Best route DFW to Yosemite?

Rubbin, do you just want to drive to get to Yosemite, or are you interested in the most scenic route? I can't give you info on the Texas to California route, but I can give you info on the rest of your route. If it were me, I'd hang a right off of 40 at Kingman, Arizona. That takes you across the new bridge in front of Hover Dam and then into Vegas.

Then depending on how hot it is in September you can take 160 north out of Vegas up to Pahrump and take a right on Highway 190. That takes you through Death Valley National Park. Follow 190 to 395 (or cut off on 136 to 395) and you come out in Lone Pine. Lone Pine is at the base of Mt. Whitney which is the tallest mountain in the lower 48. An interested rock formation area called the Alabama Hills is also right there. You'll recognize the Alabama Hills when you see them because you've seen them in dozens of old west movies as well as some modern movies and TV commercials.

From Lone Pine go North on 395 (there are all kinds of things to see on the way) and then take 120 into Yosemite from the backside.

This is NOT the easiest route and there are some steep two lane roads, but it is the most scenic route through California into Yosemite.

On Google Maps enter Dallas and Yosemite as your end points, and under options click 'avoid highways'. This routes you through Santa Fe, Farmington, Page, Cedar City, Caliente, Tonopah, and CA120 into the park from the east side. By some definitions that is the best route. Not the shortest and not the fastest, but an interesting mix of scenic and lonely.

I believe I would take US 287 (Wichita Falls then to Amarillo & I-40). I-20 ends at joining I-10, which would be going the wrong direction until finally going to the Los Angles area.

Overnighting along US 287 between Dallas/Fort Worth Area to Amarillo.

Near Santa Rosa just Off I-40, Santa Rosa Lake State Park would be another nice place to overnight. Never been there myself.

:C If interested in any sight seeing enroute, Santa Fe is a neat area one could do a detour to see. A really neat area to see: Santa Fe & Bandelier Nat'l Mon't -A Trip Report last summer.
More on the Santa Fe Area Expanded.

One may go to Santa Fe, from I-40 using take US 285 from Cline's Corners to I-25. Entry to I-25 is close to Glorieta Pass & Pecos: Civil War Battlefield and Pecos Nat'l Historic Park, the remains of an Indian pueblo.

Use I-25 to reach ABQ & I-40 W.


Lunch Stop on US 285 between I-25 & I-40 about 5 miles to I-40 & Cline's Corners. Only one of two places on the drive to stop. The other one is just south of the Lamy turn off.


Paved Shoulders are good along this route.

We got good Asian at Jinja Bar & Bistro in Santa Fe last summer.

Someone at the AAA office recommended Tortilla Flats in Santa Fe; it prove to be very good as well.

Normally, we would eat on the Plaza, from Cart Vendors, such as Roque's Carnitas. Cart Cuisine, but they were not there that week-end. Due to the 'Santa Fe Indian Market', "a 91-year-old Native art market", we didn't find the normal street food venders on the Plaza.

Sights & Sites in Flagstaff - Gallup - Grants- to Santa Fe Plus an old post some links may not be working anymore.

This was a neat place to camp and visit (have not been to in it many years), even with a museum nearby, all close to Gallup at Red Rock/Churchrock just off of I-40 east of town. It was a state park when we used it.
http://www.campingroadtrip.com/campgrounds/campground/campground/11212/new-mexico/red-rock-state-park

Blue Water Lake State Park, by Grants, west of Albu'que on I-40. Bluewater not a bad area, but more of a fishing site. But not at all bad for an overnight, even some hiking trails. http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD/bluewaterlakestatepark.html

NM State Parks are a good bargain. $10 without electric, $4 more for electric. Most have nice showers (no extra cost) & no entry fee or day fee on top of camping fee as in TX & CO. The one by Santa Fe is one which doesn't have showers.

El Morro National Monument is neat to see & has a small campground; there is a private campgound near by as well. Near Grants or can be reached from Gallup. We went from Gallup to Zuni Pueblo then to El Morro (we lingered too long at the Pueblo and didn't get to hike the trial at El Morro, got there too late in the day; its a neat trail too, we had hiked it before). Of course one could go to it from Grants as well.
http://www.nps.gov/elmo/index.htm

Take I-15 S in Barstow, then take CA 58 W toward Barkersfield; CA 99 N to CA 41 N toward Yosemite.

Closest route would be to go to Las Vegas, but this would take you to the East side of the park near Mono Lake above Mammoth Lake area. We entered via the East (from Lake Tahoe) & the climb into Yosemite is quite steep with many twists & curves. Tioga Pass

At Kingman, Google maps has one taking US 93 to Vegas; US 95 to NV 266/264 to US 6 W to CA-120 W to US-395 N, then CA-120 W/Tioga Rd (Tioga Pass)

However, I've read nice reports of camping in the June Lake area. http://www.rvparkreviews.com/regions/California/June_Lake.html

http://www.campsitephotos.com/campground/June-Lake

Recommend I-40 to Barstow and then take Hwy 58 thru Mojave, Tehachapi, and down mountain pass to Bakersfield. At Bakersfield take 99 north to Fresno. At Fresno take Hwy 41 north into Yosemite. You have some mountain passes, but all roads / freeways are easy for either MH or TT.
First elevation you encounter on I-40 is Albuquerque NM at 5200 elevation, and then on to Flagstaff at 7000 elevation. Then down thru Needles, and then flat until you approach Tehachapi with a pass at 4100 elevation pass, then down to Bakersfield at about 500 elevation. From Bakersfield to Fresno terrain is flat. From Fresno you will encounter several small up grades going into Coarse Gold, and then Oakhurst at about 3000 elevation, and then a climb to about 6000 elevation at Yosemite Park South Entry. Then down to Wayona at about 4000 elevation and then a climb to 6000 elevation at Glacier Point Road, and then a final decent thru the tunnel and into the valley at about 4000 elevation.
Easy drive all the way, most highways are four lane divided but a few are two lane highways, but very good, wide and well maintained.

going I 20 will be the warmer route. I 40 will be cooler, but there's some grades, not bad ones out of Albuquerque, Flagstaff and down grade into Needles.
Another pass at Tehachapi, CA, but again, not bad.

Does Mountain Directory West have any notes on I20?

Mountain Directory West is a good resource for such questions.

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