DN7C · Fagaras
Transfagarasan: is it open?
Romania's greatest mountain road is open only a few months a year — and nobody knows the exact day in advance. Below: every season since 2015, historical odds by week, the Transalpina duel, and everything you need behind the wheel.
The road in brief
Transfagarasan · DN7C
- Curtea de Arges – Cartisoara, about 90 km of alpine hairpins
- High point: 2,042 m at the tunnel — the country's second-highest road
- Built 1970–1974, opened 20 September 1974
- Top Gear called it the world's best road in 2009
- Daytime traffic only, 07:00–21:00, on the alpine sector; no toll, but the rovigneta is required
- No fuel on the pass: fill up at Cartisoara (north) or Curtea de Arges (south)
Transalpina · DN67C
- Novaci – Sebes, about 140 km; the 1930s King's Road, paved in the late 2000s
- Urdele Pass, 2,145 m — the highest road in Romania
- Wider and more flowing than the Transfagarasan, with open alpine plateaus
- Rânca–Curpăt: maximum 30 km/h; motor vehicles with a maximum authorised mass over 3.5 tonnes are prohibited
- Typical non-stop time: about 2 h 45 (Transfagarasan: about 3 h)
Map
The route and key landmarks; positions from each landmark's coordinates. Relief: Copernicus GLO-90 model. Scale bar: 20 km.
Can I drive it in my week?
Pick a week of the year. We show in how many of the last 11 finished seasons (2015–2025) the full crossing was open — Transfagarasan and Transalpina separately.
These percentages use seasonal opening and winter-closure dates; they do not include temporary interruptions. Check the CNAIR dispatch and road signs before setting out.
Every season, 2015–2026
These dates show when the full crossings opened and closed for the season. ● marks an official statement or multiple sources; ○ marks a single archive. In 2025, CNAIR closed both alpine sections for winter from 20 October. Temporary restrictions also occurred earlier. The estimated 2026 closing dates (~1 November) are unconfirmed. Which closes first? In the 11 seasons of 2015–2025 the Transalpina closed before the Transfagarasan in 6 and on the same day in 5, never later. The median closing date is 29 October for the Transalpina and 2 November for the Transfagarasan. On 26 October the Transfagarasan was still open in 8 of the 11 years, while the Transalpina had already closed in 5. Many of these dates come from a single archive (○). They describe past seasons, not the road today; check the CNAIR dispatch before setting out.
| Year | Opened | Closing / estimate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | TF | 12 June 2026 ● | 1 November 2026 ◌ |
| 2026 | TA | 29 May 2026 ○ | 1 November 2026 ◌ |
| 2025 | TF | 6 June 2025 ● | 20 October 2025 ● |
| 2025 | TA | 6 June 2025 ● | 20 October 2025 ● |
| 2024 | TF | 7 June 2024 ● | 12 November 2024 ● |
| 2024 | TA | 1 June 2024 ● | 8 November 2024 ○ |
| 2023 | TF | 21 June 2023 ○ | 6 November 2023 ○ |
| 2023 | TA | 16 June 2023 ○ | 6 November 2023 ○ |
| 2022 | TF | 15 June 2022 ○ | 17 November 2022 ● |
| 2022 | TA | 1 June 2022 ● | 17 November 2022 ● |
| 2021 | TF | 28 June 2021 ● | 25 October 2021 ○ |
| 2021 | TA | 16 June 2021 ○ | 18 October 2021 ○ |
| 2020 | TF | 1 July 2020 ○ | 20 October 2020 ○ |
| 2020 | TA | 23 May 2020 ● | 20 October 2020 ○ |
| 2019 | TF | 29 June 2019 ○ | 4 November 2019 ○ |
| 2019 | TA | 5–6 June 2019 ● | 29 October 2019 † ○ |
| 2018 | TF | 1 July 2018 ○ | 11 November 2018 ○ |
| 2018 | TA | 16 May 2018 ○ | 20 October 2018 ○ |
| 2017 | TF | 16 June 2017 ○ | 1 November 2017 ○ |
| 2017 | TA | 26 May 2017 ○ | 23 October 2017 ○ |
| 2016 | TF | 18 June 2016 ○ | 1 November 2016 ○ |
| 2016 | TA | 11 June 2016 ○ | 1 November 2016 ○ |
| 2015 | TF | 27 June 2015 ● | 2 November 2015 ‡ ● |
| 2015 | TA | 16 May 2015 ○ | 1 November 2015 ○ |
† Announced 5 June by one source, 6 June by another.
‡ Closed 2 November. The DN7C rules set the closure for 1 November; CNADNR, the national roads company at the time, postponed it by one day.
Transfagarasan or Transalpina?
Short answer: the Transfagarasan is the show, the Transalpina is the drive. Both are worth it — with one day, pick by what you want.
| Highest point | 2,042 m (tunnel) | 2,145 m (Urdele) — national record |
|---|---|---|
| Character | Tight hairpins, walls, tunnel | Wide curves, open plateaus |
| Non-stop time | About 3 h | About 2 h 45 |
| Crowds | Heavy in July–August | More breathing room |
| When closed | Ends: Piscu Negru / Balea Waterfall + cable car | Check Novaci–Rânca access separately |
| First time? | If you want the legend | If you want the drive |
Altitude profile
Schematic, not a survey. Marked altitudes are verified; the rest is illustrative.
Driving: what you need to know
The Balea cable car
When the road is closed, Balea Lake (2,034 m) is reachable only by cable car from Balea Waterfall (3.7 km). It runs daily about 09:00–17:00, fixed departures, minimum 10 people; stops in bad weather. The 2026 timetable wasn't public when researched — call first: +40 725 210 610.
Bears
Don't feed or follow bears; feeding is illegal and fined. At an encounter: keep distance, don't run, call 112.
Help
Mountain rescue (Salvamont): 0725 826 668 or 112 (with GPS position). Nearest big ER is Sibiu; southward, Pitesti / Curtea de Arges.
Rules
Transfagarasan (DN7C): CNAIR lists the alpine section for 07:00–21:00 while it is open. Transalpina (DN67C): CNAIR lists Ranca–Obarsia Lotrului for 09:00–18:00 from 26 September 2026; the record checked on 16 October is valid through 31 October at 18:00. Weather may restrict access or close the road temporarily. Check the dispatch and road signs before setting out; a published schedule does not confirm the road is open on your travel day. The rovigneta is mandatory; the Balea Tunnel (~885 m) is unlit. On Rânca–Curpăt (km 34+800–79+200), motor vehicles with a maximum authorised mass over 3.5 tonnes are prohibited; the speed limit is 30 km/h. The mass restriction was rechecked on 19 October 2026.
Closed? From the south you get to Piscu Negru / Capra gate, from the north to Balea Waterfall — then the cable car to the lake.
If the alpine section is closed, check access from Novaci towards Rânca separately. This lower road is outside Rânca–Curpăt; do not assume it is open or that old 7.5-tonne notices apply on your travel day.
Official live status: the CNAIR dispatch — dispecerat.andnet.ro, +40 21 264.33.33, 0800 800.301.
On dispecerat.andnet.ro, use your browser’s find (Ctrl+F or ⌘F) and type DN7C for the Transfagarasan or DN67C for the Transalpina. DN7CC is a different road near Jiblea.
DN7C status checked on 31 October 2026
At the 31 October 2026 check, 18:26 Romanian time, the CNAIR dispatch reports two weather-related closures. On DN7C, Bâlea Lac–Bâlea Cascadă, km 108+000–130+800, has been closed since 27 October at 18:00. On DN67C, Rânca–Obârșia Lotrului, km 34+800–59+800, has been closed to all motor vehicles since 31 October at 14:00. The records are valid through 2 November at 21:00 for DN7C and 14:00 for DN67C; these deadlines do not confirm reopening. For DN7C, CNAIR says reopening or closure for winter depends on the weather and a prior road-safety inspection. Do not enter the closed sections; check the dispatch and road signs again before travelling.
What the CNAIR dispatch showed on 16 October 2026
DN7C · PISCUL NEGRU (AG) - BALEA CASCADA (SB) · km 104+000–130+800
2026-06-12 12:00 → 2026-10-20 23:00
On 16 October, the CNAIR dispatch listed 07:00–21:00 for DN7C between Piscu Negru and Balea Cascada and marked the record valid through 20 October at 23:00. The record expiry does not confirm the section is open or closed. Check current status before setting out.
Official wording (in Romanian)
Transfagarasanul s-a deschis astazi, 12.06.2026, incepand cu ora 12.00 : DN7C , sectorul cuprins intre Piscu Negru (km 104+000) si Balea Cascada (km 130+800), intre orele 07.00-21.00.
Pentru asigurarea sigurantei circulatiei rutiere si a participantilor la trafic, in intervalul orar 21.00-07.00, circulatia pe Transfagarasan este inchisa.
DN67C · RANCA (GJ) - CURPAT (SB) · km 34+800–79+200
2026-05-29 09:00 → 2026-10-31 18:00
The CNAIR DN67C entry for Ranca–Curpat (km 34+800–79+200) was valid through 31 October at 18:00. For Ranca–Obarsia Lotrului, it lists 09:00–18:00 from 26 September. Weather may bring temporary restrictions or closures; the entry’s validity does not confirm access on your travel day. On Rânca–Curpăt the speed limit is 30 km/h, and motor vehicles with a maximum authorised mass over 3.5 tonnes are prohibited. The restriction was rechecked on 19 October 2026.
Official wording (in Romanian)
Incepand cu data de 29 mai 2026, s-a redeschis circulatia rutiera pe DN 67C - Transalpina, pe sectorul cuprins intre Ranca/GJ si Curpat/SB, in urma verificarii si receptiei sectorului de drum de catre o comisie formata din reprezentantii CNAIR, DRDP Craiova si DRDP Cluj. Mentionam ca limita de viteza va fi de 30 km/h, iar accesul autovehiculelor cu masa totala maxima autorizata mai mare de 3,5 este interzis.
Mentionam ca pe timp de noapte circulatia rutiera va fi inchisa, fiind deschisa pe zi astfel: -in perioada 29 mai - 30 iunie 2026, circulatia va fi permisa in intervalul orar 09:00 - 20:00 -in perioada 1 iulie - 31 august 2026, circulatia va fi permisa in intervalul orar 07:00 - 21:00. - Avand in vedere conditiile meteorologice nefavorabile (ploi, lapovita si ninsori) la altitudini de peste 1500 m, se modifica programul de circulatie pe timp de zi, intre Ranca si Obarsia Lotrului incepand cu data de 26.09.2026, circulatia rutiera va fi permisa in intervalul orar: 09:00 - 18:00. Participantii la trafic sunt obligati sa respecte semnalizarea rutiera instituita si restrictiile de circulatie existente pe acest sector de drum montan. In functie de conditiile meteorologice, circulatia rutiera poate fi restrictionata temporar sau inchisa pentru siguranta participantilor la trafic.Circulata rutiera este inchisa pe timpul noptii pe DN 67C Transalpina, din cauze obiective care tin de specificul acestei zone montane aflate la mare altitudine. Respectarea acestor restrictii este obligatorie pentru evitarea unor evenimente periculoase.
Questions
Is the Transfagarasan open now?
It depends on the date: the full crossing is usually open from June into late October. Check the planner above for historical odds and the CNAIR dispatch (dispecerat.andnet.ro) for today's status.
When does the Transfagarasan open in 2026?
On 12 June 2026, per CNAIR. Historically, openings fell between 6 June and 1 July.
Can I drive the Transfagarasan in October?
In the 2015–2025 table, the earliest listed seasonal closure is 18 October for the Transalpina in 2021. In 2025, CNAIR closed both alpine sections for winter from 20 October. Temporary restrictions can begin earlier; check the dispatch and forecast before setting out.
Is there snow on the Transfagarasan in July?
Possible: snowbanks linger near the top in early July, and weather at 2,000 m turns fast. Bring warm layers even in August.
Can you drive it at night?
On the Transfagarasan, CNAIR lists 07:00–21:00 for the alpine section while it is open. On the Transalpina, it lists 09:00–18:00 from 26 September 2026 for Ranca–Obarsia Lotrului. Weather may cause temporary closures; check CNAIR before setting out.
Can I bring a motorhome, caravan or trailer?
On the Transalpina, the current CNAIR dispatch (dispecerat.andnet.ro) prohibits motor vehicles with a maximum authorised mass over 3.5 tonnes on Rânca–Curpăt (DN67C, km 34+800–79+200). Check the maximum authorised mass in the vehicle documents, rather than its weight on the day. Novaci–Rânca is a separate lower section; old notices giving a 7.5-tonne limit do not authorise an alpine crossing. The notice does not specify how the limit applies to a towing combination. Before travelling with a motorhome, caravan or trailer, confirm the restrictions for your intended route with CNAIR and follow the signs.
Can you cycle it?
Yes — it's ridden legally, and the area hosts races (Tour of Sibiu). Weekend traffic and the unlit tunnel demand lights and strong nerves.
Which direction is prettier: north or south?
Both have fans; the classic is south → north: Vidraru Dam (166 m, 1966), Poenari Fortress (≈1,480 steps), then the climb to Balea. From the north you reach the lake and tunnel fast.
How long does the crossing take?
About 3 hours non-stop on the Transfagarasan, 2 h 45 on the Transalpina — but nobody does them non-stop. Allow a full day with Poenari and Balea.
Transfagarasan or Transalpina?
Legend and spectacle: Transfagarasan. Pure driving and smaller crowds: Transalpina. With two days, do both: they're about 3 hours apart.
What if I find the barrier closed?
Closed? From the south you get to Piscu Negru / Capra gate, from the north to Balea Waterfall — then the cable car to the lake. If the alpine section is closed, check access from Novaci towards Rânca separately. This lower road is outside Rânca–Curpăt; do not assume it is open or that old 7.5-tonne notices apply on your travel day.
Do I need a vignette or pay a toll?
No crossing toll, but the rovigneta is mandatory on both national roads. Fines are automatic, by camera.
Sources
- CNAIR — opening/closing statements (via Agerpres, Digi24, Radio Targu Jiu)
- CNAIR — official seasonal-closure statement of 20 October 2025, reproduced by AGERPRES
- romaniatourism.com — Transfagarasan / Transalpina season archive
- M-tii Fagaras — Balea cable car + webcam
- Reuters — bear feeding fines (Aug 2026)
- CNAIR — 28 May 2026 Rânca–Curpăt communiqué, republished by AGERPRES
- CNAIR dispatch — DN7C and DN67C record validity, checked 26 October 2026