Which entrance is closest to the Valley Floor? and what would be the advantage of choosing one over the other? Also, which road is the most scenic and easy driving from San Francisco?

Tioga Pass from the east fails on most of your criteria, except that it's VERY scenic, so let's eliminate that one.

Hiway 140 has the shortest distance from the entrance to the Park to the Valley. It also is a very scenic drive and, drive time wise, is about the same as Hiway 120. However, the reason it's scenic is because it's a mountain drive, and thus not the easiest drive.

My recommendation, if you've never been to the Valley, is to go through Wawona. It's the longest and the least scenic, but has the most dramatic event you may ever experience in travel. As you come out of the Wawona Tunnel, all of the Valley appears before you, all at once, with no warning on how breath-taking it is. If you take this route, keep control of you car as you come out of the Tunnel. I'm not kidding, you'll be so dumbfounded by the Valley scenery you may forget you're driving a car for a second or two.

I agree with everything Paul says. Also, there is a parking area right after the tunnel.

Thanks for your reply....sounds wonderful! I'll go wild with my camera.

Josie: Not sure if you have even been, but just in case you haven't, be sure to take binoculars for a chance to see the climbers on El Capitan (from the floor of the valley when leaving the park from the Ahwanee Hotel). Also, the Wawona Hotel is a fun place to stop and check out. We had drinks and dinner there one night and really enjoyed ourselves. Also, the Mariposa Groves near Wawona is a great place to visit to see the redwoods. You can take a tram ride which is fun. Have a great time!

We've always taken 140 through El Portal which is a pretty easy way to get to the valley floor. They're all pretty roads with Tioga Pass being the most difficult drive. We've always taken 580 to 205 to 5 to 140 but things slow down when you get to Merced. I'm not sure that's the best way. An alternative that we will try next time is 580 to 205 to 5 to 120 and straight on that into the park. If you have access to 99 I would start from there because it angles closer to Yosemite. At any rate, allow yourself 4 1/2-5 1/2 hours depending on time and day leaving SF. It's worth it when you get there!

Would you recommend this route?

580E to 132E to Modesto
In Modesto, take 99S to Merced
In Merced, take 140E to Mariposa
In Mariposa, take 49S to Oakhurst
In Oakhurst, take 41N to Yosemite

The motel I am staying is in Fish Camp. Should I change my lodging to El Portal?

Josie- Where to stay depends on how long you will be there. El Portal is closer, but it's not a town, and the only restaurants are at the 2 motels there. Oakhurst has a number of restaurants.

Make sure you drive up through Tioga Pass. It's beautiful. Hope you are staying at least 4 days.

I grew up in Merced, have been going to Yosemite for more than 50 years. Have driven 140 and 41 countless times. There is no comparison in my mind between 140 and 41. 140 from Merced wins out on all counts. Frankly, 41 is booorrrring! Mariposa, an old gold rush town, has tons more to offer as a stop-over than Oakhurst. The stunning and awesome Merced River Canyon is worth a day-trip all by itself, IMO. It is the shortest way to the valley floor from SF/Monterrey area by a couple of hours. As for the tunnel over-look, just as you enter the valley floor,just take a right after the bridge, and in 5 minutes you are at the famous overlook, with a large parking lot. Also, the shuttles from the floor take people up there. No sweat.

From SF, go east to Tracy, pick up 99S to Merced, pick up 140 to Mariposa / Yosemite. It's about 2 hours SF to Merced, 2 - 2.5 hours Merced to Yosemite.
Josie: that's a good way to Oakhurst, but if you can stay at El Portel or the Valley floor, you will be waaaayyyy happier. Going through the 41 entrance from SF area will add about 2 hours to your trip to the valley floor.

As a long time Yosemite fan, I cannot conceive of visiting the park without staying in the Valley Floor. Keep calling, there are cancellations all the time for Yosemite Lodge or Awhannee. Even if you don't stay at Ahwanhee, you MUST visit, perhaps for lunch. Enjoy the Park. It is most certainly one of nature's marvels.

Now you have me worried. If I stay at a hotel 2 miles out of the 41 entrance, how long a drive is it to the Valley Floor? and must we start everything from the Valley Floor?

The Yosemite sights near the south entrance are: Wawona, Wawona is the home to the historic Wawona Hotel, dating from the late nineteenth century. The Pioneer Yosemite History Center, a collection of historic buildings, is located just over the covered bridge from the hotel. The Mariposa Grove is located 36 miles (one hour) south of Yosemite Valley, near the park's South Entrance. The Mariposa Grove is the largest stand of giant sequoias (also known as Sierra redwoods or big trees) in Yosemite.

You would also get to the Glacier Point turnoff before you get to the valley. The Valley is about 1 1/2 hours of beautiful scenery but windy roads before you get to teh valley.

The other spectacular part of Yosemite is the Crane Flat/Tulomne Meadows area that will eventually take you over the Tioga pass.

Because I live in N CA and go to Yosemite often, these other places appeal to me more than the Valley.

Ah, thank you, Suzie