Yosemite Travel

[PDQ219]

We have a Coachman Freelander Micro on a Ford 350HD Transit and hope to explore the Yosemite National Park next fall if things ease up with the stay at home orders. My question is how feasible is it to travel across the park from Yosemite Valley to the east on Route 120 aka the Tioga Road over the mountains to the town of Lee Vining and then to head down Route 395 south finding campgrounds along the way as we travel south to I-40 and I-10. The mountain pass looks to be pretty challenging and wonder what others have experienced with it if you've ventured that way either going east or west. Thanks!

[babock]

Originally Posted by PDQ219

We have a Coachman Freelander Micro on a Ford 350HD Transit and hope to explore the Yosemite National Park next fall if things ease up with the stay at home orders. My question is how feasible is it to travel across the park from Yosemite Valley to the east on Route 120 aka the Tioga Road over the mountains to the town of Lee Vining and then to head down Route 395 south finding campgrounds along the way as we travel south to I-40 and I-10. The mountain pass looks to be pretty challenging and wonder what others have experienced with it if you've ventured that way either going east or west. Thanks!

120 over Tioga typically closes at the first snow storm since they never plow it. Depends from year to year...usually November. They do sometimes plow it to open it in the spring. We went up it last October. Still a TON of people. We were actually going to go into the park from the 395 side and turned around it was so bad.


No problem transitioning the park in your vehicle at all.

[PDQ219]

Originally Posted by babock

120 over Tioga typically closes at the first snow storm since they never plow it. Depends from year to year...usually November. They do sometimes plow it to open it in the spring. We went up it last October. Still a TON of people. We were actually going to go into the park from the 395 side and turned around it was so bad.


No problem transitioning the park in your vehicle at all.

Thanks good info - while on the subject of Yosemite - what experiences have you had with the campgrounds in and around the park - with time on my hands I've read all the guidebooks, etc. but some personal experiences would be valuable as well.

[nayther]

getting a site IN the valley is tough, reserveamerica 6 months in advance. the sites are small too, had difficulty with my 30 fifth wheel but made it. Stayed just outside the park once, many years ago near the Wawona? hotel I think. There are several commercial parks within a 30 minute drive or so. Oakhurst is a nice town close by. You won't find anything near on the Tioga pass side, only the nat. park campground in the park (tent camped there decades ago, really pretty). Park is a madhouse during the tourist season. On the west side, i think it's hwy 120, there is a little hamlet called Cathies Valley might check there. We stayed in a small campground in Angels Camp once; it was small but very nice. There are several RV parks along Hwy 49, which is another excellent trip to see the gold rush towns

[GoneSouth10]

Just to give you a sense of the opening/closing of Tioga Pass, here are the historical dates (this is the website you'd check when you're getting ready to travel as well):

https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/seasonal.htm

In terms of your RV, going West to East from Yosemite over the pass and down to Lee Vining is a pretty moderate drive (what is NOT moderate are the views - stunningly beautiful!!) that winds its way up to ~9990 feet, followed by a steady and relatively steep descent (compared to the ascent up from Yosemite Valley, but nothing too extreme) all the way to Lee Vining and 395. So long as the road is open, you should have no problem in your vehicle.

[babock]

Personally, I will never camp in Yosemite Valley ever again which is too bad. It's just crazy. Even camping nearby and driving in is crazy. The only time I would ever do it again is if I drive in in November. You can enjoy a lot of Yosemite without going into the valley itself. Explore and hike the north rim. A lot of hiking and you can still see half dome and the waterfalls. You just won't be right next to them.

[babock]

Originally Posted by nayther

You won't find anything near on the Tioga pass side, only the nat. park campground in the park (tent camped there decades ago, really pretty).

We like to camp in June Lake which is only 15 minutes from the 120/395 junction. You can do day trips up into Yosemite from there. I suggest not going into the park on the weekends since the wait at the park entrance can be backed up a long way.

[Iggy]

Hi PDQ219 my Arizona friend.

Don't want to hijack your thread but have you possible considered Yellowstone NP as a great alternative to Yosemite NP.

We are planning to head north in last June and have a week reserved at Grizzly RV Resort in the town of West Yellowstone near the west entrance to the park.

[PDQ219]

Thanks - but we spent a few weeks a number of years ago touring Yellowstone when our son was working for the forest service there - also Grand Teton and thoroughly enjoyed both. So Yosemite and Sequoia are next on our list and also Joshua Tree where we had reservations cancelled recently. Oh and we've also been to the Grand Canyon both the north and south rims and the Moab and Arches and Canyonland the last couple of years when our son was working there!

[sherman12]

Good thread. After starting our Westward trip at Yellowstone, on to Napa, Yosemite was our next destination before heading back Eastward to spend one or two weeks in various Colorado destinations TBD.

[upflying]

I drove over Tioga pass last October. The road is a long downgrade on the way down to 395. Use lower gears to keep from speeding up, dont ride your brakes. There are a lot of turn outs to let the brakes cool if you need it.
120 is wide and improved, not a problem for RV's.