395 from Southern California to northern California 37 ft

Sounds like 99 would be best to see NP. Thanks for the info I will be leaving in the middle of May from west virginia.

Lwiddis wrote:
SCH911, nope! Or not yet anyway. National Park Service says, "The Tioga Road (Highway 120 through the park from Crane Flat to Tioga Pass) and Glacier Point Road are closed due to snow. There is no estimated opening date, although the roads usually open sometime in May or June."

Yes, it's like this every year. But since the OP didn't specify a timeframe for his trip we should be giving him the best information. Thanks for the update.

And http://www.monolake.org/today/roads says NO estimated opening date for Tioga Pass.

SCH911, nope! Or not yet anyway. National Park Service says, "The Tioga Road (Highway 120 through the park from Crane Flat to Tioga Pass) and Glacier Point Road are closed due to snow. There is no estimated opening date, although the roads usually open sometime in May or June."

You would be better off traveling on HWY 99 to reach the parks on the west side of the Sierra Mountains (Yosemite, Sequoias and Kings Canyon)

Death Valley can be reached from I-15 or 395 (not best choice)

HWY 101 or I-5 for the Redwoods

Lwiddis wrote:
Just got back from driving Hwy. 395. Beautiful but you won't see many National Parks located in California including Kings Canyon, Sequoia or Yosemite. They on the "other" side of the Sierras.

Yosemite is easily accessible from 395 via the Tioga pass entrance near Lee Vining.

Just got back from driving Hwy. 395. Beautiful but you won't see many National Parks located in California including Kings Canyon, Sequoia or Yosemite. They on the "other" side of the Sierras.

I travel between Phoenix Arizona and Roseburg Oregon often hauling my 40' 5th wheel toybox. I use 395 every time starting at Kramer Junction (40/395). So much better than the bumpy, barren/ugly I-5.
So much scenery and small towns to go thru. Being limited to 55mph, Id much rather take the route with some views and some wind in the road.
Though, it reaches some good elevations, so a few winter months may cause some issues. For those months I take I-95 thru Los Vegas, and join the 395 in Reno.

395 is a great road for seeing the eastern side of the Sierras. Many RV's along the route. Some of the roads to see National Parks may be a bit tricky, but 395 is fine.