Best route DFW to Yosemite?
Driving class A from DFW to Yosemite early 09/13: is best way there via I-40 or I-20?
Forum Discussion
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
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
