the drive from reno to yosemite
 

on the map is supposed to be quite pretty and take about 4 hours. Is that right?

Reno to Tuolomne Meadows is about 3.5 hours; to the Valley add 1.5 hours. It is indeed a beautiful drive down Hwy 395---after you get south of Carson City.

What time of year are you going?

Tioga Pass (Hwy 120 east of Yosemite Valley) closes with the first heavy snow and doesn't reopen until late spring/early summer when the road gets plowed. If you are going that time of year, then you will have to head over the mountains on I80 or I50 and then approach Yosemite from the west.

We do the drive from Tahoe to Mammoth every summer so I’m pretty familiar with the trip. I assuming you will leave soon and you will have a really lovely drive. Unless you run in to horrendous traffic or roadwork you should plan for the trip from Reno to Lee Vining to take about 2.5 hours give or take. From Lee Vining to the valley take a bit of time especially if you stop to view the amazing sights like Olmsted Point (yes named for the landscape architect of the Chicago Worlds Fair) and Tenaya Lake. It most likely will take more than 1.5 hours so the total driving time will be more than the 4 hours. Stop at the Jolly Cone in Bridgeport to get a milkshake to be fortified for the rest of your trip. Pick up a lunch or picnic meal at the Whoa Nellie Deli at the Tioga Gas Station on your left just after you turn onto 120.

Have a wonderful time!

Good evening. Is this a daytrip you are taking? Just wondering as I will be in South Lake Tahoe Oct 21-26 and am debating a drive to Yosemite myself. I live in Florida so, I want to see everything I can in my short trip.

Thanks.

Kristin

I just made this drive last weekend and the fall colors were all over. It is really an amazing trip. If you get hungry along the way Topaz Lodge has a very very good chicken fried steak breakfast!
Bodie is a ghost town which is worth a stop (and at least an hour or two) you wont find a better example of a ghost town.

If snow is in the air you can come over to the west side of Yosemite and go in that way. From Reno you can come over to east shore Lake Tahoe and at south shore hit Hwy 50 west to Hwy 49 south and follow the signs to the park. If you have more time take Hwy 89 from south shore to Hwy 88 west to Hwy 49 and south.

Hwy 88 is plowed all year around and is a better ride that Hwy 50.

We are having really warm weather at the current time and it doesn't look like that will change any time soon. So at least for October all passes should be open.

I am not a real fan of Hwy 395 south from Reno. It think it is to dry and brown, but thats just me.

youngtom is already back he went in Sept.

I second panhandle's suggestion that you make the short detour to Bodie State Park--a great ghost town that has not been turned into a theme village with gift shops, casinos, etc.

Again I say, youngtom has already come and gone. His trip was in Sept!!!