Yosemite to Vegas

[Gemsie0812]

Hi Guys,

I am leaving for the wedding trip of a life time in 3 weeks and was wondering if you could advise the best route to take when driving from Yosemite to Vegas.

We would like to take the route through death valley - however we have heard roads/routes might be closed off due to bad weather in April? Can anyone recommend a good route with nice views that will be our best bet?

Thanks

Gem :-)

[Go^uk]

The Yosemite to Vegas drive is spectacular... But is very weather dependent. You need to drive out of Yosemite on the Tioga Pass road, which will most likely be closed in April.

nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tiogaopen.htm Shows a list of the road closing/opening dates.

I fell victim to the road not being open a few years back. The 'detour' I had to take involved over 11 hours behind the wheel.

I'd still do the trip though... Just plan a nights stop on route. Yosemite's waterfalls are at their best during the thaw in spring. You will leave by the parks south entrance and head towards Bakersfield on the 99. This route allows you to see Kings Canyon and national forests. Overnight on route and then out via the 395 into death valley.



G.

[vitfa]

Hey for our honeymoon we took the trip from Vegas to Bishop ( via death valley) to stay overnight then onto Yosemite via tioga pass - was beautiful but I would say take the safest option depending on weather L x

[shack69]

I hate to say this but the pass will be closed when you go so your best option is to head to fresno then down to Barstow before headin east to vegas. This is roughtly a 500 mile journey, nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/driving.htm

[AndyJ]

Thank heavens I saw this post!

As we were planning on heading east out of Yosemiti on the 12th of May...

...I don't like the odds. Hotels changed, route changed.

Thanks all!

[Guest]

Tioga Pass is normally open late April to September:

nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tiogaopen.htm

[AndyJ]

That link states late May to early June?

As its a small amount of money to gamble, I think we will keep reservations in Beatty (east route) and Bakersfield (south route) and see what happens at the time.

Both have a 24 hour cancel policy so it should work out.

[Pussycat Doll]

I've known the Tioga Pass to be closed on 4th July! There is a southern entrance to Yosemite but I've never used it, we did SF to Yosemite and then through to Bishop for a night. From there we drove through Death Valley to Vegas. Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley is worth a stay if you get the chance. Pussycat

[Guest]

Originally Posted by AndyJ

That link states late May to early June?

As its a small amount of money to gamble, I think we will keep reservations in Beatty (east route) and Bakersfield (south route) and see what happens at the time.

Both have a 24 hour cancel policy so it should work out.

See more...

It also states Early May to November. It's all dependent on weather so you can never predict exactly. Normallly they start bulldozing snow from mid April.

[AndyJ]

Thanks all. I guess we will see what's what near the time.