yosemite from Vegas?
 

is two nights in Yosemite enough for non hikers?

I thought we would get up at 4am in Vegas ride the motorcycle across Death Valley at dawn and go all the way to Yosemite. I know it is a long ride but we want to get there. When is the best time to go over Tioga pass? Least traffic?

Not sure it matters what time you go over. You did not mention what time of year you are going, but Tioga Pass is usually open mid-late June through September depending on the snowpack.

-Bill

When is the best time to go over Tioga Pass? Preferably AFTER it opens -- and that may not be till late June!

www.nps.gov/yose/trip/tioga.htm

2 nights in Yosemite is better than one, but if you've got an extra night to spare, this would be a good place to spend it. Even for non-hikers, there is a lot to see.

Traffic over Tioga Pass is light. Traffic on 395 is light. You'll be fine provided you are going during the summer.

Hey thanks for the replys.

I forget to say we will be doing this mid July.

That's why the plans to cross Death Valley very very early. And get to Yosemite.

Decided yesterday that was too far in one day,and try to get into the park too. We will try to stay in the Benton Hot Springs I think. I found out there is a B & B there with hotsprings tubs. What did people ever do without the internet? Fodors forums has helped me so much on my last trip "out west" Then enter Yosetime in the morning.

Also I'm thinking of staying at a B&B in West Yosemite. My husband is worried about his motorcycle getting stolen. And I can't get reservations at the lodge. Curry tent cabins are out. That's all reservation says are available.Sounds like parking is a ways from the cabins. I'm worried about bears besides. In Yellowstone the cabins we stayed in you could park beside them. The lodge might not be bad.

But my husband has already had a dream about getting his motorcycle stolen. And we pull a small cargo trailer too. It's nice to drop that and be able to ride with out it. Staying at a B & B worked out real well several times for us on our last trip.

I would like to stay in the valley though. I would chance it for the lodge I think. But West Yosetime sounds very close. We could get up real early (we do that allot on trips to beat the heat and traffic) and ride into the valley.

thanks, Jeannie

You might want to consider Mariposa - this is a beatiful area and there are private homes for rent as well as a lodge(This is inside the park but aways from the valley).

Agree with you on the Curry tent cabins - I would avoid them at all cost! We stayed there one year and regretted it.

There are some nice campgrounds outside of the valley which are very roomy, but I didn't know if you camped.

Good luck - I love the Yosemite Area.

no camping this trip. We've camped allot.

But it's too much riding on motorcycle thorugh the desert, snowing in the high country, getting rained on, wind beating you up, to camp in it too! Coming from Michigan you're riding into the prevailing winds across the plains too. Really cuts down on your gas milage!