From Yosemite to Death Valley in May
 

Hello.

At the end of May, the 29th, I will be travelling from Yosemite to the Death Valley. I will arrive in Yosemite in the afternoon and I have to reach the Death valley in the evening of the following day (30th). I think Tioga pass will be closed. What about highway 108, sonora pass?

Otherwise, which is the best way to reach the Death Valley? If the detour is too long I can think to move the hotel from the Death Valley to another city a few hours before the Valley and reach it on the 31th morning. It there something good to see aorund there?

Thanks.

www.dowvillamotel.com/history.html

is cool have stayed there better than death valley

mapquest.com for detour options if pass is closed.

Lone Pine is very far if I Tioga is close, because I think to have to pass through Bakersfield, west of Sequoia ...

Mapquest (and NPS) predict the Tioga Pass to be open on or about May 15. Check with the National Park Service website or call them before guessing when it will be open.
From Bakersfield to DV via Mojave, Little Lake and CA 190 is 229 miles in 4.0 hours.

I will check your proposal.
I knew this year Tioga pass will open in second half of June, because of the snow. Where can you read predictions?

> Mapquest (and NPS) predict the Tioga Pass to be open on or about May 15

You have GOT to be kidding! Here's what the NPS is REALLY saying:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tioga.htm

Snow depths in Yosemite this winter were 178% of the thirty year average.
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tiogaopen.htm
The last time snow was that heavy, Tioga did not open till June 1st.

Note that Tioga has been open on May 15th only four times in the last twenty years, and those years the snow packs were 46%, 83%, 67%, and 58% of average.

Open by May 15th? Ain't gonna happen.

May 15th for Tioga Pass to be open is totally laughable. They'll be lucky to get it opened by June 15th with the snow depth. In addition to a big snow year it has been a pretty cool spring so the snow melt has been slower.

You might want to leave the valley on get away day, drive to the south and see Mariposa Grove and then leave through the south gate on 41. Then take 99 south towards Bakersfield and then off to DV. That would be the best way to make it to DV by the evening. Long day though.

Tioga Pass opening May 15 is ridiculous.

I do wish folks would post what they actually know and not wild guesses.

psycolor: "<i>will arrive in Yosemite in the afternoon and I have to reach the Death valley in the evening of the following day (30th).</i>"

Sorry -- but this simply isn't practical. You arrive in YNP in the afternoon and then have to leave early the next morning and drive nearly 10 hours through the armpit of CA - Fresno, Bakersfield, and on to DV. That is a looooong 10 hours drive that doesn't include any stops/meals.

So essentially you have a few hours in Yosemite and a whole day on the road.

None of the east west passes in the high sierras will be open, except for the lake tahoe road. Mammoth Mtn is planning on snow skiing until 4th of July, based on snow pack. Death valley is neat but, maybe try Sequioa nat'l park, it is a lot more accessible from yosemite on the west side of sierras.

OCdogsmom: "<i>maybe try Sequioa nat'l park, it is a lot more accessible from yosemite on the west side of sierras.</i>"

Of course you are right -- but the OP says they "have" to be in DV by that night. Sure hope that isn't literally/totally the case because that will be one hell of a day . . . .

Carson Pass, Highway 88 is open now but this is going to add another 200 miles to your route. From Yosemite Valley to Furnace Creek area via Hwy 88 is 510 miles. You might consider stopping at Bishop, CA which is a nice little town. So is Lone Pine, but make sure you can get lodging before setting out. You will be traveling over the Memorial Day weekend so things are going to be booked!

Another less scenic options is to drop down to Bakersfield and come up Hwy 395 from the south. This options is only 450 miles and less mountain driving so it could be done in a day if you get an early start.

Utahtea

utahtea's Bakersfield route is the one I mentioned above that will take 9-10 hours plus stops.

Thanks. Then I will try to add another day and make an intermediate stop.

If you wanted to leave your CA rental car at Fresno, you could take Allegiant Airlines Fresno to Las Vegas on the 29th. The fare on Sunday 5/29 is very cheap. Car rentals are cheaper in LV for your trip to Death Valley. http://www.allegiantair.com/aaIndex.php

>>None of the east west passes in the high sierras will be open, except for the lake tahoe<<

We drove over the Carson Pass/88 last week.

>>You might consider stopping at Bishop, CA which is a nice little town. So is Lone Pine,<<

We had planned to stay in Bishop for the night. In the early 60s, I remembered staying there with my parents to/from Lake Tahoe & thought it was a neat town. We drove to Bishop from Death Valley last week, had lunch, walked around, and proceeded on to Lake Tahoe - where we stayed instead. Now that I am 40 years older - I'de give Bishop about a F+ compared to other cities I've visied in the US & Europe. Didn't see much of interest in Lone Pine either. The views of the eastern Sierras were fantastic, however.

janisj's description of Frenso & other central valley cities is quite accurate, IMO. We tried to stay off '99 as much as possible by driving as close to the Sierras as as we could (many roads were closed). Yokohl Valley Dr from Exeter (suburb of Fresno) to Springville was very scenic. We then drove to Lake Isabella (underwhelmed), and over the Sierras on 178 to Ridgecrest - and we went on elsewhere - but the road to Death Valley is right outside of Ridgecrest .

Stu Dudley

One further note.

I used Mapquest to plan our 2 3/4 week trip through the southwest US - visiting many national parks. I constantly "bettered" the mapquest times on long straight roads where we usually exceeded the speed limit - like everyone else. On one stretch, Mapquest said it tould take 6 hrs & we did it in 4 1/2 - and the first 45 mins of that route (leaving Sedona) was on winding roads where we did not "beat" the mapquest times. I was able to go from Death Valley to South Lake Tahoe much faster than I had planned - even with multiple stops along the way.

Stu Dudley

"<i>Thanks. Then I will try to add another day and make an intermediate stop</i>"

That's the problem. There is no intermediate stop that makes any sense. To spend even one night of valuable vacation time in someplace like Bakersfield is a total waste. I used the term 'armpit' -- but it is really a different/less attractive body part.

Tell us your full itinerary. Are you headed on to Las Vegas, or LA, or someplace else? Maybe we can help you w/ rearranging things so it makes sense. But to add a night and use it to stay in B'field - there is nothing to see in the area.

And -- will you have a rental or are you driving your own car? That could make a difference on how to do this.

I just did that route 3 weeks ago - and I agree with janisj. We stayed in Visalia for the night because of some reviews in the Fodors guide to California - but it was a big "nothing".

Stu Dudley

And Visalia is 10000% better than some of the other options. Sad but true :)

But in any case, Visalia really isn't far enough since that still leaves a 7 hour drive (plus stops) the next day.