Week May 12: Vegas to Death Val to Yosemitie

[David Claudio]

Hello, on May 12 I'd like to start a trip from Las Vegas to Death Valley, then up to Sequoia/Kings Canyon Park, and then to Yosemitie... I have 4 or 5 days for the trip. Am concerned about late spring road conditions. I don't know the area at all. Wondering how many stops to make and where (the usual :-) Would be so grateful for any advice! Thank you, David

[Southwest Dave]

Hello and welcome to the RTA forums !

Unfortunately the weather and road conditions are not predictable this far in advance, but you have a good chance of things being settled, especially at lower elevations. The high ground in Yosemite and Kings Canyon might not be accessable, but so far this year the snow pack has been light.

What you don't make fully clear is whether you have 4 or 5 days to get to Yosemite, to include time in Yosemite, or to include getting back to Vegas, or on to elsewhere ?

I would recommend at least a couple of nights around Yosemite to get at least a day and a half to sight see. You could spend a night in Death valley, Stovepipe Wels or Panamint Springs would be OK as Furnace Creek is a little to close to Vegas, or you could drive through and spend a night near Lake Isabella. Next day continue into Sequoia NP and find park lodgings, or something near Fresno before continuing to Yosemite. If you are heading back to Vegas you might find the Tioga Pass to be open [CA120] and you could drive across the Sierra's to Mono Lake on 395. If this were the case then you could leave Death Valley for your return journey and if Tioga is open would make a nice loop with Death Valley on the natural path back to Vegas.