Las Vegas to Yosemite

Any suggestions on where to stay for 1 night, between Las Vegas and Yosemite

Las Vegas to Yosemite

What route do you plan to use? Will you be using Tioga Pass when it opens or is there another route you are taking? How many hours are you willing to drive before you stop?

Las Vegas to Yosemite

Hi thanks for your response, my sister and her family are coming over from England. When I mapquest the trip it sends me back via Barstow, is there a better way?? I have to admit I%26#39;ve never heard of the Tioga Pass, I%26#39;m going to meet them in Yosemite. So really it%26#39;s for them to break up the drive, and therefore will not want to go too go far off track. They have done SF before and will be staying in Long Beach as part of their tip.

I am the brother in law from England. we do not want to travel via death vallley but have thuoght about going via Mammoth. though mapquest sends you via Barstow and Bakersfield. we will be travelling in mid August. Any thoughts most welcome on where to stay with 2 teenage children.

We can give you the best directions if you can tell us when abouts you will be making the drive.

We are aiming to leave Vegas on the morning of the 12th of August.

Briants, do two map quest searches, one from Yosemite to Mammoth and the other Mammoth to Las Vegas. This will force them to give you the data you want for directions.

Mammoth is getting big and oddly has golf courses in the middle of where downtown should be. I tend to get a bit lost.

June Lake is easy, one road for the most part, cute town, all log cabin looking. a couple of pretty lakes and on your way.

Have a great holiday!

Mammoth Lakes is crazy close to Yosemite. Every summer when we stay in a condo at the middle-of-town-golf course we take a day trip to Yosemite. It%26#39;s about 30 minutes to Lee Vining where you catch Tioga Pass. It%26#39;s about 1.5 hours from the East Entrance to Yosemite valley but there is so much to see on your way. Don%26#39;t skip these sights in favor of jetting to the valley.

That being said you may want to stay someplace earlier in your drive. Lone Pine or Bishop are good stopping points on 395. IN Bishop the Best Western Creekside is right on the main street but along 168 (a ledt turn off 395) there are a bunch of really new hotels. In case you want to wing it here are some times:

Las Vegas to Lone Pine - 5 hours

Lone Pine to Bishop - 1 hour

Bishop to Mammoth Lakes - 1 Hour

Mammoth Lakes to the Valley - 2.5 hours

Be sure you find a place the night of August 12 away from bright lights because that is the annual Perseid Meteor Shower which is spectacular over the Owens Valley along 395 or probably from Minaret Vista on the road above Mammoth Mountain Inn that goes down intothe canyon to Reds Meadow and Devils Postpile. Limited parking and I bet that is a popular spot to view it as you have the whole Sierra crest for miles north and south in plain view. Also get up very early for the drive over 120 to Tioga Pass to catch the sun on the mountains . Try Tioga Pass Resort for breakfast- small but a legendary place for one hundred years about a mile or so east of the pass. www.tiogapassresort.com

Pick up Danish pastries at legendary Scahatts Bakery in Bishop or Mammoth for snacking along the way... and take your time driving 120 through Tuolumne Meadows where there is a Visitor%26#39;s Center. Get out of the car and walk to the river by Soda Springs to get the Cathedral Range panorama. Flowers should be out in the high country then, If time, consider hiking to the top of Lembert Dome ... only 800 ft elevation gain and about four miles... the last over open granite... for stunning viwes in every direction. Parking is at the east of Tuolumne meadows near the bridge over the river.

Also stop at the beach at the east end of Tenaya Lake... a favorite place to watch the rock climbers on the nearby domes so bring binoculars and a swimsuit.

This is a day when the journey is more spectacular than the destination because the valley will be hot and crowded, whereas the temperatures in the High Sierra are probably ten degrees cooler and there is always a breeze.

Take a look at www.mountainlight .com to give you a preview of the magnificent landscapes of the Eastern Sierra. On 395 just south of Lone Pine where the Death Valley road comes to 395 check out the informative Interagency Visitor Center which has great books, cards, DVDs, maps, guides, a super view of Mt Whitney and the friendliest volunteers to answer all your questions about the Eastern Sierra.

Also fill up with gas before you enter Yosemite. Prices will be high but check out Bishop and Mammoth .

Thanks for such a comprehensive reply.