If you’re an expat or K-culture fan planning your first Korea snow drive this winter, the questions that actually matter aren’t which mountain looks prettiest in photos. They’re what it costs, whether your car is even allowed on the pass, and whether the road is open today.
This guide is built for anyone driving out of Seoul toward Gangwon-do or Jeju this season, using 2026 toll figures, current chain and tire rules, and the official sites you check before leaving the driveway. By the end you’ll know roughly what a Seoul-to-Gangwon snow drive costs, which routes are worth the detour, and where Korea’s winter driving rules are headed next.
How Much Does a Korea Snow Drive Cost in 2026?
A one-way Korea snow drive from Seoul to the Gangwon coast runs roughly ₩9,000 to ₩13,000 in highway tolls for a standard sedan, before gas or parking.
The exact fare depends on which expressway you take, the Yeongdong Expressway or the newer Seoul-Yangyang Expressway, and your entry and exit points. Hi-pass users get conditional discounts of up to 50 percent on certain weekday commuter trips under 20 kilometers, though a long-distance winter trip usually doesn’t qualify for that specific discount.
| Route | Approx. distance | Approx. one-way toll (Class 1 car) |
|---|---|---|
| Seoul to Gangneung (Seoul-Yangyang Expwy) | about 230 km | ₩10,000-13,000 |
| Seoul to Pyeongchang/Daegwallyeong | about 190 km | ₩9,000-11,000 |
| Seoul to Taebaek | about 220 km | ₩9,000-12,000 |
| Jeju City to Seogwipo via 1100 Road | about 40 km | No toll (local road) |
These are estimates only. Fares change with car class and Hi-pass status, so confirm the exact number on the Korea Expressway Corporation’s fare calculator before you leave.
Do You Need Chains or Winter Tires for a Korea Snow Drive?
There’s no single nationwide law forcing every car to carry chains, but police regularly stop unequipped cars at mountain checkpoints once snow starts sticking.
Passes like Misiryeong Old Road near Seoraksan and the Daegwallyeong section of the Yeongdong Expressway are the two spots where this actually happens. If officers judge the road unsafe for summer tires, they can hold a car back until chains go on, and pushing through active snowfall on bald summer tires is treated as a safety violation, not just bad judgment.
| Option | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Winter tires (own car) | ₩400,000-800,000 per set | Frequent winter drivers, owned car |
| Snow chains (rental) | ₩20,000-30,000 per trip | Rental cars, occasional trips |
| Snow chains (purchase) | ₩50,000-150,000 | Repeat mountain driving |
If you’re renting a car for a single snow drive, ask the rental desk whether chains are included. Many Gangwon-based rental branches carry them for exactly this reason.
Where Do You Check Road Closures Before You Go?
Check three sources the morning you leave: the Korea Expressway Corporation site or app, the national UTIC traffic information portal, and live traffic on Naver Map or Kakao Map.
- ex.co.kr, expressway-specific tolls, closures, and construction alerts
- UTIC (utic.go.kr), nationwide road and weather-linked traffic control notices
- Naver Map / Kakao Map, real-time congestion and user-reported hazards, generally more current than Google Maps inside Korea
Mountain pass roads can close with only an hour or two of notice once snowfall picks up. Check again right before you get in the car, not just the night before.
Best Snow Drive Routes and Photo Points Right Now
Four routes consistently deliver the classic Korean winter look: rime-ice pines, wind turbines dusted white, and quiet two-lane roads.
- Daegwallyeong Sky Ranch area, wind turbines and sheep-farm ridgelines coated in rime ice, one of Gangwon’s most photographed winter views
- Taebaeksan, home to the annual snow flower (sanghodae) festival on the mountain’s upper slopes, usually held in January
- Misiryeong Old Road, the old pass road behind Seoraksan, with a lookout point over snow-covered ridgelines
- Jeju 1100 Road, a toll-free evergreen corridor between Jeju City and Seogwipo that regularly gets heavy snow at altitude
Cell signal thins out near Daegwallyeong’s wind farm and on parts of the Jeju 1100 Road, so download offline maps before you climb. If you want more structured guidance on winter light and camera settings, a session like the one covered in Seoul Photo Workshop 2026, Real Cost is a practical next step. Some drivers also split gas and tolls by joining weekend outing groups, the same way members organize through Seoul Film Club Cost 2026, How to Join.
Are National Park Fees Still Free in Winter 2026?
Yes. Korea removed entrance fees at all national parks nationwide starting in November 2007, and that policy is still in effect in 2026.
That means walking into Seoraksan, Odaesan, or Taebaeksan National Park to see the winter scenery costs nothing at the gate. You’ll still pay for parking, usually ₩2,000 to ₩6,000 per car, and separately for optional attractions like the Seoraksan cable car. Check the Korea National Park Service site for that day’s trail and road status before you drive up, since upper sections often close after fresh snowfall until crews clear them.
What’s Changing for Winter Driving in Korea Going Forward?
Korea’s expressway network is shifting toward Hi-pass-only tolling, so a snow drive planned without a Hi-pass unit will get harder in more sections over time.
The Korea Expressway Corporation has been rolling out multi-lane free-flow tolling, which drops cash lanes on some urban and connector sections in favor of automatic Hi-pass billing. Intercity routes used for winter trips, like the ones toward Gangwon, still keep cash lanes for now, but adding a Hi-pass unit or card before your trip is worth doing rather than after. EV and hydrogen vehicle toll discounts are also being phased down gradually, so don’t assume last year’s discount rate still applies.
FAQ
Do I need snow chains for a Korea snow drive around Seoul?
Not usually inside the city, but if you’re heading toward mountain passes like Daegwallyeong or Misiryeong, carry chains. Those roads can close to unequipped cars during heavy snow.
How much does a winter drive from Seoul to Gangwon cost in tolls?
Roughly ₩9,000 to ₩13,000 one-way for a standard sedan on the Yeongdong or Seoul-Yangyang Expressway, though the exact fare depends on your entry and exit points and Hi-pass status.
Is Jeju’s 1100 Road free to drive?
Yes, it’s a public road with no toll, but it can close temporarily during heavy snow or icing, so check road alerts before heading up in altitude.
Do national parks charge entrance fees in winter?
No. Korea removed national park entrance fees nationwide in 2007, so you only pay for parking or optional attractions like cable cars, not the entrance itself.
A Korea snow drive rewards planning more than luck: check the toll, check the chain rule, check the road, then go. Which route is on your list this winter, Daegwallyeong’s wind turbines or Jeju’s snowy 1100 Road? Let us know in the comments.
Editlab, https://editlab.luvpp.com
EDITLABPublished by EditlabA media network of 8 titles with free data tools.About the network ›
