Expert: Ernest Tufft - 8/13/2006

Question
Good day again

I was just looking at Mapquest.com, and they are routeing me via Highway 15+40 to Mariposa/Yosemite Village.   I would much rather go via route 95 north via Goldfield/Tomosa and then west towards Yosemite.
Is there any reason I should not do that in an RV mid September (close to Death Valley, etc) ?

Any idea if it's too long a drive for 1 day, or if there is a nice, safe, place to stop on the way ?

Thanks a million in advance !

Best regards
Morgan Green

Answer
This is a frequently asked question, and a good one.  The use of Mapquest calls for using the town of Lee Vining (on the Tiago Pass east entrance to Yosemite), El Portal (Main west entrance to Yosemite), Mariposa (south entrance), or Big Oak Flat (North entrance).  If coming from Las Vegas, the route through to Mariposa is considerably easier due pavement, climate, and elevation.

Besides the lonely desert route, the climb from Lee Vining on the east side of the Sierra mountains is one of the steepest altitude changes in the world, a long series of hairpin turns.  Your RV will climb almost directly from the desert plateau of Nevada to the top of the Tioga pass, which is at elevations higher than any mountain that I know of east of the Mississippi river!  Then when you are at the entrance, an additional hour or so will be required to drive down through the park to Yosemite Valley.  Note that this route is closed in winter, and by the end of September, inclement weather and snow becomes an increasing possibility.  This route can be very exciting in terms of scenery to be sure, but I'd consider the weather conditions very carefully if driving an RV.  This trip can be done is one day, but get a very early start from Las Vegas.

The Maripose route has some big advantages other than speed.  While the stretch along much of the California central valley offers little more than driving through the midwest of the USA, the rise up to Mariposa is more gradual.  Also, there are many places that will take RVs along this route.  Don't expect to just drive the RV into Yosemite unless you already have reservations.  Just getting a car camping site is an ordeal, although after Labor Day, the heavy tourism does begin to cut back somewhat.

Have a pleasant vacation.