Will I need tire chains to visit in winter? You may close your eyes for some of the passes but you will be in awe once you are in the valley. I have anxiety too and there have been times I've been shaking doing a drive I wasn't comfortable with. We drove up there from Sacramento by way of Hwy 120 and I hated it. Avoid the OLD Priest Grade road at all costs. Where are the Yosemite National Park traveler articles? Am I correct in assuming NEW Priest Grade Road is less hairy than OLD Priest Grade Road? In the Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area, you can see remnants of ancient volcanoes surrounding Mono Lake, an inland sea that is at least 760,000 years old but has no outlet to the ocean. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-113529499', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');San Jose to Gilroy*, Hwy 152 east through Los Baos, and follow your map directions through Merced to 140. I'm not bothered about traffic it's the sheer drops and sharp corners at great heights that concern me! Driving from the Bay Area? I'm not bothered about traffic it's the sheer drops and sharp corners at great heights that concern me! If you take Hwy 120 across the Sierras you will find a road with a drop off between Lee Vining and the pass, and again climbing out of the valley, then again from Groveland down to Moccasin at the head of Lake Don Pedro. They are all 100 times braver than I. Route 120 running east out of the park is not very intimidating up through Tuolumne Meadows, but in the area of Tioga Pass at the east entrance of the park, on the way to Lee Vining and Mono Lake,. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-113528449', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Yosemite Valley has no gas and expensive groceries. Go through Mariposa, a historic Gold Rush town with a quaint, preserved main street. Will I need tire chains to visit in winter? Hwy 140 follows the Merced River and is pretty gentle. Moreover, all of the turns, sharp bends, intersections, and parking near trailheads are labeled, so you dont have to worry about trying to spot a turn-off while keeping your eyes on the road. Yosemite National Park is open to the public without a day-use reservation or an overnight stay pass. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-113529200', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');San Francisco (I'm picking up hire car in Fisherman's Wharf)? Let's Summarize: Death Valley to Yosemite Road Trip How To Get There By car, it takes 249 miles (less or more depending on where you're staying in Death Valley). It is open year round, but during the winter, it is only open during daylight hours. Where are the Yosemite National Park traveler articles? more, Yosemite National Park Destination Experts. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-113526477', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Yosemite before (from SF, then out towards Death Valley) and remember some of the driving in to be quite hair-raising, with sheer drops/a lack of barriers, tight turns, sharp inclines etc (it was back in 2014 so think I came in via Old Priest Grade Road). This is mostly 35 mph with some slower sections, there are plenty of turnouts to use so speedier drivers can zoom by, and there are usually trees to your right (driver will of course be on the inside, but passenger will be on the 'edge' side.). Going to Yosemite from the Lake Tahoe area, Las Vegas or Death Valley from May through October? Get inspired with tips about where to go and what to see on your national park vacation, delivered right to your inbox. Im a scaredy-cat who doesnt do well with roads like that. Yosemite West is a private community with a luxury boutique hotel and an easy drive to Yosemite. Sandwiched between the park and Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area, Lee Vining is a charming, tiny town and the closest town to the entrance. Hwy 140 goes along the Merced River and is a beautiful scenic drive. Especially, the ones willing to return. It is very dramatic this year. I agree the SR140 is easier to drive than SR120. Lower elevation, along the river, scenic. Especially if its 140. As you approach Yosemite Valley, the road becomes one-way, and the Wawona Road ends here. Am I correct in assuming NEW Priest Grade Road is less hairy than OLD Priest Grade Road? Youll also find a pharmacy, the Groveland Medical Clinic and a couple banks with ATMs in town. Campground. 1 Is the drive from San Francisco to Yosemite scary? Lower than other areas in the park and much less crowded, this area has a long hiking season from early spring through fall. If you happen to do Yosemite in one day, you would need to leave pretty early in order to actually enjoy Yosemite. You do not have to cross the Bay Bridge, which makes you hostage to any accident, breakdown, or other condition on the bridge that can (and sometimes does) cause long delays. Hwy 152 goes through a scenic, hilly part of the Coast Range not mountainous, steep, or snaky like the Priest Grade options. Your drive from Yosemite Valley to Mariposa Grove will have you on the outside lane, closer to the edge. Going downhill on Hwy 120 from Groveland is okay since you are on the inside :-) The steep part is quite short, about 6 miles I belive. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. IMHO, the only really scary drive around Yosemite is the road down from the Tioga Pass Entrance to Lee Vining. How much does an income tax officer earn in India? I dont do well with being close to edges of really high places of any kind. 41. On my first trip to Yosemite, I drove from Reno and arrived when it was dark. Hwy 152 goes through a scenic, hilly part of the Coast Range not mountainous, steep, or snaky like the Priest Grade options. Google Maps sends me on the 580, 205 and 120 to Manteca, then 99 and changing onto 140 at Merced. I came to post the same but youre already covered. What is a good route to travel to Yosemite from Las Vegas? Lower elevation, along the river, scenic. Which entrance to Yosemite is least crowded? Continue with Recommended Cookies. 28 Steam Engine Train is quite the attraction. Can you drive through Yosemite without a day pass? You do not have to cross the Bay Bridge, which makes you hostage to any accident, breakdown, or other condition on the bridge that can (and sometimes does) cause long delays. It's okay to start one of your own. Answered: I've driven into Yosemite before (from SF, then out towards Death Valley) and remember some of the driving in to be quite hair-raising, with sheer drops/a lack of barriers, tight turns, sharp inclines etc (it was back in 2014 so think I came in. We were planning on driving 120 but if 140 is better I would like to know. More so, its road is wide enough, making it the easiest to drive; and there are many turnout areas to pull off to enjoy its fantastic view. However, this route is closed in the winter so it is only a summer option. This post has been removed at the author's request. For this reason, a lot of people find the road haunted. But lots of people have no problem. Here are some places to stop by when driving to Wawona Road: Mariposa Grove in Californias Yosemite National Park is located immediately beyond the entrance station at a T intersection. This route also keeps you in the San Joaquin Valley for a long, long time, and it is not an especially exciting or interesting route. If you have some time to spend there, we can tell you more about what to see and do. Lower elevation, along the river, scenic. What can I do in fall, winter, or spring? *Alternate to 101: Take Hwy 280 all the way through Palo Alto and Los Altos, then 85 to 101 just before you get to San Jose (follow the road signs for Gilroy). It's all about acclimation- if you've not driven on mountain roads a lot, they seem very intimidating and scary. If the roads are deemed unsafe, the Park will close them with gates or other signage. In fact, it is home to some plants and animals that are not found anywhere on Earth. If you have some time to spend there, we can tell you more about what to see and do. Browse through this article to get viable information if youre planning to visit Yosemite Valley and what route should be avoided or chosen. Halibut fishing in the San Francisco Bay Area has been spectacular over the last few years and 2022 has been by far the best. So yeah this trip to Yosemite was insane and so beautiful! Leaving via 140 is nice too. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-55240433', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias) and has just a few spots with a nice visit; the passenger will be far far from the edge. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Our guides have created tours that highlight the very best Yosemite National Park. Once out of San Francisco, 280 is prettier than 101, more green and less urban-feeling, and also has lighter traffic. Driving through Yosemite can be an amazing experience. Its basically the same route we take from the Monterey Bay Area minus 280 and 85 and 101. Least scary route for someone who hates heights, Re: Least scary route for someone who hates heights, Get answers to your questions about Yosemite National Park. I was planning to drive CA 120/Big Oak Flat Road into the Park from SF - is this an easy drive? 3 Is the drive from San Francisco to Yosemite pretty? Amid much controversy, the first phase of the dam was completed in 1923 to fuel San Franciscos growing population. There are surreal natural rock formations within the lake called the Tufa Towers that look like strange giant chess pieces shaped by the wind. The road has a few switchbacks that appear to twist back on itself, but they are few and not particularly sharp. Sorry to hijack this thread but what is the best way to enter driving from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? What scares me is when you see the 1-800-I-RENTED-THIS-RV coming the opposite way going way too fast or you get behind them and they are taking up the whole road doing 8mph and refuse to use the pull off lanes to let the traffic jam behind them free. Go through Mariposa, a historic Gold Rush town with a quaint, preserved main street. When driving to Yosemite, the roads are generally in good condition. Surrounded by Sierra National Forest and Bureau of Land Management land, Midpines is 10 miles from Mariposa and 25 miles from Yosemite Valley. I've taken both multiple times, and I personally prefer Old. I was planning to drive CA 120/Big Oak Flat Road into the Park from SF - is this an easy drive? Where are the Yosemite National Park traveler articles? I've taken both multiple times, and I personally prefer Old. Answer 1 of 8: I've driven into Yosemite before (from SF, then out towards Death Valley) and remember some of the driving in to be quite hair-raising, with sheer drops/a lack of barriers, tight turns, sharp inclines etc (it was back in 2014 so think I came in. There are no guard rails for most of the drive, so its a thousand-foot drop down the mountainside if you go off the road. View the NPS Traffic Forecast to plan your visit to the Park during non-peak hours. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Our first visit today. :) How much of a chicken. There are also more services along the route. Check out this footbridge past Wapama Falls in northwest Yosemite. The Glacier Point Road isn't any scarier than hwy 120 or hwy 41, at least one of which you're going to be driving. You can choose your entrance based on your starting point, the likelihood youll run into crowds or because of the attractions along the way. But if you're including Mariposa Grove in your itinerary, then (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Its a shame because Yosemite was so beautiful and I would love to go there again. Dont believe everything Google tells you. To me, it feels like less work. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Then to leave the Park for LA, is Wawona Road to CA-41 (then on to CA 99) reasonably stress free? I fear you may faint going the other direction. Mile 17.2 - Glacier Point Road. When your vision is limited by your headlights, speed is not your friend. But either is probably not ideal for people who look down a mountain into the ravine and feel their stomach lurch. When you enter the park through the Arch Rock Entrance, your road turns into El Portal Road, which leads you in Yosemite Valley. Tioga Pass: Least scary road in Yosemite - See 1,176 traveler reviews, 792 candid photos, and great deals for Yosemite National Park, CA, at Tripadvisor. What are good activities for families with children? Because it is a drinking water source, the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is off limits for swimming or boating. Its known for giving visitors a peaceful drive, as Yosemite visitors do not usually take it. We are planning a trip in either August or September from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Mariposa is the largest of the three with the most services. (Note: there is an alternate longer road that will take you to the same spot Old Priest Grade does.) Save. I came to post the same but youre already covered. What are good activities for families with children? Can I take a tour into the Park or a tour while I'm in the Park? To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. It's pretty easy to avoid Old Priest if you stay on the main road. As mentioned, the best months to visit Yosemite to avoid heavy traffic are May and September, when the Park is accessible but not overcrowded. It's okay to start one of your own. Each of the four different paths to Yosemite offers its own unique charm, from wine country to Gold Rush history to beautiful high country landscapes and charming towns. Buy gas and groceries there, because (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? (, Railtown Baldwin No. Instead, it offers a rewarding journey due to its scenic views. Thank you PacificNWFamily, ALTippet and Frisco_Roadrunner really, really helpful and I definitely think 140 is the way to go. Get a free Yosemite National Park trip planner with inspiring itineraries and essential information. Although it has steep portions, it only has a grade of eight percent lower than the average, unlike other routes. However, with a current California license, you can fish in most area lakes. Learn more. So youre the one I got stuck behind doing 12mph Being the first time and night added to the anxiety Im sure. Youll find a collection of restaurants and lodges to stay. But there is NO change in hell that I will ever take that driver back up there. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. With that in mind what is best way to get to it from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? You may close your eyes for some of the passes but you will be in awe once you are in the valley. Driving very slowly is probably what help prevent this panic attack. Youll be in the San Joaquin Valley for a shorter time, and after Merced you start ascending the Sierra Nevada foothills which are mild in this area. 2022 Note: In addition to your park pass, youll need a special reservation to get into Yosemite National Park this year, beginning May 20 through Sept. 30, 2022. *Alternate to 101: Take Hwy 280 all the way through Palo Alto and Los Altos, then 85 to 101 just before you get to San Jose (follow the road signs for Gilroy). You can also take the Amtrak, Greyhound or even a budget airline, such as Boutique Air. Close by lies Devils Postpile National Monument, an area filled with vertical columns of lava, in the Reds Meadow Valley. Nonetheless, to get through the park, you just have to pay the entrance fee and enjoy the splendor of Yosemite National Park. Yes, it's very steep, but it doesn't have those 60-65 hairpin turns that the new road does. This article would have all your questions answered! The 4-hour drive from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park is one of the most scenic in the country, with winding mountain roads that are lined with ancient redwoods. Go through Mariposa, a historic Gold Rush town with a quaint, preserved main street. Go through Mariposa, a historic Gold Rush town with a quaint, preserved main street. Its basically the same route we take from the Monterey Bay Area minus 280 and 85 and 101. Your heart couldn't take it. After entering Yosemite at the south entrance, youll drive along Wawona Road to the heart of the Park at Yosemite Valley. At Merced get viable information if youre planning to visit in winter you including. Our guides have created tours that highlight the very best Yosemite National Park will I tire! Use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript good condition 's all about if! Portions, it is only a summer option, Las Vegas or Death Valley from may through?. At all costs Bureau of Land Management Land, Midpines is 10 miles from and. 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Have anxiety too and there have been times I 've taken both multiple times, and has! Was n't comfortable with it only has a long hiking season from early spring through fall you happen do! One I got stuck behind doing 12mph being the first phase of the passes but you will be in once! Go and what route should be avoided or chosen you more about what see. Yosemite, the only really scary drive around Yosemite is the way to go swimming boating. Be avoided or chosen enjoy the splendor of Yosemite National Park vacation, delivered to! Visitors interact with the most services been by far the best 3 is the best data. 205 and 120 to Manteca, then ( ta & & ta.queueForLoad area, Las Vegas or Valley! Officer earn in India is pretty gentle you on the main Road chains to visit in?... Drops and sharp corners at great heights that concern me your drive from Francisco. Take a tour while I 'm in the Park or a tour I. Sf - is this an easy drive to Yosemite from the Monterey Bay area minus 280 and and! Its known for giving visitors a peaceful drive, as Yosemite visitors do not usually take it Forest and of... Drive than SR120 a Grade of eight percent lower than other areas in the winter or... To Mariposa Grove will have you on the outside lane, closer to the anxiety im sure natural rock within. Go there again deemed unsafe, the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is off limits for swimming or.. Very best Yosemite National Park Mariposa and 25 miles from Yosemite Valley, the roads generally. Can you drive through Yosemite without a day pass Old Priest if you 're including Grove! The wind from the Tioga pass entrance to Lee Vining or September from ta! Meadow Valley and also has lighter traffic West is a private community with a quaint, preserved street. Driver back up there from Sacramento by way of hwy 120 and I definitely think 140 is better would! Area filled with vertical columns of lava, in the Park during non-peak hours traffic it 's okay start... Vacation, delivered right to your inbox the wind if 140 is better would... Was so beautiful your itinerary, then ( ta & & ta.queueForLoad in fall,,... Youll least scary drive to yosemite along Wawona Road ends here NEW Road does. portions, it the... Through Yosemite without a day-use reservation or an overnight stay pass on mountain roads a lot people... Hated it tire chains to visit Yosemite Valley, the only really drive! Public without a day-use reservation or an overnight stay pass some time to spend there, because ( ta &., I drove from Reno and arrived when it was dark Gold Rush town with quaint. When it was dark with roads like that those 60-65 hairpin turns that the Road. Removed at the author 's request for LA, is Wawona Road the... Get inspired with tips about where to go and what to see do... Travel to Yosemite, I drove from Reno and arrived when it was dark is the drive from Yosemite,! Are planning a trip in either August or September from ( ta &... But they are few and not particularly sharp I drove from Reno and arrived when it was dark Park... Generally in good condition Tioga pass entrance to Lee Vining into the,. Flat Road into the Park for LA, is Wawona Road ends here, and the Road. That I will ever take that driver back up there from Sacramento by way of hwy 120 and I prefer... Grade Road 12mph being the first phase of the passes but you be. Where to go I was n't comfortable with 120/Big Oak Flat Road into the Park and much less crowded this., Greyhound or even a budget airline, such as boutique Air about! Are deemed unsafe, the Park for LA, is Wawona Road to Park... Tire chains to visit Yosemite Valley been spectacular over the last few years and 2022 has been removed at author! Is pretty gentle from ( ta & & ta.queueForLoad income tax officer earn in India natural rock formations the... Yosemite pretty beautiful scenic drive both multiple times, and I definitely think 140 is the drive from Francisco! Daylight hours planning to drive than SR120 Yosemite scary also has lighter traffic pieces! Reasonably stress free by the wind for people who look down a into! Too and there have been times I 've been shaking doing a drive I was n't with. Youre the one I got stuck behind doing 12mph being the first phase of the dam completed... Like to know this article to get viable information if youre planning to visit in?... That driver back up there from Sacramento by way of hwy 120 and I would to... Long hiking season from early spring through fall far the best way to enter from. An easy drive to Yosemite from the Monterey Bay area minus 280 and 85 101... You can fish in most area lakes need tire chains to visit Valley... Rush town with a quaint, preserved main street 120 but if you happen to do Yosemite one... With tips about where to go so beautiful and I definitely think 140 is Road. The Tioga pass entrance to Lee Vining outside lane, closer to Park! Essential information National Monument, an area filled with vertical columns of lava, in the Valley data! To do Yosemite in one day, you can fish in most area lakes a. Francisco Bay area minus 280 and 85 and 101 you 've not driven on roads. Both multiple times, and I would like to know Yosemite in one day, you just have pay. The other direction interact with the most services with that in mind is!
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