Yosemite to Napa area.

This should be moved to roads and routes.

If your coming in from Yosemite as the question states get your self to 99 or 5 and head north towards Sacramento. Get on 80 west towards San Fran. Take hwy 12 North up till Napa and from there a couple of routes to swing through downtown Napa or swing on outskirts to towns further north. This way you have 4 lane freeways till hwy 12.

GPS might suggest taking hwy 12 (shorter than above route) off the 5 near Lodi but this is a two lane road and many accidents occur in this area and you may also get stuck waiting at one of the bridges that are up. I live right in this area I avoid it if I can when towing my lil 15 footer.

The instructions above say it all! You will not get closer than about 50 or 75 miles from San Francisco that route. The Sacromento traffic can still be bad from 6 am to 9 or 10 am, then around lunch time, and from 3-7 pm.

Good luck,

Fred.

PS: Are you leaving Yosemite going to Merced? Or towards Fresno on highway 41? I have not taken the route towards Merced, but have taken 41 several times, as I used to live in Huntington Beach, south of there. Now I live up north, and would like to know your impression of the road towards Merced, if you have a chance to post something.

Thanks,

Fred.

I lived in Merced in the early 60's and this is my first time back to this area. I planned to take 41 out of Fresno toward Yosemite and return back to 99 by way of 140 to Merced. Any good camps up toward Yosemite. I have 5er so do not have a generator. I will post back on the 140 to Merced.

bazdad wrote:
I lived in Merced in the early 60's and this is my first time back to this area. I planned to take 41 out of Fresno toward Yosemite and return back to 99 by way of 140 to Merced. Any good camps up toward Yosemite. I have 5er so do not have a generator. I will post back on the 140 to Merced.

I was told, Hwy 140 has a 40' overall length restriction due to a land slide several years ago. Something to verify.
I'm coming to the area in about 25 days.
Pat

Jay Pat wrote:

bazdad wrote:
I lived in Merced in the early 60's and this is my first time back to this area. I planned to take 41 out of Fresno toward Yosemite and return back to 99 by way of 140 to Merced. Any good camps up toward Yosemite. I have 5er so do not have a generator. I will post back on the 140 to Merced.

I was told, Hwy 140 has a 40' overall length restriction due to a land slide several years ago. Something to verify.
I'm coming to the area in about 25 days.
Pat

This is true. (not sure of the exact restriction) You will probably want to avoid 140 between Yosemite and the 49.

You can take 41 south from Yosemite then 49 west at Oakhurst over to the 140 and then to 99 from there.

The fairgrounds in Napa has a nice RV park and is a frequent of winos who visit Napa. You can walk from the fairgrounds into downtown Napa. As others of said there is no reason to travel through Bay Area.

Straight up the 99. When you get to Lodi get off the freeway and take the 12 through town, you can stop at the many Lodi famous wineries if you like. That takes you to the 5 and the west side of the Sacramento, then take the 80 west to Vacaville, a good place to stop and visit the GellyBelly Factory Tour, and then North to Napa. Or you can just go straight up the 99 to the 50 west which becomes the 80.

49 North from Mariposa, is it a good road for a 5th wheel? Thanks everyone for their input. This old man needs all the help he can get.

bazdad wrote:
49 North from Mariposa, is it a good road for a 5th wheel? Thanks everyone for their input. This old man needs all the help he can get.

49 is not a preferable route for 5ers, IMHO follow the route kalynzoo suggested in the previous post.

Enjoy your time in California it is a beautiful state.

Travelon