Driving Directions

Please note that GPS units do not always provide accurate directions to or within Yosemite. Yosemite covers 1,200 square miles and does not have a single address. We do not recommend using GPS units for directions in and around Yosemite. If you do use a GPS unit, just keep in mind that if there's a conflict between what the road sign says and what your GPS unit says, the road sign is correct (and your GPS unit isn't).

Gas is available at Wawona, Crane Flat, and El Portal 24 hours per day with a credit card. Gas is available in summer at Tuolumne Meadows. Gas is not available in Yosemite Valley.

You may find maps of Yosemite and California useful, as well as mileages and driving times from Yosemite Valley to various points in California and Nevada [143 kb PDF].

Also, keep in mind that, some roads are closed from around November through May/June and that tire chains may be required on open roads from around October through April (depending on conditions). You can use public transportation to get to Yosemite all year.

Getting to Yosemite From the West and North

San Francisco/Bay area
Distance: 195 mi / 314 km
Time:4-5 hours
Take I-580 east to I-205 east to Highway 120 east (Manteca) or Highway 140 east (Merced) into Yosemite National Park.

Sacramento
Distance: 176 mi / 283 km
Time: 4 hours
Take Highway 99 south to Highway 120 east (Manteca) or Highway 140 east (Merced) into Yosemite National Park.

Reno & Lake Tahoe
Approximately June through October, conditions permitting
Distance: 218 mi / 351 km (Reno)
Time: 5 hours
Take US 395 south to Lee Vining; take Highway 120 west into Yosemite National Park (open late May/June through October, depending on conditions).

All year
Distance: 315 mi / 507 km (Reno)
Time: 8 hours
Take I-80 or I-50 west to Sacramento; take Highway 99 south to Highway 120 east (Manteca) or Highway 140 east (Merced) into Yosemite National Park.

 

Getting to Yosemite From the South

Los Angeles area
Distance: 313 mi / 504 km
Time: 6 hours
Take I-5 north (or I-405 north to I-5) to Highway 99 north to Highway 41 north (Fresno) into Yosemite National Park.

San Diego area
Distance: 441 mi / 710 km
Time: 8 hours
Take I-5 north to Highway 99 to Highway 41 north (Fresno) into Yosemite National Park.

Las Vegas
June through October, conditions permitting
Distance: 400 mi / 642 km
Time: 8 hours
Take US-95 North to Tonopah, then US-95/US-6 west to Highway 120. Go west on Highway 120 into Yosemite National Park (open late May/early June through October, depending on conditions).

November through May
Distance: 495 mi / 797 km
Time: 8-10 hours
Take I-15 south to Barstow; Highway 58 west to Bakersfield; take Highway 99 north to Fresno. In Fresno, take Highway 41 north into Yosemite National Park.

Death Valley National Park
June through October

Distance: 270 mi / 435 km
Time: 5 hours Take Highway 190 west to US 395. Take US 395 north to Lee Vining; take Highway 120 east into Yosemite National Park (open late May/early June through October, depending on conditions).

November through May

Distance: 450 mi / 720 km
Time: 9 hours
Take Highway 190 west to US 395; take US 395 south to its junction with Highway 14. Take Highway 14 south to Mojave. In Mojave, take Highway 58 to Bakersfield. From Bakersfield, head north on Highway 99 to Fresno. In Fresno, take Highway 41 north into Yosemite National Park.

 

Driving Times Within and Near Yosemite

You can find out which roads are open for the season by visiting the conditions page. For up-to-the minute road conditions, call 209/372-0200 (press 1 then 1). Times are approximate, assume good conditions, and no stops.

From Yosemite Valley to:

Wawona Road (Highway 41):

• Glacier Point: a little less than an hour
• South Entrance/Mariposa Grove: a little more than an hour
• Wawona: a little less than an hour

El Portal Road (Highway 140):

• Arch Rock Entrance: about 25 minutes
• El Portal: about 30 minutes

Big Oak Flat & Tioga Roads (Highway 120)

• Crane Flat: about 30 minutes
• Big Oak Flat Entrance/Hodgdon Meadow: about 45 minutes
• Hetch Hetchy (via Evergreen and Hetch Hetchy Roads): about one hour and 30 minutes
• White Wolf: about an hour
• Tuolumne Meadows: about one hour and 30 minutes
• Tioga Pass: about one hour and 45 minutes
• Lee Vining: about two hours