Driving to Yosemite Valley
From the West:
San Francisco/Bay area
Distance: 195 mi / 314 km
Time:4-5 hours
Take I-580 east to I-205 east to Highway 140 east (Merced) into Yosemite National Park.
Sacramento
Distance: 176 mi / 283 km
Time: 4 hours
Take Highway 99 south to Highway 140 east (Merced) into Yosemite National Park.
From the North and East:
Mammoth Lakes
Distance: 245 mi / 394 km
Time: 5 hours
Take US-395 north, CA-108 west to Sonora; then take Highway 49 south to Mariposa. From Mariposa take Highway 140 east to Yosemite.
Las Vegas
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
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.
Reno/Lake Tahoe
Distance: 315 mi / 507 km (Reno)
Time: 6 hours
Take I-80 or I-50 west to Sacramento; take Highway 99 south to Highway 140 east (Merced) into Yosemite National Park. Note: If you plan to visit Tuolumne Meadows, please see below.
Driving to Tuolumne Meadows
From the West:
San Francisco/Bay area
Distance: 265 mi / 426 km
Time: 5 hours
Take I-580 east to I-205 east to Highway 120 east (Manteca) to Sonora; from Sonora take Highway 108 east (Sonora Pass) to US 395; take US 395 south;
take Highway 120 west into Yosemite National Park
Sacramento
Distance: 220 mi / 354 km
Time: 4 hours
Take Highway 50 east; From South Lake Tahoe take Highway 89 south to US 395; take US 395 south to Lee Vining; take Highway 120 west into Yosemite National Park
From the East:
Reno
Distance: 155 mi / 251 km (Reno)
Time: 3 hours
Take US 395 south to Lee Vining; take Highway 120 west into Yosemite National Park
Las Vegas
Distance: 344 mi / 554 km
Time: 6 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
Death Valley National Park
Distance: 240 mi / 383 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
From Yosemite Valley:
Distance: 235 miles / 378 km
Time: 5 hours
Take Highway 140 to Mariposa; take Highway 49 north to Sonora; take Highway 108 east (Sonora Pass); take US 395 south; take Highway 120 west into Yosemite National Park
*Note: Highway 49 is extremely narrow and windy. An alternate route is to take Highway 140 to Merced; from Merced take Highway 99 north to Modesto; from Modesto take Highway 108 east (Sonora Pass) to US 395; take US 395 south; take Highway 120 west into Yosemite National Park. This route will take approximately 6 - 6.5 hours and is 290 miles / 467 km.
