Hi guys!
Im going to travel from SF to Las Vegas and I have 1 night to spend in Yosemite. Dates? february 27/28.
I read that some routes/paths are close in that part of the year, so I wanna know if it's worth it.
In the case of yes, what do you recommend? I know is few time to spend over there, but I will be happy if I left the place with a "mental picture".
Im going to have a rented car, so I don't want any problem with that like use tire chains.
Thanks!!!
The only problem with traveling from San Francisco to Las Vegas by way of Yosemite NP is Tioga Pass. It will be closed in February. The other high Sierra Nevada passes will also be closed in all likelibood. You may have to divert North to US-50 or I-80, or divert south around the southern end of the mountain range through Bakersfield. Either route is a couple hundred miles or so longer. The more scenic is the Northern route, US-50 or I-80.
Tire chains are between you and the rental car company. Chains are a pain to use. The State of California will tell you when they are mandatory. They can do serious damage to a car which is the reason car rental companies despise them. If you are unused to driving on snow, and the "chain laws" are in effect, that is your clue to stay in bed and sleep late at a motel.
If there is a storm, and chains are required, they will be required to get into Yosemite, as well as within the park. Chain controls can be in effect for a few hours or a few days, depending on the storm. Even when the snow stops, chains may still be required if the road is icy. Sleeping late in hopes the controls will be lifted may not always help. When chain control are in effect, both the Highway Patrol and the Park Service will rigorously enforce them. You won't just get a ticket; you will not be allowed to drive unless you put them on.
"Chains" actually means "approved traction devices." Some of these are heavy plastic cables rather than metal chains, and are easier to put on and take off. On some highways, you may find licensed chain installers who will do this for a fee. The roads into Yosemite may not have these.
Tire chains in Yosemite talks about all this, and suggests an alternative.
How many nights do you have for this trip, only 1?
You'd probably be better off visiting Yosemite, stay the night and return to SF or Sacramento then fly to Las Vegas.
Check for chain requirements at http://www.dot.ca.gov/ for road conditions and chain requirements, not at the car rental agency.
You have 2 routes from Yosemite to Las Vegas, both would be best with an overnight somewhere.
The very boring ugly route of Yosemite-Bakersfield-Las Vegas is a solid 8 hours at least and a complete waste of time, unless you make a detour to death Valley it's a horrible tedious route, fly!
The other route is via South Lake Tahoe, incredibly scenic but you'll need chains to be safe and an overnight somewhere.
Chains-cables are only about $50-60 bucks and easy to put on, lot of places have chain-cable people to put them on for you on the side of the road, they know where the chain-cable requirements are.
You'll probably need chain/cables in Yosemite as well in February, most likely.
When I said the use of chains is between you and the car rental company, I meant that I would read the fine print in the rental contract before putting chains on a rental.
I would also opine that if the chain laws were in force for three days straight, YOU WOULD BE SLEEPING LATE IN A MOTEL IF YOU WERE VERY LUCKY. That said, and this has never happened to me, but I have it on good authority that being snowed-in at Truckee CA because snow closed I-80 is an experience not to be missed.
That said, and this has never happened to me, but I have it on good authority that being snowed-in at Truckee CA because snow closed I-80 is an experience not to be missed.
You mean you can eat very well ... and cheaply too?
I'm going to travel from SF to Las Vegas and I have 1 night to spend in Yosemite. Dates? february 27/28.
Does this mean you wish to go from SF to LV with just one night in between, and in Yosemite NP? This is unrealistic and impractical, even in the best of weather.
As suggested above, use the two days to visit Yosemite NP if you wish (and the weather is good)- and then just fly from SF. But if you must get the vehicle to Las Vegas then just drive it in two long days - without a stop in Yosemite NP.
So you have two days total to get from SF to LV, and you want to make a stop in Yosemite along the way? If that's actually your schedule, you have very few options. Anything involving Yosemite requires an overnight within or very near the park:
1) Drive to Yosemite early, spend the afternoon and night, return to SF the next day and catch an evening flight to LV.
2) Drive to Yosemite early, spend the afternoon and night, spend the next day on a miserable marathon of highway miles, through Bakersfield to Vegas.
3) if the weather is good, skip Yosemite and drive to Vegas via Tahoe, south on 395 through Bishop and across Death Valley. Its a long drive for two days, and you'll miss Yosemite, but you'll be treated to Lake Tahoe, the spectacular views of the Sierra Nevada from Hwy 395, and Death Valley. A worthy trade on a trip of this sort, IMHO.
This topic has been automatically locked due to inactivity. Email community@lonelyplanet.com if you would like to add to this topic and we'll unlock it for you.