choralcjk

Will be traveling from Napa to Mammoth Lakes on a Sunday. Any suggestions for the best route?

MmePerdu

It depends on what you mean by "best". I believe the fastest way would be to head east to I-80 through Sacramento, continue over the hill to Reno and down Hwy 395 to Mammoth Lakes. The other passes can be slow because of traffic or are winding 2 lane roads (can also be closed seasonally by snow).

happytrailstoyou

Google sends you to Stockton and then down 99 to 120 over Tioga Pass (which is quite beautiful) and down 395 (268 miles/5:07).

Tioga Pass closes in the winter.

HTTY

MmePerdu

Tioga Pass is certainly beautiful but could be slowed by traffic on a weekend. It may be shorter that way but choralcjk has not yet told us what "best" means, fastest on a Sunday, most beautiful or what.

There might also be fees associated with going through Yosemite. Not sure. Someone will know.

enzian

Yes, there is an entry fee to drive through Yosemite,maven if you are not stopping.

Unless you really reLy want to drive through Yosemite I suggest the I-80 route. It is an easy drive and the part down 395 is very scenic once you pass Carson City.

MmePerdu

I confess 395 is my favorite road, even when it's out of my way. The cottonwoods in fall are spectacular and I love that lonely road feel.

Suzie

I would take 80 east from Napa. In West Sac it changes to 50 if you wish to take 80 east you have to exit on the right. I say don't exit and take 50 east. In Meyers - before you hit South Lake Tahoe but after Echo Summit - turn right onto 89 and take Luther Pass to 395. You will come out to 395 just south of Lake Topaz. This is a great drive. Not all freeway and tractor trailers. 80 has some serious road work going on in both directions causing a reduction of lanes but no reduction of trucks. Yulk.

Suzie

BTW You will save about an hour taking 50 ove 80 to Reno especially on a Sunday when everyone is heading in the opposite direction. The road between Reno and Gardnerville is dreadful also.

janisj

80/ 50/ 395 would definitely be best if your main point is to get to Mammoth. The roads into Yosemite are crowded and the low speed limits on Tioga pass rd are pretty strictly enforced

happytrailstoyou

I hope you have time to smell the roses along the way.

lovestohike

From Napa, you are close to highway 80. I would probably just drive from Highway 80 to Sacramento (about an hour away); drive highway 50 to South Lake Tahoe. Once you are past the casino area, take highway 207 (Kingsbury grade) and drive to Minden Nevada where you can drive highway 395 all the way to Mammoth Lakes. This is a scenic drive and easy to do.

You will be in Tahoe about 2 1/2 hours after leaving Napa (depending which part of Napa you are staying in.). I would do Highway 80 versus driving by Lake Berryessa - as that can be slower due to slower roads, curves, and having to make your way around the valleys and lake in the era.

Unless you want to see Yosemite (and many do), that is a nice way to go but is slower. Speed limit through the park is 45 mph and given the number of tourists a lot of people on the road.

Another road we love to take is highway 88 from Stockton to Minden and then take highway 395 down. it is a mountain road but you are usually driving 60 mph for the most part of it (minus a few slow spots; or getting behind slow traffic (numerous and I mean numerous turn outs along the route so not much of an issue). You will drive past Kirkwood Resort area as well as Caples Lake. It is a scenic route but much easier than the Yosemite route.

Suzie

Driving Tahoe to Mindin is dreadfully boring and then you're stuck with the equally boring drive past Gardnerville to Lake Topaz. Luther pass as I suggested in my post is a much more scenic way to get to 395 from 50. It's also about 15 minutes shorter.

lovestohike

Suzie - your drive is a fine one but we have done it both ways probably 40 or 50 times. There is no advantage over either as it takes about the same amount of time.

The road from Tahoe to Minden is through lovely mountain country - past the ski resorts with a gorgeous view of Carson Valley. Its a fast drive - most go 60 mph and its a well kept road as its a commute road for many from Minden to South Lake Tahoe. Most drive it within 20 to 25 minutes. It is both beautiful and scenic and by the way fast. Traffic is never a problem on it even though it is used for commuting.

To each their own Suzie - but I would still take this route to see more of Tahoe, an easy drive down to highway 395, and they are both about equal distance. Nothing wrong with giving the folks an alternative of lovely mountain country and by the way you might not like Lake Topaz, but many do. Each their own.

Suzie

There is an advantage to Luther Pass because it is way more scenic and you don't have to drive thru Minden and Gardnerville which are not scenic. Past ski resorts? You mean 50 thru SLT past Heavenly? In the summer it's not really scenic. But to each his own.

Not 40 or 50 times, only several dozen times for me. Do you take Waterloo to get to 395 from 207?