Las Vegas to Yosemite via Death Valley

[ssamiraa]

Hi,

We're arriving in Las Vegas on the 2nd of April and I'm having a little trouble sorting out a particular leg of our journey.

We're driving from Las Vegas through Death valley and then staying overnight at a Lone Pine on highway 395 (this is changeable if it doesnt fit with the plan!

Now here is where it gets tricky...

What is the best route (most likely to be open, do able in a one day, and scenic) from here to Yosemite.

I think there are two options:

1. Go north on the 395, past Yosemite, further north, so "going up, around and above it" via Carson Pass on route 88 then via Jackson south on the 49 and meet the 120 to go in to yosemite Valley.

Or

2. Go south on the 395 and then cut across west from Ridgecrest to Bakersfield on the 178 and then north on the 99 via Fresno and then the 41 into Yosemite from the south.


I need help to figure out which is realistic to do in a day and then secondly scenic and enjoyable.

I hope you can help!

Ssamiraa

I've been reading the posts on the forum, since i posted 30 or ss minutes ago, and my goodness, how popoular is this route and secondly, I've made so many more notes just by reading other posts...

Thank you everyone! What a great website!