Expert: Ernest Tufft - 8/8/2007

Question
My fiancee and I are visiting the states next week. We are staying in san Francisco and then are travelling to Yosemite for the night and then two nights at Furnace Creek, Death Valley, before moving on to Vegas. Could you advise on the best routes?

Answer
Hi Chris,

First, the trip from San Francisco should best follow the route through El Portal entrance.  You know, I frequently come across itineraries from travelers from Europe putting greater weight on visiting Death Valley than upon Yosemite.  Trust me when I say that interest in Yosemite far exceeds Death Valley geologically, in terms of landscape beauty, and for tourism.  You would be better off spending two nights in/near Yosemite and just one night, if that, in Furnace Creek.  Indeed, in a better trip would include staying a two days/one night in Yosemite Valley, and then driving into the alpine region of Yosemite to  stay another night and a morning in Tuolumne Meadows.  After that one can continue over the Tioga Pass and down one of the world's greatest roadway descents (supposedly steeper than any in Europe) to Lee Vining for visit the ethereal Mono Lake.  Lee Vining has at least as adequate lodging as Furnace Creek.  The next day, drive either direct to Las Vegas, or take hwy 395 through to Death Valley.  Either route exposes one to plenty of desert beauty of Nevada along the way.  The drive from Lee Vining to Las Vegas via Death Valley can be done in one day, if one gets an early start.  Use MapQuest.com to find the details in terms of highways and maps, using the town names mentioned.  Also, virtualtourist.com has my portfolio of tips and images for Yosemite under my membername "atufft", but there are also excellent contributions by others for these places.  Hope this helps.