Central Californians, I need your advice on directions!

Our family of 4 has a 3-night "side" trip booked in Yosemite from June 30th to July 3rd (2 nights at The Ahwahnee, 1 night at Yosemite Lodge). We are flying in to San Jose from our home in Kansas City the previous Saturday. We leave our "base" in Milpitas on that Monday am, and plan to enter the south park entrance on 41, with a stop at Wawona Hotel for lunch, followed by a tour of Mariposa Grove.

AAA has recommended the following route: I-680N/I-580E/I-205E/I-5N/CA-120E/CA-99S/CA-140E/CA-49E/CA-41N. I've read of a southerly route that includes 101S and CA-152 east. However, I understand that 152 is an accident-prone, 2-lane roadway. Any suggestions or comments? I'm more interested in an easier route than the shortest one. Thanks!

I would go with the AAA route that you were given. 680/580/etc. is most likely quicker than the other since you will be travelling on freeways with carpool lanes. The area on 152 that people refer to as accident prone is alon Pacheco Pass. It's know for head on crashes being that its a 2 lane rural road. One of my teachers in high school died on that very road from such an accident.

Hwy 152 is a 2 lane highway for about 15 miles east of Gilroy, then becomes 4 lanes the rest of the way. The 2 lane stretch of hwy 152 has had some head on collisions because there is no center divider, but I do not believe it is any more dangerous than any other 2 lane highway.

I think that time wise, it's about the same. Since you will be traveling out of the Bay Area on a Monday morning, traffic isn't an issue - it will all be going the other way.

As far as ease, the AAA recommended route has more junctions. The other route is more straightforward because there are fewer roads.

I prefer the 152 route because you get out of the city quicker and into the country. The route over 580 will take you through miles of urban sprawl.

I would not use the AAA route. There are 3 western entrances to Yosemite, there route is really geared for the northern most entrance on 120, but you want to access the southern most entrance on 41. Do a search on Yahoo Maps for driving directions from Milpitas, CA to Fish Camp, CA (the last city before park entrance on Hwy. 41). This provides the best route. Forget the dangerous Hwy BS.

By the way, when entering on 41, Mariposa is south of entrance and Wawona and Valley hotels are north of entrance. If you go to Wawona first and Mariposa Grove second, you will have to backtrack, then backtrack again to get to your hotel in the valley. If you enter the park on Hwy. 140, which is the most beautiful portal, your route once inside the park has less backtracking.

The AAA route is the best one. I have driven both and the 101/152 route is as alow as mollasses, especially if you get stuck behind an RV. Also, if you take 101 from Milpitas it will require you to drive into San Jose. Mroning traffic on 101 heading into the city can be a real pain. Milpitas is right next to the 680 freeway, and on 680 north you will be traveling in the non-commute direction.

Thanks to all for your input. We're going with the AAA-recommended route, if for no other reason than to avoid the Hwy. 101 morning traffic into San Jose.

The choice of routes is pretty much a wash, but you might find the 680/580 road a bit easier. In either case, when you exit US99 in Madera for CA140, try to look ahead for the signs, the route through town is not well marked.