Another California thread!

Eoin

Hi all,

First off, I have done a search, but don't think I found the info I was looking for.

We are planning a trip to San Fran and Vegas in April, and will be driving between them with 2 overnight stops, the second one being Death Valley.

A few of the roads in Yosemite park will be closed at that time of year, so we would have to take a bit of an arseways route to get from there to Death Valley.

So, we are now thinking of taking the coastal route south instead, and then cut inland and go to Death Valley.

My question is - where would be a good place to stop over the first night that won't leave us with too long a drive to Death Valley? Anywhere along the coast seems to leave an 8 hour drive, which is a bit long. Is there anywhere inland that's worth visiting?

Thanks!

Edit - this is the first part of the trip I've come up with - google maps.

cacio

I recommend trying to ring on the day and see if the Tioga Pass is open in Yosemite. It's an amazing drive. We drove from San Fran to Vegas that same way and went through Death Valley.
It was snowing a bit in Yosemite but the pass was still open. If you are relaxed about it, leave it til the day and find out if you can go that way.
We stopped in Mammoth Mountain/Lakes for the night. Really pretty ski town. There's a cinema and bowling and a few nice pubs/restaurants to pass the night. I'd go there again.

If you're going to go the way you have planned on google maps, there's not much inland. Driving through Fresno/Bakersfield etc is really boring. There's no major place along the way. Most of the towns are truck-stop towns with only motels and fast food restaurants.

I really can't recommend anywhere inland in that part to stay. North and South have loads of lovely towns but in the middle it's pretty boring.

Sorry I can't be more help.


Edit - If you do take the coastal road, take your time driving it. It's an amazing route and you'll be on the good side of the road coming from San Fran. I'd take loads of time driving that and then just get on the road to Vegas for the day.

Eoin

Thanks, it's at the very end of April, so I could be in with a chance.

From what I can tell, if Tioga pass is closed then there is no way of avoiding Bakersfield and an 8 hour haul that day. The coastal route looks super though, so I might just bite the bullet and resign myself to the inland drive from somewhere like Santa Maria...

cacio

We went at the end of November and it was open. Definately try and go through Yosemite.

We drove the coast route on the way back and it really was spectacular. But the drive to there is horrible. There's not much to look at and nowhere to go. We were planning on stopping somewhere on the way back but it was all so bad and we ended up driving to Santa Cruz and staying there.

The Yosemite/Death Valley route is a real contrast and is good to see. The coastal road is amazing but I wouldn't go that route and then have to drive through the middle. There's no easy way to go if Tioga Pass is closed so I recommend being flexible and waiting to see if it's closed before making any decisions.

If you want anymore info let me know. I've driven to Vegas from all directions of California.

Eoin

Thanks very much cacio. It's hard to figure out what to do, but I may take you up on that offer!

ncmc

If you look at this link, http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tiogaopen.htm

it gives the historical opening of Tioga pass, the earliest it has ever been open is Apr 29th and that was in 1988. May or June seems to be the norm. It's a pity as Yosemite is one of the most beautiful places I have evr been.

Eoin

Thanks for that ncmc, that probably answers that question.

I imagine we can still get as far as Yosemite village, and then go back the same way through Bakersfield, so either way we have that drive ahead of us - which isn't a big deal.

With that in mind, it's a toss up between the coastal route as far as somewhere like Cambria for the night and then on to Death Valley the next day, or Yosemite Village for the night, and then down to Bakersfield and then Death Valley.

Eoin

OK - here are my two routes.

The first one is the coastal route and then across.

The second one is across to Yosemite Village, back out and then down.

The odds are that Tioga pass road will be closed, so there is no way of avoiding the boring drive through Bakersfield, but I can live with that (though it does seem like a real shame).

keefg

West Cost sticky MODS? :D

Eoin

As I said, I did a search earlier, but I didn't get all the info I needed. The time of year makes a difference to the journey.

keefg

I'm not having a dig at you Eoin.

There is loads of info, links, tips etc scattered throughout the travel forum and I have suggested a West Coast sticky a few time so we can keep all this info in one place.

But my suggestion has fallen on deaf ears (sniff, sob )

Eoin

The stickies can be helpful for keeping a list of links and resources, but if each person was to use it to plan their holiday, it would be completely unwieldy.

Anyhow to get back on topic, even though the odds are that we won't be able to take the Tioga pass, we're still going to go to Yosemite and just take the Bakersfield route to Death Valley.

ncmc

eoin wrote: »

The stickies can be helpful for keeping a list of links and resources, but if each person was to use it to plan their holiday, it would be completely unwieldy.

Anyhow to get back on topic, even though the odds are that we won't be able to take the Tioga pass, we're still going to go to Yosemite and just take the Bakersfield route to Death Valley.

Good choice Eoin! I haven't done the coastal route, but I can't imagine anywhere being more beautiful than Yosemite, it should be especially beautiful in April with the falls in full flow (they were dry when we went in August). If you wanted to stay inside the park then I would get on it asap, there isn't much in the way of affordable accomodation and what little there is books up fast.

We stayed in Yosemite Lodge at the Falls, it wasn't great, but the location is amazing, right in the valley (the view out our window was El Capitan - not bad!)

http://www.yosemitepark.com/Accommodations_YosemiteLodge.aspx

Eoin

Thanks ncmc - I think it's a better option. I'm sure the coastal drive is cool, but realistically you can probably do something similar in loads of places, and it seems a crime to pass up on Yosemite.

I've been checking out the accommodation already - you're right, it books up quick. I think that because we're only there for a short time and have a long drive to Death Valley the next day it may be worth spending the bit extra and staying in the valley itself. I know the standard won't be great, but we don't mind at all.

I just need to figure out the story with the snow chains. The rental company doesn't allow them, and from what I can see online, you are supposed to carry them at all times just in case.

Eoin

I ended up booking a different hotel - it's not in the park, but pretty close and the room has a balcony with a view of the river that runs right beside the hotel. It means a long drive the next day to Death Valley, but that was always on the cards.

http://www.yosemite-motels.com/yosemiteviewlodge/

Thanks for all the help people.

kelbal

hey eoin,
actually booked the same holiday myself, planning doing yosemite/death valley between 10th and 17th April. So tioga road will be closed - from your research does it look like the only route is into the park on route 120 from san fran and then straight to Yosemite village, then out of there taking route 41 south? I wonder do you get to fully appreciate the park this way, are you seeing the main highlights. Did you find out anything else about snow chains? Getting rental car ourselves. Anything else worth seeing along way from yosemite to DV? Only booked flights yesterday so haven't had chance to properly research yet

thanks
P

Eoin

Hi there - that seems to be the only option alright. South to Bakerfield, and then route 178 to Death Valley.

I wonder do you get to fully appreciate the park this way, are you seeing the main highlights.

We're definitely going to miss out with the Tioga pass road being closed, but if you do two nights in Yosemite, you may still be able to take a good bit in.

Did you find out anything else about snow chains? Getting rental car ourselves

No, still have to find out if you absolutely need chains for all roads in the park, or just if you venture off the beaten path a little. Rental agency specifically prohibits chains though.

Anything else worth seeing along way from yosemite to DV

Not a huge amount by the looks of it - that's not going to be a fun drive. Someone mentioned another park along the way, but that would add a few hours on to an already long journey, so that would be an overnighter for sure.