Best (Spring) route from Quartzite to Yosemite?

[DaveMatthewsBand]

We’ve been boondocking in Arizona since November and probably won’t leave till about April (or May?). We’re going to be spending the Summer in Oregon again this year so we would like to “swing by” Yosemite since it’s on our bucket list.

I was hoping to draw on the experiences of fellow members to map out a route that is feasible for towing a trailer up to that neck of the woods.

We purchased a Thousand Trails membership so we can park close to attractions like this that don’t offer boondocking anywhere close, so we could stay there if need be.

I can look at maps online but that won’t tell me what the roads usually look like that time of year or which, if any, are normally inaccessible, etc.

I’d appreciate hearing from anyone with experience towing through that area in April/May.

Thanks



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[Bako88fan]

You're fortunate that the roads are pretty good and straightforward. you can connect to I-40 if you head north on 95. Then I-40 in Barstow ends at I-15. You'll head south on 15, through Barstow to CA State Hwy 58. You'll heard west on 58 over the Tehachapi mountains and to Bakersfield. That time of the year, Tehachapi is usually wide open. You'll head up and over the pass at 4100' and it's a gradual rise on a 6 lane highway. Occasionally, you'll run into snow over Tehachapi and instead of dealing with sponouts, the CHP just shuts the road down. At that point, you'll be waiting at Mojave for the pass to open. There lots of BLM land to camp on if you get stuck.

If you get delayed, head north on 14 out of Mojave for a cool side trip to Jawbone Canyon state rec area. Jawbone has some of the most interesting geology in the Mojave Desert and is a beautiful place to stay.

At Bakersfield, you'll head north on State Hwy 99 through the central valley. You have some options. You can try State Hwy 41 through Fresno to Coarsegold and Oakhurst, which is the south entrance to Yosemite.

You may also decide to continue north on 99 to State Hwy 108 and head east to Central Yosemite. Both ways into Yosemite are an easy drive with good roads and are open during that time of the year.

To check road conditions, you can monitor cad.chp.ca.gov

Have fun!

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[TucsonJim]

I like to go to Yosemite via Hwy 395. It's very scenic north of Bishop California.

Jim

[Bako88fan]

I like to go to Yosemite via Hwy 395. It's very scenic north of Bishop California.

Jim

Absolutely! Unfortunately, we've had so much snow out here - with 8 ft expected later this week! What that means is that the roads into Yosemite may not be open from 395 up and over the eastern Sierra, especially around April when runoff will cause significant road flooding.

We camped in Big Pine a few weeks ago when there was a massive storm that came through. Over 100 vehicles were stranded near Bridgeport and one Mammoth resort was snowed in for five days. The resort guests, most who travel from Los Angeles on the weekends missed work and school because they couldn't be easily dug out!

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[JCZhome]

Tioga Pass usually doesn't open until May or June. I would expect it to be even later this year, due to the heavy snowfall so late in the season. This graph shows the dates that Tioga has opened in past years:


https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tiogaopen.htm

[TucsonJim]

Absolutely! Unfortunately, we've had so much snow out here - with 8 ft expected later this week! What that means is that the roads into Yosemite may not be open from 395 up and over the eastern Sierra, especially around April when runoff will cause significant road flooding.

We camped in Big Pine a few weeks ago when there was a massive storm that came through. Over 100 vehicles were stranded near Bridgeport and one Mammoth resort was snowed in for five days. The resort guests, most who travel from Los Angeles on the weekends missed work and school because they couldn't be easily dug out!

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We camped near Bridgeport many years ago and had several inches of snow in August! Love that area.

Jim

[dennysbabe]

I like to go to Yosemite via Hwy 395. It's very scenic north of Bishop California.

Jim

We like that route too but I doubt Tioga Pass will be open that early in the year.

Phyllis

[orbiker]

395 is easy, but there is not as much to see. With your small 5'er you could easily go north on 49 after visiting Yosemite from Yosemite Lakes Thousand Trails. Stay there the whole 2 weeks and venture all over Yosemite NP. Make sure and purchase the yearly pass to get into all the National Parks.

HERE is a link to CA Gold Country. There are lots of Forest Service campgrounds and other places to stay. The old towns are interesting and there are also many museums to visit. Ask the people in the museums for local info and the next camping spot.

Maybe JC can give you more tips about that area. KEN

[JCZhome]

If you're still in Q, I would suggest jumping up to I-40 and go west to Barstow then Ca58 to Bakersfield, to Ca 99 North to Ca 41 North in Fresno through Oakhurst. I believe there's a TT around Oakhurst. When you're done, like Ken suggested, just go north on Ca 49 for a very interesting and scenic (but slow) drive through much of California's gold rush of 1849 (thus, Hwy 49).

[JCZhome]

By the way, you'll be going to Yosemite the best time of the year! All of those waterfalls will be flowing full force!