The last few miles of the road to the point make Hwy 120 seem like a walk in the park. There are five entrances into Yosemite National Park, and the road to each of them offers unique sights to see along the way. One time I was driving down a dirt road with no way to turn around and I had to back up my truck with my friends letting me know whether or not I was going to go over the edge. Try doing it in the summer when there are . But there is NO change in hell that I will ever take that driver back up there. How do I get to Yosemite using public transportation? And you are also on the mountain side going east to west. Browse all 20,036 Yosemite National Park topics , http://www.tripadvisor.com/help/how_to_edit_your_posts, 1/13/23 - Masks Again Required Inside Yosemite Buildings/Bus, Definitely bring tire chains this MLK Weekend 2023. Yes, it's very steep, but it doesn't have those 60-65 hairpin turns that the new road does. Lets take a look at the options for making the drive so that you can plan out your Yosemite road trip. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-113526595', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Wawona Road (to Mariposa Grove), out the South Entrance, down Hwy 41, and on to Hwy 99 works fine. I have anxiety too and there have been times I've been shaking doing a drive I wasn't comfortable with. But lots of people have no problem. All you have to do is drive, listen and soak in the scenery. Depending on snow conditions, it usually closes in November for the winter and spring. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Members who are extremely knowledgeable about this destination and answer travellers questions frequently. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. I've driven into (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? 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,. The towns 1854 courthouse is the oldest continuously operating courthouse west of the Rockies, and the Smithsonian Institute has named the Mariposa Museum and History Center one of the best small museums in America. Whats wrong with the drive? Continue with Recommended Cookies. 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. Hwy 41 exits at the South Entrance (near (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? For directions, take US-395 for its many attractions from Death Valley to Yosemite . Its usually not crowded during early mornings. Where do we stayInside the park or outside the park? This tunnel offers a panoramic view of Yosemite Valley, including Half Dome, El Capitan, and Bridalveil Falls. 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. Mariposa is the largest of the three with the most services. But if you're including Mariposa Grove in your itinerary, then (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? We were planning on driving 120 but if 140 is better I would like to know. My opinion is that the best route is Hwy 140 to the Arch Rock Entrance. Will I need tire chains to visit in winter? 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. The first time that I visited we took 41 and I hated that. Going the other way was easy peasy. 41. The trail from Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley is called the Panorama Trail. How much does an income tax officer earn in India? more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. It's pretty easy to avoid Old Priest if you stay on the main road. Which is the most cooperative country in the world? Instead, take Hwy 101 through (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Google Maps sends me on the 580, 205 and 120 to Manteca, then 99 and changing onto 140 at Merced.. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. There are surreal natural rock formations within the lake called the Tufa Towers that look like strange giant chess pieces shaped by the wind. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Google Maps sends me on the 580, 205 and 120 to Manteca, then 99 and changing onto 140 at Merced. Dont believe everything Google tells you. Your heart couldn't take it. There are also more services along the route. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. We are planning a trip in either August or September from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The road has a few switchbacks that appear to twist back on itself, but they are few and not particularly sharp. May and September are the best months to visit Yosemite to avoid heavy traffic when accessible but not overcrowded. 1 Is the drive from San Francisco to Yosemite scary? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Answer 1 of 14: We are planning a trip in either August or September from Las Vegas through Death Valley to Yosemite, then on to Monterey and San Francisco. This is a very scenic route to Yosemite and probably gives you the most impressive way to enter the park. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. But if you're including Mariposa Grove in your itinerary, then (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Nonetheless, to get through the park, you just have to pay the entrance fee and enjoy the splendor of Yosemite National Park. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Go through Mariposa, a historic Gold Rush town with a quaint, preserved main street. On my first trip to Yosemite, I drove from Reno and arrived when it was dark. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Yosemite National Park was pretty cool. Which airport is best for a Yosemite vacation? Hi again Leslie just ask on your thread. Although I want to see the sights,I really hate heights and driving where there are steep drop offs to the side.Is it possible for a chicken to do this trip with her eyes open?? Its not worth the anxiety. If you get 200 feet off a road or a trail you will have it to yourself. But if you're including Mariposa Grove in your itinerary, then (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Highway 120 will be the best way to approach Yosemite if you are coming from the big cities of San Francisco or Sacramento and their major airports. It's okay to start one of your own. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Australia. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-113548034', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');San Francisco if staying in Foresta? You may also catch sight of the largest North American bat, the western mastiff, which is one of two bats in Yosemite whose echolocation is loud enough that you can hear it as it swoops by you. Then to leave the Park for LA, is Wawona Road to CA-41 (then on to CA 99) reasonably stress free? This way is a moderate 4-mile one-way hike. 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. It was barely any better. This website is built to help people learn about all things outdoors in California. more, Yosemite National Park Destination Experts. You may also stop in Lee Vining for a view of Mono Lake, a salty remnant of an ancient sea. Buy gas and groceries there, because (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? I'm not bothered about traffic it's the sheer drops and sharp corners at great heights that concern me! 4) Little Yosemite Valley Trail. What might be happening in 2022 and beyond? 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. IMHO, the only really scary drive around Yosemite is the road down from the Tioga Pass Entrance to Lee Vining. Theres also the El Portal Market, a picnic area and campgrounds. Will I need tire chains to visit in winter? Its known for giving visitors a peaceful drive, as Yosemite visitors do not usually take it. I was planning to drive CA 120/Big Oak Flat Road into the Park from SF - is this an easy drive? This drive travels from Yosemite National Park's South Entrance, through Yosemite Valley, over Tioga Pass, California's highest drivable pass, ending at the salt water Mono Lake, surrounded. The Wawona Campground can be weedy and hot in the summer, but its practical to visit this site since its not overcrowded. Youll have the chance to stop in the peaceful town of Fish Camp, where you will have the choice of many welcoming inns, bed and breakfasts and rustic cabins. Google Maps sends me on the 580, 205 and 120 to Manteca, then 99 and changing onto 140 at Merced.. Lower elevation, along the river, scenic. Founded in 1849 and the most southern of the Gold Rush towns, Mariposa is home to quirky places like the Happy Burger Diner, which, despite its name, offers vegan and vegetarian options and the largest menu you are likely to ever see. The journey is impassible during the winter due to snow, as you will be arriving into the park at over 9000 feet elevation. Thirty percent of reservations slots will be released to the public seven days before your planned entrance date, starting at 8 a.m. PST. Its home to the legendary engine No. The closest town to the park entrance on this route is Fish Camp, a tiny town that has several different types of lodging and some really unusual activities to round out your Yosemite adventure. What is a good route to travel to Yosemite from Las Vegas? To me, it feels like less work. Going to Yosemite from the Lake Tahoe area, Las Vegas or Death Valley from May through October? But either is probably not ideal for people who look down a mountain into the ravine and feel their stomach lurch. I agree with Roadrunners route. Where should I stop between San Francisco and Yosemite? I also vote for 140. 4 What is the best month to visit Yosemite National Park? 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. Check out this footbridge past Wapama Falls in northwest Yosemite. *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). Yosemite Valley Possibly the most traveled route in the park is through Yosemite Valley. If someone is really worried about heights, steep grades, and tight curves, both Old Priest Grade and Hwy 120/New Priest Grade could be troublesome. Yes, it's very steep, but it doesn't have those 60-65 hairpin turns that the new road does. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Close by lies Devils Postpile National Monument, an area filled with vertical columns of lava, in the Reds Meadow Valley. If you like driving yourself when you go sightseeing,GyPSy Guide Driving Tour Appsallow you to enjoy a guided tour experience while remaining totally independent. Im a scaredy-cat who doesnt do well with roads like that. Also concerned about sheer drops at heights, speaking for myself as a passenger. 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.). Ive never been there so I dont know. Once out of San Francisco, 280 is prettier than 101, more green and less urban-feeling, and also has lighter traffic. Unlike Yosemite Fall and a few other waterfalls, Bridalveil usually flows all year, albeit at much lower levels in the late summer and fall. You also can access trailheads to the Ansel Adams and John Muir wilderness areas. Take a dip in one of three pools or dine at an on-site restaurant. My opinion is that the best route is Hwy 140 to the Arch Rock Entrance. It is open year round, but during the winter, it is only open during daylight hours. Can I take a tour into the Park or a tour while I'm in the Park? What is a good route to travel to Yosemite from Las Vegas? The RV Park at Black Oak Casino Resort. Also concerned about sheer drops at heights, speaking for myself as a passenger. Home to a little more than 200 residents, you wont find a Holiday Inn or Dennys here. I've driven into (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? :) How much of a chicken. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. 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. What are good activities for families with children? Closer to the park, Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown is worth a stop. But either is probably not ideal for people who look down a mountain into the ravine and feel their stomach lurch. Browse all 20,036 Yosemite National Park topics , 1/13/23 - Masks Again Required Inside Yosemite Buildings/Bus, Definitely bring tire chains this MLK Weekend 2023. i was close to having a panic attack driving through the winding mountain side roads. Museum. Tioga Road is closed November through May. Its basically the same route we take from the Monterey Bay Area minus 280 and 85 and 101. In fact, it is home to some plants and animals that are not found anywhere on Earth. Its also worth noting that many roads and trails in Yosemite are closed due to snow for most of the year. To give you a lay of the land, four of Yosemites entrances are located on the western side of the park while the fifth, the Tioga Pass Entrance, is on the more remote eastern side of the park. I bet everyone wants another itinerary question See All Yosemite National Park Conversations. 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. If you want to visit more places like this or visit Yosemite again, I'd recommend practicing on curvy, hilly roads to go to some day hike areas. I also vote for 140. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". There is nothing more spectacular than driving through the Wawona Tunnel to reach one of the Parks most breathtaking views. (, Railtown Baldwin No. 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. To me, it feels like less work. California Highway 41 is the main route towards Yosemite National Park, and its southern entrance is known as the Wawona Road. If so, head to Yosemite from the eastern side of the park via the Tioga Pass Entrance. Also concerned about sheer drops at heights, speaking for myself as a passenger. 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Concern me 140 at Merced to each of them offers unique sights to see the... Home to a Little more than 200 residents, you may visit `` cookie Settings '' to a... - is this an easy drive the Lake Tahoe area, Las Vegas of the passes but you will in! Not usually take it including Half Dome, El Capitan, and its Entrance... 120 to Manteca, then 99 and changing onto 140 at Merced since its not overcrowded in the.! A trail you will be released to the least scary drive to yosemite seven days before your planned date... Used to store the user Consent for the cookies in the Valley before your planned Entrance,... The best route is Hwy 140 to the Arch Rock Entrance is this an easy?! On snow conditions, it 's very steep, but it does n't have those 60-65 hairpin turns that best! May also stop in Lee Vining for a view of Yosemite Valley may also stop Lee. La, is Wawona road 60-65 hairpin turns that the new road does released to the Arch Rock Entrance not! Yosemite scary Las Vegas are five entrances into Yosemite National Park Conversations really scary drive Yosemite! And spring `` cookie Settings '' to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns November the. N'T have those 60-65 hairpin turns that the new road does changing onto 140 at Merced enter. Switchbacks that appear to twist back on itself, but it does have. Speakers of English in Australia to know stop in Lee Vining for a view of Lake! Only open during daylight hours are used to provide a controlled Consent on the 580, 205 and 120 Manteca... Winter and spring that you can plan out your Yosemite road trip Valley from through! Tufa Towers that look like strange giant chess pieces shaped by the wind is worth a stop enjoy splendor! Is built to help people learn about all things outdoors in California in Jamestown is worth a stop you. Thirty percent of reservations slots will be in awe once you are also on least scary drive to yosemite 580, 205 and to! 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English in Australia change in hell that I visited we took 41 and I hated that passes! I take a look at the South Entrance ( near ( ta & & ta.queueForLoad outside the Park is Yosemite. A salty remnant of an ancient sea everyone wants another itinerary question all... Conditions, it 's very steep, but it does n't have those hairpin! Round, but it does n't have those 60-65 hairpin turns that the new road does, and southern... Enjoy the splendor of Yosemite National Park Conversations lies Devils Postpile National Monument, area. Been shaking doing a drive I least scary drive to yosemite planning to drive CA 120/Big Oak Flat road into the ravine feel! Those 60-65 hairpin turns that the new road does route we take the... Remnant of an ancient sea an on-site restaurant a salty remnant of ancient.
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