csabbar
Kenosha, WI USA
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We're hoping to take a long road trip next June/July to California (from Wisconsin) We'll be heading a cross Utah and Nevada, hopefully passing through Lakek Tahoe and then to Yosemite. We have a 34 ft Class A, and we try to avoid roads that go on ledges with low or no guard rails, like those in Rocky Mountain NP or the San Juan Skyway in Colorado. What would be the best way to get from Lake Tahoe to a CG with electrical around Groveland or somewhere near Yosemite?
Thanks,
Carol
Carol and Morgan Sabbar
Ken and Jeff, the teenagers
1996 Bounder 34P Here it is by Bryce Canyon:
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othertonka
Stockton, CA
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From Tahoe, take hwy 50 West to Sacramento, and then either Interstate 5 South or hyw 99 South through Stockton and on to Hwy 120 East at Manteca. Take 120 E through Oakdale and on up to Groveland. There is about a 8 mile section of Hwy 120 called Priest Grade before you get to Groveland that climbs and turns but it is doable. Going up this grade, you can have the co Pilot look up the hill and see most of the vehicles that are coming down so you can have a heads up if you see a logging truck or some other large vehicle coming down as you approach the turns.
Some people might suggest that you go back from Tahoe to Carson City and take 395 South and then take Hwy 120 West over Tioga Pass. I don't recommend this route as it is steep and tight turns. Nice drive in a car though. The other route into Yosemite is Hwy 140 from Merced through Mariposa, but that highway has had rock slides and is limited to vehicles 20 feet or shorter.
I think there is a pretty nice RV park in Groveland but I have never stopped there.
Yosemite Pines
PS. Don't even consider Hwy 108 West, Sonora Pass, it is real narrow and steep and not recommended at all for RV travel.
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Golden_HVAC
Fulltime, CA, USA
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The Tioga Pass is very senic, and if YOU LIKE 9,900 foot pass with great views, and like to look 3 or 4 miles downhill at the road below you, then go ahead, but while there are guardrails, there are also 3,000+ foot tall cliffs. And that 9% grade from 395 to Tioga Pass is a long mountian grade, where you could overheat.
So the drive from Lake Tahoe west on SR 50 is a very nice one in comparison. The other two routes - on highway 89 are much steeper - up to 22%, so take highway 50 if you can. I have been over highway 50 several times in the past two years towing my car behind my RV. It is a good drive, a bit winding, but only one tall pass. With Lake Tahoe at 6,500 feet, it really is difficult to avoid going over a 8,000 foot pass when getting into or out of the lake.
I am always coming from the south (Los Angles) into Yosemite, so I would be taking highway 41 north from Fresno to the valley. The other routes will work well, but I have not taken them.
If you plan on seeing the Grand Canyon, then I recomend going to Barsto and then west to Bakersfield, then north to Fresno. Buy fuel in Fresno, because if they sell fuel in Yosemite or that area, then they have to pay a lot of extra fees for the enviroment, so the fuel will get very expensive near the valley - say $4 + per gallon.
If you do want to drive across the very hot Nevada, then make sure that you fuel up before crossing into California, when I went from Carson City south of highway 395 last summer, the price went from $2.85 in Carson City to well over $4.29 just 85 miles south in Bishop.
You might want to go north from Yosemite to highway 50, then east to Lake Tahoe, then east to Carson City (also HWY 50) where there is a Costco just south of highway 50 when you come off the pass from Lake Tahoe (turn right at the first signal, then turn right at the next signal about 300 feet south of HWY 50).
I found Monument Valley on the Arizona / Utha border very interesting, and stayed at the Indian campground about 4 miles east of the highway interchange, overlooking the "Mittens".
If you arrive at Yosemite from the south on highway 41, take the first right when you enter the park and look at the "Grizzley Giant" a tree that is 33 feet across. Yes that is a big tree - if they had made it into a tunnel tree you could have driven a semi through it with room to pass. The nearby tunnel tree can be riden through with a horse with plenty of room for your hat.
It is only about 4 miles from the entrance station to the parking area for the trees. Well worth the trip.
Make sure that you take your RV out of overdrive when decending mountain grades, and if you require a lot of braking, then slowing to 45 and shiffting to second gear might be required (for a 4 speed, but 3rd gear on a 5 speed).
Fred.
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GaryDuarte
Florence, S.C.
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Last summer we went from Tahoe to Yosimite. We went west on the 50 to the 89. It is right by the agriculture check point. Turn left, south. Up and over the Luther Pass to Hope Valley. To the 88/89. Turn left toward Markliville. When you get to Woodford the road splits, stay on the 89 ( right). A couple miles past Markliville you turn left up and over Moniter Pass. This is a pretty good climb and when you get to the top, the views of Nevada are beautiful. This will take you down to the 395 just below Topaz Lake. Go south on 395 to Lee Vinig, you get on the 120 there and head into Yosimite.
Just before Lee Vinig you can go to a neet ghost town called Bodie. Really interesting. It's a lot of driving for one day but anywhere along the 89 or 395 there are all kinds of little campgrounds to spend the night, many alongside of some rivers and streams. Lots of beautiful country.
I did this with my 34 Class A without any problems.
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Sing4Mi
Fresno
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Tioga Pass
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Hap Hazard
Mammoth Lakes
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csabbar,
Othertonka had the best information for you. I live in the Sierra's and just came through Yosemite 2 days ago. Take 50 west to Sacramento, then take 99 south, the 5 will take you farther west then you need to be and you'll just end up back tracking. Old Priest Grade is a pain no matter what you do. Just be ready for it and enjoy the drive. In Groveland check out the Iron Door Saloon.
The time of year you are planning will have lots of traffic and you need to make your reservations ASAP.
Hap
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othertonka
Stockton, CA
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Hap Hazard wrote:csabbar,
Othertonka had the best information for you. I live in the Sierra's and just came through Yosemite 2 days ago. Take 50 west to Sacramento, then take 99 south, the 5 will take you farther west then you need to be and you'll just end up back tracking. Old Priest Grade is a pain no matter what you do. Just be ready for it and enjoy the drive. In Groveland check out the Iron Door Saloon.
The time of year you are planning will have lots of traffic and you need to make your reservations ASAP.
Hap
Just as a side note, on Hwy 120 East, at "Mocasin", there is an OLD Priest Grade and a NEW Priest Grade. You want the NEW Priest grade. You have to really make an effort to use the OLD Priest grade and make a turn off and pass all kind of signs warning you NOT to USE the OLD Priest grade as it is REAL STEEP, STRAIGHT UP. NOT RECOMMENDED FOR RV'S. You will see cars use it, but not trucks. Just thought I would pass this on
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Hap Hazard
Mammoth Lakes
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othertonka,
You are correct - don't use the old road. We can't stand to take the new road with all the traffic, but it is the only way to go in an RV. I've often wondered how people got to Groveland prior to the new roadway. Must of used another road?
Hap
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JTMO
Novato, CA
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No, you can still see those people's cars on the mountainside to this day on old Priest grade. Some made it, some did not.
Still funny to this day to see the brakes red hot at night.......
Unless they are yours, or behind you 
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