LV to SF via Death Valley and Yosemite in 2 days

[Kalmuc]

Hello guys,

In 3 days I'm starting trip of my life with some friends and I have to plan part of this, which includes 2 days in DVNP and YNP. Now I am wondering if it is even possible. My plan is to start early morning from LV and get into DV throught death valley junction and see - Dantes View, Zabriske point, Badwater, devils golf course, golden canyon, mosquito sand dunes and after all go to lone pine/big pine, take some sleep and set off to the Yosemite early morning. But then I have no idea how manage my time to see as much as possible from Yosemite and be in San Francisco for a night. Can you suggest me some places which I have to see and for which are doable with my resource of time?

I appreciate all the answers and suggestions.

[DonnaR57]

Welcome to RTA!

Getting from Lone Pine to San Francisco, via Yosemite National Park and the Tioga Pass Road, is around 400 miles by itself. Because of the pass, the speed limits within the park, and many other factors, that's around 9-10 hours WITHOUT including stops at scenic viewpoints, going down into the Yosemite Valley or up to Glacier Point. Add those to the mix, you are looking at possibly a 16 hour day. Yipes! That's endangering yourselves, plus others on the road and in the park! Any way to get one more day in there?


Donna

[Midwest Michael]

It is possible to make this drive and see both parks in 2 days, but it means a pretty quick tours of both parks.

I will say that I would pretty strongly recommend trying to get quite a bit farther than Lone Pine the first night. I think you should try to make it to at least Mammoth Lakes, if not Lee Vining. That may mean you won't be able to do all the things on your Death Valley list, but as Donna indicated, if you are starting day 2 from Lone Pine, you'll have very little time to even take a quick look around Yosemite.