Visited in March, it was already springtime in California, there was snow and it was beautiful. Trails ranging from short loops to day hikes might carry you to lookouts on the lip of canyons with temporary waterfalls in early-spring. A stop at the Furnace Creek Visitor Centre is a must do, to learn about the fascinating history, landscape, people and animals of Death Valley. Check website. Your three days in Yosemite National Park comes to a brilliant conclusion with a sunset stroll through the Tuolumne Meadows. Visitors Ctr is awesome, beautifully designed and full of cool info. Distance from Furnace Creek Visitor Center: 56.2 miles; 1hr 10 min by car. We had to ventured over to experience the winery as we were so close. The desert landscapes are incredible! Really heart breaking to see such a great place to close . Ubehebe Crater is a large volcanic field in the northern half of Death Valley. When you get to the end, scale the wall for an amazing view of the entire Las Vegas Valley. So run and dig on the sand and see the shimmering beauty create magic. Show only these on map. While youre here, dont miss the Neon Boneyard Museum, a visit to the Arts District, Area 15, and of course, a walk on the Las Vegas Strip! The road stops at a small parking lot with enough room for about a dozen vehicles. What a great choice it turned out to be. May 1, 2023, 4:23 p.m. Save. Devils Postpile Road, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546, USA. It is absolutely beautiful. By continuing to use our site, you consent to our use of cookies as described in our cookie policy. You will want to bring your camera and take plenty of photos of the stunning scenery. This is(was) a great place to get away for a few hours, the restaurant was pretty good with decent prices, the jewel of their menu was most definitely the bison steak and the bison burger, not always available but worth the trip to find out. I'm really sad to hear this place will be demolished to make way for yet more unwanted housing to facilitate corporate greed. Leaving Mammoth Lakes at 10 AM, we finaly arrived in Vegas at around 5PM. Most of Yosemite National Park has shut down due to forecasted flooding. As Nevadas first national conservation area, this 200,000-acre park offers spectacular views of rock formations, desert vegetation, hidden springs, wide open dunes, and vistas. Get inspired for your trip to Las Vegas with our curated itineraries that are jam-packed with popular attractions everyday! This is open all year round and during winter this is the only option for getting from Las Vegas to Yosemite (or the other way around), so I like to call it "The Winter Route". Its been a while since weve made the drive, so there may have been some changes. It is also designated as the first National Conservation Area in Nevada. Driving from Yosemite National Park to Las Vegas should take you 8 hrs 16 mins in normal traffic. Just as you are leaving Las Vegas, take a slight detour to the out-of-this-world gorgeous Red Rock Canyon. From there, youll be able to branch out into the park to explore the natural landmarks of your choice. Tioga Road is a road through Yosemites high country that offers many spectacular views and has a host of attractions to check out along the way. Take note that the sand can be HOT. They are definitely unique and striking in appearance. I had no idea this place was a thing. The unending stretches of desert and the amazing rock formations really make this area look out of this world. The trek to the dunes is relatively straightforward and most visitors find that they can complete the outbound hike in under 1.5 hours. Explore Sierra Nevada along the way in Yosemite National Park, Mammoth Lakes and Inyo and Stanislaus National Forests. The Tioga Pass is the highest highway pass in all of California. For starters, the city is home to a variety of museums and art galleries, including the Bakersfield Museum of Art and the California Living Museum. For more information regarding your lodging options and local deals affiliated with the Yosemite area, check out Lee Vining's website. Scenic area set aside to protect the lake's unique limestone spires, plus wetlands & bird habitats. The town is a base for Devils Postpile National Monument, a formation of basalt columns, and the soaring Rainbow Falls. This place is only 22 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip, a beautiful place for families to enjoy the desert of Nevada. Service is great. The dunes are located closest to the Stovepipe Wells Village and cover 14 square miles of the park!. We respect your privacy. It can be a bit of a travel day coming from the east coast but now you can fly directly into mammoth saving you the drive from Reno. We were fortunate enough for a worker to show us how the mining mill works. Bishop Creek Canyonis another awesome outdoor wonderland, perfect for outdoor enthusiasts who want to explore, fish, and camp. Rooms are excellent. Easily accessible hot spring are rare, so expect this site to be crowded on weekends, and expect a diverse crowd of people. Check out our post for more details. 1000 Scenic Loop Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89161, USA. Its not too crowded, which is great when taking pictures. Check out the Ubehebe Crater, a dormant crater that has a 0.5-mile diameter. With jagged peaks of rock salt that not even the devil would be able to play golf on, this enormous expanse of earth is fun to explore but just careful not to fall over. It's no surprise that this sprawling, 200,000-acre backcountry is one of the most popular national park sites in Nevada. This is the best place for kids at Death Valley. NOTE: Due to its high elevation, Tioga Pass is usually closed due to snow from November to June. There is a porta-potty near the marina or a restroom and showers at the resort. Finish your day back near Stovepipe Wells at the Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes. The drive up just demands a number of stops to take photos, and the drive down into Yosemite is no different. for Yosemite National Park. Must see, must walk through. If you want to visit an attraction thats close to Fresno, but actually a part of Yosemite National Park, youve got to add Mariposa Grove as a stop. Definitely don't wear your favorite shoes lol. Established in 1881, it once served as a California silver town, with 500 mines operating in and around the area. Wawona, Mariposa Grove, Crane Flat & Tuolumne Grove, and Hetch Hetchy will remain open. The best thing to do in Las Vegas is riding an electric bike around Red Rock Canyon. Dont expect to find any food here but you will find souvenirs. The Mesquite Sand Dunes for sure are considered as one of the top photo spots in Death Valley. 185 helpful votes. To go back, follow the bus maps and walking to the bus stop 10 (shorter than go back to bus stop 9), and there is a small shop to buy water, ice cream. To preserve their safety and ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy these historic relics. Youll get an incredible opportunity to see Las Vegas, the Red Rock Mountains, and the Southwest Valley at sunrisethe most beautiful time of the day. Hi. The area is tight so be aware of parking can get crowded. Las Vegas-Yosemite: The Scenic Route This drive to Yosemite from Las Vegas takes 5 hours and 32 minutes, according to Google Maps and that's to the eastern entry point to Yosemite (near Lee Vining). Now onto fun stuff: (Seriously, dont underestimate the effects of increased altitudes if like us youre from a relatively low-lying country. I cant recommend it enough! Everything is within reach. You could also go visit The Devil's Postpile National Monument. Sierra Nevada mountain passes, including Tioga Pass in Yosemite National Park, are closed during the winter. Well more the vibe than the temperature. Have stayed in one other hotel in the area, just for a change, but Ill always call Aliante my home away from home when Im visiting my kids in Vegas. The inside is so filled with so much beautiful decorations and the restaurants. The desert art is strange and cool. Early Monday morning, river levels peaked at 9.86 feet (3 meters), just below official flood levels and about a foot less than predicted, and are expected to continue to decline throughout the week, according to data from the National Weather Service. Going north from here, you'll be passing directly through Fresno, and just past Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. To get to the monument there is a short hike but to get to the top to see the columns is not best for those with limited mobility. For when nature calls and you need a break from the hustle and bustle of the Strip, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is a beautiful spot just 25 minutes west of Las Vegas. The staff are wonderful and full of great knowledge. Once you get out there you can see the vastness of the desert. Nicknamed the Singing Sands or Singing Dunes, youll find that as you are walking along the ridge of the dunes as lots of sand begins to drop off the sides, it will make a super unique sound. The best road trip route from Las Vegas to Yosemite National Park depends on what you're after - if you're aiming for speed and are traveling the right time of year, driving along the Sierras is the quicker option, on top of being scenic. Chill. Admission is a donation. He even gave my daughter a piece of Obsidian. The signs say that dogs are not allowed, comma but that didn't stop a lot of people from being dirtbags. Related Post: 14 Best Red Rock Canyon Tours From Las Vegas. This 660 foot deep crater along the road to Scottys Castle is the result of a volcanic explosion a couple hundred years ago. Within the town of Bishop itself, theres a lot to see and do, given its thriving arts and culture scene! There are 8 ways to get from Las Vegas to Yosemite National Park by bus, train, car, night bus, plane or taxi Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner. However, if going for a sunset, leave early as the parking lot gets full and several people are already claiming spots atop dunes to view the sunset. We were there for a late season (summer) trip and the whole top of the mountain was still open which was pretty amazing. I would suggest mapping everything out, including gas stations. Weathered buildings sit frozen in time on a dusty, windswept plain. The new build out is modern , clean, and beautiful. Top things to do in Yosemite National Park - Plan your trip to YOSEMITE: accommodation, hikes and best viewpoints to see in Yosemite. What youll immediately find is that there are a lot of antique, secondhand shopping opportunities! Answered: I have booked a one way car hire from Las Vegas to LAX, leaving Vegas on Friday 20 October AM to arrive LAX Hotel Monday 23rd in evening. This is the fastest route from Yosemite National Park, CA to San Francisco, CA. Don't do that. a detailed post about the best things to do in Death Valley National Park, a day trip from Las Vegas (itinerary available here), read about our visit to the Fresno Zoo here, where to see Redwood Sequoia trees in California, Beyond The Cherry Blossoms: 5 Family-Friendly (& Free!) The most accessible dunes in Death Valley are an undulating sea of sand rising up to 100ft high next to the highway near Stovepipe Wells Village. Except he accidentally built it on government land rather than the land he actually owned big OOPSIE DAISY. Tips For Finding The Cheapest Flights Possible, 13 Best Stops On A Las Vegas to Yosemite Road Trip. You might think about doing the Mesquite Sand Dunes now, considering youre going to pass right by it, but wed recommend waiting until sunset, which is a far better time to be out there, when the dramatic shadows bring out the texture of the sand, and the golden light illuminates the dunes in a deep orange color. Furnace Creek is in the middle of Death Valley. Want to see the other type of tall trees? For a truly out-of-this-world experience, a visit to the incredible Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes ought to be on your list. How far is Yosemite National Park from Las Vegas and the way long will the street trip take? The city also has a vibrant nightlife, with many bars and clubs to choose from. Ash Mdws is a treasure. There are several trails through the area, all offering great views of the amazing layers and bands of color. To visit some of the earth's oldest living things, budget a half-day for the thrilling drive up to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. This post may contain affiliate links. Tuolumne Meadows is another underrated spot outside of Yosemite Valley. The road to get to this place can get bumpy. So if Tioga Pass is closed, what should you do to get from Las Vegas to Yosemite? Driving on this road grants you a beautiful drive that takes you through some of the most stunning scenery of Yosemite National Park. Very impressive location with a lot of beautiful photo opportunities. The sound is produced by the sands vibrations when it moves along the ridges! After that, the road trails along to Manzanar National Historic Site, a memorial marking one of the internment camps where Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II. Be rady for the heat and the sun. Mammoth Mountain is a huge draw for the area, and people come from all over the world to hit the slopes here. Your email will not be provided to third parties. We were the only ones at the museum. Its 40 miles from Badwater Basin, not far from Stovepipe Wells were you can also find accommodation, so its the ideal conclusion to your 1 day itinerary around Death Valley in winter. The scenic itinerary will have you driving along Death Valley, then the impossibly scenic Sierra Nevada range and its constituent parks. You can choose several different hiking options for different views of the crater, including hiking two miles around the rim or down to the bottom of the crater (just note, its very steep to come back up!). Aside from snakes and lizards, Death Valley has an abundance of all kinds of wildlife from different bird species to foxes and coyotes. From gondola rides to hiking, mountain biking to snowboarding/skiing, ziplining to beer tasting, Shakespeare plays to outdoor movie nights, theres something for every adventurer here! Nestled between the Sierra Nevada to the west and the White Mountains to the east, Bishop is the largest town in the Owens Valley. Floridas Clearest and Most Sought-After Clear Springs, Driving to Alaska: The Complete Guide (Based on our experience). Keep an eye out for animal tracks. Less crowded than the Valley, Toulumne is worth the approximately two-hour drive from the Yosemite Valley to experience this idyllic setting.More. We stopped by after our trip to Mammoth. Its colossal granite walls beckon rock climbers from around the world, but if you're not into climbing, then you can come to hike, camp, photograph from viewpoints, ride a bike through the forest, or wade in the cool streams during summer. Navigate backward to interact with the calendar and select a date. 30 miles from Ashford Junction, Badwater Basin sits on the southern corner of Death Valley National Park. Las Vegas, NV to Manzanar NHS . Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area sits just outside the western edge of Las Vegas. East of the Sierra Nevada ridge, via road US-395 (Mammoth Lakes). You can check out the affiliated website for additional information. You could check out Tuolumne Meadows and Travertine Hot Springs, or the always popular Tioga Rd! Youll pass the Mesquite Salt Flats on Highway 190 on your way to/from Panamint Springs. 17 minutes off the main route, 66% of way to Las Vegas. The road joins up with the traditional, short route, in Big Pine, then you'll hit Bishop, a popular locale among mountaineers and rock climbers. A 1920 mansion in the northern part of the Park. Worth a stop if you're in the area. There are pools of all temperatures, the hottest being the one nearest the parking area. And because changes in elevation also bring changes in temperatures, be sure to pack layers so that youre prepared for any type of weather. The name mocks that Only devils could play golf on this rough land. If you are looking for the best views in Yosemite Park for sunsets minus the crowds or a challenging hike, Tuolumne Meadows, a vast high-elevation meadow 8,600 feet high near the Tuolumne River, should be a must-visit on your Yosemite weekend trip. Yosemite Falls is covered behind a sign marking the water level of the 1997 flood in Yosemite National Park, Calif., as seen on Jan. 7, 2017. The clear waters of Blakiston Creek rush through the startlingly crimson Red Rock Canyon. There is a challenging and not stroller friendly climb to get to the top and see the hexagon tops of the basalt formations. Also it has small terrains which are excellent for beginners.