establish today's road condition; check the current status before committing to the drive.
Even after reopening, high-mountain weather can erase the value of the drive for a few hours at a time. If the forecast is poor, wait, shorten the day or switch to a lower route rather than pushing through just because the pass is technically open.
Best bases for the Susten Pass drive
Andermatt is the strongest base. It sits about 20 minutes south of the Wassen exit, up the Reuss valley and through the Schöllenen Gorge, and gives you access to four major passes: Susten, Furka, Gotthard, and Oberalp. Accommodation ranges from traditional mountain inns to the upscale Chedi hotel. Book early in summer.
Meiringen, on the west approach, is a quieter and less expensive option. It is a genuine Swiss working town — no tourist inflation, good parking, and a calm atmosphere after a long driving day.
Interlaken (about an hour west of the pass summit) works if you are already based in the Bernese Oberland and treating Susten as a day trip. The drive from Interlaken to Innertkirchen through Meiringen is itself a pleasant valley road.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Susten Pass free to drive?
Yes. The pass road itself has no separate entry fee. If you used Swiss motorways to reach it, the normal motorway vignette rules still apply.
When does the Susten Pass open each year?
There is no fixed annual opening day. In 2026 the Susten Pass reopened on June 12; always confirm current status with TCS or Kanton Uri before driving.
Can I combine Susten with Furka and Grimsel in one day?
Yes, but only if all three passes are confirmed open and the weather is stable. At our check on October 16, 2026, TCS listed the Grimsel and the Susten as open to all vehicles with no night-closure note, but the Furka as closed to all vehicles until 08:00 that morning, with a note that it is closed between 18:00 and 08:00 for safety reasons, as on October 9; on October 10, 11 and 13 all three had been listed as open, so check TCS on the morning you drive. Do not assume a classic loop works just because one of the roads has reopened.
Where does the Susten Pass connect?
It links Innertkirchen in Canton Bern with Wassen in Canton Uri.
Is the Susten suitable for nervous drivers?
It is a paved, well-engineered high pass, but it is still a mountain road with tunnels, weather changes and exposure. If you dislike those conditions, pick a clear-weather day or skip it.
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