Las Vegas to Yosemite with Open or Closed Tioga Pass
Many of our visitors to Yosemite and the Groveland area come to us via Las Vegas, either on their way to riches or coming from Nevada with thinner pockets. This passage is worth a discussion for those looking for starting points, stopping points, and staying points in their Los Angeles-Las Vegas-Death Valley-Yosemite-Groveland-San Francisco-Los Angeles loop investigation. For the sake of conciseness, I’ll work with directions from Las Vegas to Yosemite, but recognize that you can come and go from either direction.
Tioga Pass it is the key element in determining which route you will take. If you’re planning a trip after mid-October, keep an eye on our weather, 209-372-0200. A single snowstorm followed by warm weather can cause Tioga Pass to close and reopen multiple times in the fall. Once the “big” falls or we get sustained cold, the pass will be closed for the season, usually closed in mid-November, reopening in late May or June. One is right to predict the weather as often as one wins in Vegas. Opening and closing dates depend on snow and weather.
Driving Directions: Las Vegas to Yosemite, Tioga Pass Open
Exit Las Vegas on 95 NW to 373 South which becomes 127 at Stateline to 190 West to Death Valley. Follow 190 through and out of Death Valley where you’ll take 136 North, continue to Lone Pine and 395. Highway 395 will take you to Lee Vining and 120 West into Yosemite and over Tioga Pass. If there are any “difficult” parts of this trail, they are at the access to Death Valley. You can find an excellent PDF map online through the National Park Service
Highlights along the way (395 North)
Death Valley National Park is a land of extremes: lowest elevations of 282 feet below sea level, high temperatures, average summer temperatures of over 100 degrees daily, and with only 1.96 inches a year, the least amount of rainfall. Despite the drama of this environment, more than 1,000 types of plants live within the park. Each spring, Death Valley turns into a kaleidoscope of color as spring rains spawn a variety of annual desert wildflowers. Last year’s incredible snow levels provided a wonderful desert wildflower season.
Bishop Bakery and Erik Schatt
If you love a good bakery, this one will intrigue you for a long time. Large, well scented and reasonably priced! It’s located right off Highway 395 as you go through town, you can’t miss it, on the west side of the street.
Mammoth Lakes and June Lake They provide great overnight stops with plenty of places to stay and scenic wonders. Good food can be found in both areas. Mammoth is a bustling community with hospitals, golf courses and schools where, like June Lake, it is quieter and populated with locals for world-class fishing.
monkey lake It is a phenomenon that must be explored. Very lunar looking. You can get out and walk along the shoreline, or view the beauty from the picnic benches of Whoa Nellie Deli at the Mobile gas station on Highway 120. Both and Bodie State Park are covered in our Eastern Sierras itinerary. Check out our Tahoe Itinerary if you’re headed for the optional route around the Sierras, and while heading down Highway 49, take a few hours or even an overnight in Murphys to explore the Calaveras Big Trees and Murphys Wine Country.
Driving Directions: Las Vegas to Yosemite, Tioga Pass Closed
If you’re planning a stop in Death Valley, follow the directions above to get to DV. Once through the park, stay on 190 until you reach 395, then head south. Follow this to 178, a scenic route, or 58, a slightly larger highway. Both take you to Bakersfield, from where you’ll take Highway 99 and quickly hop on Highway 41 in Fresno, which will take you to Yosemite’s southern entrance, through Oakhurst and Fishcamp. When you’ve finished your stay in Yosemite, exit Highway 120, the north entrance and drive through Groveland. Spend the night with us or just drop by and say hi on your way to San Francisco.
There really aren’t many must-sees along this route. We usually drive as far as we can and then find a place to sleep.
Optional longer scenic route if Tioga Pass is closed
Follow all directions if pass is open, at Lee Vining stay on 395, look at Mono Lake on your right, continue north on 395 through Bridgeport and into Carson, then take 50 West to South Lake Tahoe. Spend a day in the snow, skiing, gambling, hiking…then head west again on 50 to 49 south to 120 east and on to Groveland for a night of food, fun and relaxation . Other highways closed in winter that cross the Sierras are 108 and 4. If you’re traveling in late spring, either may be open before 120 and you don’t have to go as far as Lake Tahoe to cross.
Whichever route you choose, have a safe trip and we look forward to seeing you in Groveland!