Forum Discussion

JoyNoelle's avatar
JoyNoelle
Explorer
Apr 21, 2017

Heading to Yosemite from Boise, ID

I am heading to stay in Yosemite with my 23' trailer on May 20. I am planning on going down I 80 until Reno. At Reno would you stay on I 80 to Sacramento and cut over at Stockton or would you head south at Reno on 395. I don't think the Tioga pass is going to be open so I will have to take 88 through Gardnerville to Jackson.

I am a pretty firm 60 MPH driver so I am not going to get faster time on the interstate but I did't know how the 88 road from Gardnerville to Jackson was.

I am fairly new at driving trailers and am hoping to split this trip up into 2 days. First day will be a long haul to Reno or further. Second day into Yosemite. I have reservations in the park for three nights.
Roads and Routes
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Apr 29, 2017
    95 from Boise through OR to Winnemucca seemed to take forever... and I was in a minivan. Roll before sun-up if you plan to get into Reno area at a decent time. Definitely go over I80 to CA99 and down. 88 is rather steep and winding, doable but rather slow for just passing through.
  • PawPaw_n_Gram's avatar
    PawPaw_n_Gram
    Explorer
    Apr 26, 2017
    Was at a CG on 120 just 12 miles from the northern park entrance last week.

    Don't plan on 120 as a route to Yosemite Valley.

    You have to use 140 through Mariposa or 41 from Fresno to get to Yosemite Valley.

    The damage on the road between CA-120/Crane Flat and Yosemite Valley will NOT be repaired by May, maybe not this year.
  • Buzzcut1's avatar
    Buzzcut1
    Nomad II
    Apr 26, 2017
    I go to Yosemite all the time. I take 140 from 99. 120 from 99 is winding and slow. Tioga Pass(120 from 395) will not open until at least July this year because of the snowpack
  • PaisleyDale's avatar
    PaisleyDale
    Explorer
    Apr 24, 2017
    I have no suggestions for your travel, but just to let you know that in California the speed limit is 55 when towing. A friend of ours was stopped and got a rather large ticket. They might stop out of state towers too.
  • BizmarksMom's avatar
    BizmarksMom
    Explorer
    Apr 21, 2017
    120 is closed due to storm damage between Crane Flat and Foresta. So it doesn't matter if Tioga is open - you can't get to the valley that way. Your best bet is to take 80 to 99 south, then pick up 140 through Mariposa.

    You might want to give yourself 3 days. I'm used to towing, and I wouldn't want to handle the narrow Yosemite roads and find the campsite in the dark at the end of 2 long days.

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