Paso Robles to Yosemite to Utah

[CLAlvarez1956]

Middle of August I am leaving Paso Robles to go to Yosemite and on to Utah (various destinations). We are driving a 2015 40-ft Class A DP and towing a Jeep. I have done the San Diego to Julian mountainous drive with this rig/Jeep and it was sort of hair raising to me (my husband was driving and did fine). My question is, how do the roads into Yosemite (or close by) compare? And what is the best way to make it less hair raising? I realize we will have to camp outside Yosemite b/c the size of our rig, and would love some recommendations for that as well. We do not mind driving the Jeep however long we have to to get in, if I can avoid some hard liquor drink-inducing drive. I love the mountains but not enough to fall off the side of one. Any routes/advice will be greatly appreciated. Any further information required to answer the questions, please let me know. THANK YOU in advance.

[donkeydew]

the easiest,fastest and most boring is i-80 to slc 1-15 to idaho falls idaho 20
to west yellowstone . stay in west yellowstone and use your toad to see park

[CLAlvarez1956]

Okay. We went. We drove. We lived to tell about it. But man, oh, man, there was a lot of butt cheek clenching. We took 140 and camped in Mariposa and drove the Jeep in. It was MAGNIFICENT! I am so glad we went. We took the Jeep one day and did the 49er gold trail, up through Columbia. Great trip. Lots of fun. REALLY glad we didn't take the rig on that road! We then took the 99 north to the 5 to the 80 to the 267 heading toward Lake Tahoe and that's where the fun began. The GPS took us down into No. Lake Tahoe on Highway 28 (I use the word highway loosely) on a Saturday the last weekend of the music festival on one lane each way all around the lake, up and down, with cars parked where they shouldn't have been, and people not looking and walking out in front of us. GEEZ!!! I really feel like after doing Yosemite, and then into Carson City (where we are right now) I should be used to this, but now I'm planning up to the great Salt Lake and then into Yellowstone/Grand Tetons. Any great advice on the easiest way to go. Should we camp outside Yellowstone and drive in in the Jeep? We are 40ft, with the Jeep. Should I be scared? I'm thinking Bozeman and entering in the north, and exiting the east. What say all you experienced folks?

[Marv_Hoag]

I've been to and through Yosemite several times. Here are some driving thoughts. The roads into and out of the valley are narrow, with lots of tight turns. You will kiss a few shrubs somewhere along the way. Hwy 120 out of the park eastbound is a good road, several good turnouts for viewing, the only pucker area is after you leave the park, descending down to Hwy 395. Have also taken the 395 south to 120 east to head to Utah.

[dicknellen]

If you take 120 out of Yosemite you will come out at Lee Vining on 395, 120 follows 395 S a short distance then get back on 120 E to meet up with 6 E & 95 S to Tonopah NV then 6 E to Ely and 6 & 50 E into Utah. Near the NV Utah border is Great Basin NP, they have some great ranger lead cave tours.

[CLAlvarez1956]

I just read an article on everything that's on 120. Looks like a fun trip in and of itself. But out of Yosemite is pretty pants-peeing, huh? What to do, what to do!!!!!

[donkeydew]

if you are planning on going out of the park on 120 (tioga pass) you might buy a large box of pampers. it is a good road but is steep in places and climbs to almost to 10,000 feet

[CLAlvarez1956]

No, we don't live in Paso Robles. We live in SoCal. And I've never been to Yosemite, if you can believe that. Been here all my life (50 plus years) and never been to Yosemite. We are going to be in Paso Robles with friends, then heading out for a year long trip all over the USA. I can hit Yosemite on the way home but figured since we were so close in Paso already, it made more sense to do it now. Is the 120 a better road? If so, I don't mind going out of my way. We aren't on a tight schedule, nor do we have a lot of "plans."

I honestly just have this fear of mountain roads, but I guess I just need to get over it. When we drove to Big Sur (not in the rig, in a car), I about died. Held my breath for a lot longer than I thought possible. Same with the San Diego to Julian trip. I just want some flat, open roads for once!! I think I should just RV in Texas!!!

[OutdoorPhotogra]

120 is not as out of the way as you think coming from Paso Robles. Most of the places to stay outside the park are in that area.

I will modify the last poster's advice. Do you live in Paso Robles? If so, Yosemite is a "local" park. Go to the High Country now and visit the valley after Labor Day or next Spring. The valley will be prettier and way less crowded. Dogwoods in Spring with flowing water falls is my favorite other than when I was able to get into the park the day before a winter storm.

[CLAlvarez1956]

Thanks everyone! I LOVE the wine idea! LOL! Everything gets less scary with a lot of wine! I will research the high country as well. Off to Google the Wawona tunnel and Highway 41.

[Naio]

You might consider skipping Yosemite valley, and seeing the Yosemite high country instead. You can camp on the east side and drive your toad in.

The valley is awesome, in the original sense of the word. But summer crowds would ruin that experience, IMO. The high country gets fewer people and is incredible. You can see Half Dome, etc. from the top!

[Busskipper]

CLAlvarez1956 wrote:
Middle of August I am leaving Paso Robles to go to Yosemite and on to Utah (various destinations). We are driving a 2015 40-ft Class A DP and towing a Jeep. I have done the San Diego to Julian mountainous drive with this rig/Jeep and it was sort of hair raising to me (my husband was driving and did fine). My question is, how do the roads into Yosemite (or close by) compare? And what is the best way to make it less hair raising? I realize we will have to camp outside Yosemite b/c the size of our rig, and would love some recommendations for that as well. We do not mind driving the Jeep however long we have to to get in, if I can avoid some hard liquor drink-inducing drive. I love the mountains but not enough to fall off the side of one. Any routes/advice will be greatly appreciated. Any further information required to answer the questions, please let me know. THANK YOU in advance.

Best advice I can give is to get a few cases of the local wine before you leave. ( this is a short trip, right )

Next be sure to have at least 4 of the proper glasses for the wine of choice (Never can tell when you might meet a friendly couple)

Let your Husband drive.

Adjust your seat - Pour some wine - Enjoy the ride - according to my wife it, the view, gets better as the bottle approaches empty.

For the routes and the Camp Grounds we use Bing maps or Google, they really do a good job.

After a few more trips the wine really will not be necessary, A DP is a really great ride and the Breaks are way oversized. We drive in Colorado and on a lot of the roads they leave off the guard rails to be able to push the snow off, so for most of California and Utah you really not going to run into a lot of scary drives.

It's a beautiful country and the view from the front seat of a DP is one of the best in the house.

:B :B :B

BOL,

[Billinwoodland]

CLAlvarez1956 wrote:
Middle of August I am leaving Paso Robles to go to Yosemite and on to Utah (various destinations). We are driving a 2015 40-ft Class A DP and towing a Jeep. I have done the San Diego to Julian mountainous drive with this rig/Jeep and it was sort of hair raising to me (my husband was driving and did fine). My question is, how do the roads into Yosemite (or close by) compare? And what is the best way to make it less hair raising? I realize we will have to camp outside Yosemite b/c the size of our rig, and would love some recommendations for that as well. We do not mind driving the Jeep however long we have to to get in, if I can avoid some hard liquor drink-inducing drive. I love the mountains but not enough to fall off the side of one. Any routes/advice will be greatly appreciated. Any further information required to answer the questions, please let me know. THANK YOU in advance.

If you are going from Paso, then you will take 41 into the park. While I *think* you will be ok in that rig, you might research the Wawona tunnel. Tour buses take that route all the time.

We stayed at the Yosemite Ridge Resort and were very pleased with it. But it is on the 120 side which will be out of your way. Anticipate the park will be very busy in August. My best advise is drive your toad into the park early in the morning, find a parking spot (like at the lodge) and take the free shuttle around the park. Unfortunately, this time of the year you will have waits to get on the shuttle, but it is better than trying to drive your toad everywhere.