road conditions yoesmite to furnace creek september 2006

[griswalds from downunder]

We are planning our big trip from san francisco to las vegas via yosemite and furnace creek leaving san fran on 14 sept spending one night at oakhurst and then going route 120 to furnace creek the next day. Would it be wiser to stay at Buck meadows or Oakhurst for time/travel distance and what is the usual time to furnace creek from yosemite? thank you

[Mark Sedenquist]

We are planning our big trip from san francisco to las vegas via yosemite and furnace creek

Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum!

leaving san fran on 14 sept spending one night at oakhurst and then going route 120 to furnace creek the next day.

I must be missing something here(?) You leave San Francisco on the 14th and plan to travel to Yosemite, see it and still make Oakhurst that first night? Depending upon how long you spend in Yosemite this could be a 20 hour day!

at oakhurst and then going route 120 to furnace creek the next day.

There is no easy or fast connection between Oakhurst and Furnace Creek. But the fastest possible route between these places would be via Fresno, Bakersfield, Techachapi, Barstow, Baker and then north on SR-127 to Shoshone and then either up Bad Water Road or up to Death Valley Junction at SR-190 to Furnace Creek. Such a journey would be about five hours. If you were to go by the far more scenic routes via US-395 and into the park from the west side, it would be about 8-9 hours.

If you use SR-120 over Tioga Pass (the most scenic) and south on US-395 the time will be in that 8-10 hour window, depending upon how often you stop and look around.

Mark

[griswalds from downunder]

thankyou for the time frame, we will look at staying at westgate lodge instead

[Mark Sedenquist]

thankyou for the time frame, we will look at staying at westgate lodge instead

Oh, I see. Yeah, if you stay at one of the western portals (north of Yosemite) it would make more sense to use SR-120 over Tioga Pass. And that is very doable. Groveland (where the Westgate Lodge is) is a pretty place, but walking around old-town Sonora is so much more fun, I would urge you to consider that. It is a pleasant drive from San Francisco to Sonora. On your way to Sonora, you could stop by Jamestown and check out the incomparable Railtown State Park! Get an early supper, a walk around this historic gold rush town and then an early start the next day for your exploration of Yosemite and the Tioga Pass area. Imagining a first visit to Yosemite, I would suggest that you allow ten hours between Sonora/Groveland and Furnace Creek. If you can squeeze in an extra night, I would suggest a stop over at either Mammoth Lakes or Bishop.

It will be an awesome trip!

Mark

[Mark Sedenquist]

Leaving san fran on 14 sept spending one night at oakhurst and then going route 120 to furnace creek the next day.

Since Oakhurst is south of the park entrance, I thought you intended to try and see all of Yosemite on the same day as the travel from San Francisco to Oakhurst. But in the subsequent posts, (above), I see that you intend to view Yosemite the second day.

So, another suggestion.... It is only about 3-4 hours from San Francisco to either Sonora or Groveland and I would suggest that you drive to the motel, and then head into the park in time to see the sunset at Glacier Point, (photo above taken by RTA member Pashnit) before returning to your motel outside of the park.

Hope that helps!

Mark

[griswalds from downunder]

thanks for the suggestions, we have booked to stay at cedar lodge in el portal as it seems close to to park and going over the toiga pass. The photo is amazing, cant wait to actually see it in person. thanks again. griswalds..