Tbilisi to Gudauri in winter is 120 km and, on a normal day, two and a half hours in one of our Gudauri rental cars. On a snowy day it can be four hours or a closed road. This step-by-step guide follows the Georgian Military Highway from the city to the resort at 2,200 m. It shows where to fuel up, where the climb starts and where the police check chains. It also explains how to read the weather before you leave.
Updated 28 October 2026. Prices and rules checked against our booking system on that date.
Tbilisi to Gudauri in winter, step by step
| Step | Place | Km from Tbilisi | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tbilisi, Didube side | 0 | Leave early. Fill the tank, because fuel is cheaper in the city than on the highway. |
| 2 | Mtskheta junction | 20 | Join the Georgian Military Highway. Dual carriageway for a while, then two lanes. |
| 3 | Zhinvali reservoir | 50 | Views and the Ananuri fortress. Last easy coffee stop. |
| 4 | Pasanauri | 85 | Last petrol station and khinkali before the climb. Check the road status here. |
| 5 | Kvesheti | 95 | Police control point in bad weather. Chains or 4x4 required, or the road is closed. |
| 6 | Switchbacks to Gudauri | 95-120 | The steep part. Snow stays on the road here. Slow, steady, no overtaking. |
| 7 | Gudauri | 120 | Resort at 2,200 m. Hotels are on the main road and parking is often snow-covered. |
So the trip splits in two. First a fast, flat 85 km to Pasanauri, then a slow, steep 35 km. In summer the second part takes 40 minutes. In winter, give it an hour and a half, and more if trucks are chaining up on the hairpins.
Before you leave: weather and road status
The road closes several times each winter for snow clearing or avalanche danger. Usually it is a few hours, sometimes a day. Check the forecast for Gudauri, not Tbilisi. It can rain in the city and snow heavily at 2,000 m. If it is snowing hard, leave later in the morning after the clearing crews. Or go the day before. Our team answers on WhatsApp around the clock, so ask us for the latest if you are unsure.
The car and the extras
All our cars have winter tyres in season. For Tbilisi to Gudauri in winter we still recommend a 4x4. After snowfall the police turn front-wheel-drive cars without chains back at Kvesheti, and the resort car parks are rarely cleared. Snow chains are $5 a day in the booking form. Our usual choices:
- Renault Duster, $65 a day: the most common car on this road for a reason.
- Subaru Forester, $65 a day: permanent all-wheel drive, calm on ice.
- Jeep Renegade, $65 a day: compact 4x4 with 25% off from 10 days this autumn.
- Land Cruiser Prado, $110 a day: the car for a bad-weather day, with low range for the hairpins.
The autumn discount runs for pickups until 15 December 2026. It gives 5% off from 5 days and 10% off from 10 days on all cars except the Toyota Prius (flat $35). The Mazda CX-3 and Jeep Renegade get 15% off from 5 days and 25% off from 10 days. The booking form applies it automatically. More on tyres and chains in our post on winter tyres on a rental car in Georgia.
Costs for a Gudauri weekend
A Renault Duster for three days is $195, a Forester the same, a Prado $330. Add the $20 service fee and the refundable $200 cash deposit. Tbilisi city pickup is free. Airport pickup is $30 per end, with a colleague meeting your flight at any hour. Fuel for the round trip is about 25 litres in a Duster. The prices page has the full list.
Driving the switchbacks: five habits that keep you safe
- Keep a long gap. The car in front may stop on the hairpin to fit chains.
- Use a low gear downhill on the way back, because brakes overheat on the 25 km descent to Pasanauri.
- Stay in your lane on blind corners. Trucks cut them wide.
- Do not stop in the avalanche galleries or right after them.
- If the police close the road at Kvesheti, do not try the old road or a detour. Wait, or turn back to Pasanauri.
Going beyond Gudauri? Kazbegi over the Jvari pass adds 35 km, and the pass closes more often than the resort road. Tell us your plan and we will advise. Message us on WhatsApp (+995 591 89 60 60) and we will plan a custom route with you. We suggest the right car for the roads, pickup and drop-off in different cities, and honest driving times.
Questions about Tbilisi to Gudauri in winter
How long does Tbilisi to Gudauri take in winter?
Two and a half hours on a clear day, three to four after snowfall. Leave with time to spare. Never plan to arrive after dark on a snowy day.
Is the road open every day?
No. Closures for snow clearing or avalanche control happen several times a season, usually for hours. Check before leaving and ask us on WhatsApp.
Can I pick the car up at Tbilisi Airport and drive straight to Gudauri?
Yes. Airport pickup is $30, available at any hour. After a night flight, we suggest a stop in Pasanauri or an overnight in Tbilisi before the climb.
That is the whole drive: flat to Pasanauri, then steep to the resort. A winter-ready 4x4 makes Tbilisi to Gudauri in winter an easy day.
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