Route from Redwood NF to Yosemite?

[jguttilla]

I only want to take one day to drive from Redwood to Yosemite, but want to bypass traffic. Any ideas or scenic drives? Must see's along the way or a good place to stop for lunch?

[Mark Sedenquist]

I only want to take one day to drive from Redwood to Yosemite, but want to bypass traffic. Any ideas or scenic drives? Must see's along the way or a good place to stop for lunch?

I am not sure where Redwood NF would be? Do you mean Redwood National Park? Up by Eureka? If so there is no way to drive from Redwood NP to Yosemite NP in one day -- and there is no way to bypass traffic, unless you use a helicopter. Perhaps you were thinking of something else?

Mark

[PNW Judy]

The most direct route is mostly on I-5 and is close to 600 miles. There are certainly many roads you can take to bypass I-5 but it's going to add both time and miles to the trip and would be a REALLY tough day of driving....a very long day.

With more info and clarification, we can help you better.

[jguttilla]

Since this would be a driving day only, how many hours would it take to drive it straight? I have done many trips straight 14 hours and haven't minded. We will be staying in Yosemite for 3 days so enough time to relax off the drive. I only want to stop for lunch. But if it can only be done in 2 days, where is a good in between spot to stop and camp over night? What route should we take?

[Mark Sedenquist]

Since this would be a driving day only, how many hours would it take to drive it straight?

I think it would be useful to back up a bit. How are you getting to Redwood NP (where are you coming from)? You would be missing some very scenic areas between Redwood NP and Yosemite and none of the Moderators on this board are even sure which Redwood park you are talking about. Let us know where you are driving from the day before you reach Redwood NP and why it is necessary for you to drive "straight thru" and we can offer alternative ideas, (maybe).

Mark

[jguttilla]

I'm sorry for the typos earlier, but I have seen the area around the park listed as Redwood National Forest and I'm not sure we are going to make it into the park at all. We will be traveling down the Oregon coast before heading to Yosemite. We will only have 6 days getting from Redwood to home which is in Breckenridge, Colorado, and I want to spend 2 full days in Yosemite. So, we will be stopping in Redwood after coming down the coast then heading straight to Yosemite for 2-3 days then driving to Colorado (2days drive). All I'm really looking for are some ideas on nice drives and towns to stop in, if we have time. Like I said before, I'm not worried about driving long days as long as I have enough time for the major stops. I would just like some help.

[roadie]

I checked maps.yahoo.com and it reported 497.5 miles from
Orick, CA to Yosemite Village and 10+ hours of drive time.

The route would take US101 to Hwy 299 to I-5 to Sacramento, Hwy 99
to Stockton, then taking Hwy 4 to Hwy 120 and on to Yosemite.

Hwy 299 along the Trinity River should be very scenic.

In Redding, they opened (2004) the Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay.
It's on my list of places to visit.

In Sacramento you could visit the State Capitol of California.
There's also Old Sacramento. Also in Old Sac is the
California State Railway Museum.

South of Sacramento, you can explore the Sacramento Delta.

Also in the delta region is the historic town of
Locke. Locke is an authentic town that was built by Chinese
immigrants ~1915.

An alternate route option would be to take Hwy 16 from
Sacramento to Hwy 49. That route would take you into
the California Gold Country. From Hwy 49, you can catch Hwy 120
into Yosemite. There are several historic towns along
the route. Towns like Jackson, Amador, Murphys,
and Columbia (State Park).

I hope you have some time to visit some spots along
the way.

Drive safely.

Road Trip America has all sorts of information.

Found this CA 49 link.