I'm trying to figure out the fastest route (driving) from Las Vegas to Yosemite National Park. We will be staying inside the park. It seems that entering from the east side would be the shortest distance, but does the mountain driving take longer than entering from the south (up from Fresno)? We leave in 2 days - any suggestions?

Audrey

Consider what you get when you enter from the east. Some pretty awesome views of Yosemite. Yosemite is not all valley floor and el cap! The east side entrance is spectacular and way more scenery than you'll get going up 99 through Fresno and Mariposa.

Also, check ahead to make sure the pass from the east is open. Don't know what the snow pack was like this year, but in years past it has been almost July before the road was cleared.

Low snow pack this year. Tioga Pass is open. This is a great time to go as the falls will be going but the park will be lower on visitors than come later in June on through the summer.

All very good advice, except to answer your question--the fastest way would be through Fresno and in on 41. Whichever way you get there do drive the Tioga Pass and see Mono Lake. Suzie's very correct that Yosemite is not just the valley floor. We were there early June two years ago--fantastic waterfalls. You'll need mosquito repellent.

Kam, don't you think it's shorter to go from Las Vegas up 395 to Lee Vining and into the park than to go from Las Vegas to 99 through Fresno, Mariposa and Fish Camp and into the park? Though the south entrance is quite nice and beautifully forested, the east entrance offers the sites of Yosemite right away with a view of Half Dome, Tulomne Meadows, etc. Far superior.

You guys are great!!

Thank you for the fast and helpful suggestions. I suspected that the Tioga Pass route would be the most scenic - it sounds like it is worth the extra driving time.

And Kam - thanks for the heads-up on the bugs. I will get some repellent!

Audrey

Suzie, I don't know about shortest, I was thinking fastest and you can really make time on 99. The east route is certainly prettier though.

Kam, so true about 99. But soooooo boring. I believe I've fallen into a trance driving on 99 from Bakersfield to Fresno.

Gives new meaning to "99 bottles of beer on the wall." to drive Bakersfield to Fresno on 99. Checked Mapquest though and they are saying it saves 2 hours. For Audrey, maybe fastest isn't best.

Mapblast and mapquest had really different travel times from Las vegas to lee vining or Fish camp. Why is that? I think looking at a regular map is sounding better all the time. 98 bottles.. 97 bottles.... ugh not worth it!

Suzie and Kam -

Can you actually see the sights (waterfalls, etc.) from the car as you are driving into Yosemite from Tioga Pass? I realize that it is more scenic, but would we have to pull over every few miles to see sights? I think that might make the trip too long for the kids.

Audrey

We drove this last July and with kids, 6 & 10. We stopped a couple of times because it's just so awesome. There are plenty of places to pull over. Driving right through would be fine too the scenery is fabulous from the car window. You'll have to put blinders on the driver to keep their attention on the road. haha. Actually, once you pass the east gate entrance to the park don't rush to the valley just to get to the lodging. You probably won't return to the eastern part of the park once you arrive in the valley. There are lakes and hikes all along the way to the valley and most of it is so tempting that you'll be dying to jump out of your car! Have a really great time.