Yosemite National Park is a must-see for anyone who loves the outdoors, and we’ve enjoyed countless road trips to this incredible destination. If you’re looking for a scenic route that takes you through two diverse national parks, the drive from Death Valley to Yosemite is one of the best.
Along this route, you’ll experience everything from arid deserts and salt flats to towering mountains and lush valleys. This road trip also highlights 4 popular lake attractions, making it a perfect blend of nature’s contrasts, from sand dunes to granite cliffs, all in one epic journey.
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Planning your trip to Yosemite? Save with the Annual National Parks Pass. We visited 4+ parks for only $80 last year, saving $53! Here are the best tours, hotels, and car rentals:
📸 Best Tours In Yosemite National Park:
- 6-Day Yosemite Backpacking (skip the lines, crowds and permits!)
- Jeep 4×4 Yosemite Park Tour (avoid parking and sold-out tickets)
- Experience Yosemite: Beginner or Advanced Photography Lesson
- Private Full Day Fly Fishing For Beginners and Experienced Anglers
- Small Group Yosemite & Glacier Point Tour (full day with hotel pickup)
😴 Best Hotels In Yosemite:
- Curry Village (💲) (around 1 mile from Vernal Falls Trail)
- Yosemite Valley Lodge (💲💲) (13-min walk to Lower Yosemite Falls)
- The Ahwahnee (💲💲💲) (20-min walk to Yosemite Village)
🚘 Best Car Rental: DiscoverCars (save up to 70%)
How To Get There
By car, it takes 249 miles (less or more depending on where you’re staying in Death Valley). It’ll take around 5 hours without breaks to get there. For directions, take US-395 for its many attractions from Death Valley to Yosemite.
If you are driving from Central Oregon, you can also take Highway 395 as well. If you’re traveling from another city in or outside California, there are also other great road trips to take.
If you need to rent a car, check prices on Discover Cars. You’ll find cheap deals there!
If you’re flying, the nearest airport to Yosemite is Fresno/Yosemite International Airport, which is more than a 2-hour drive so you would need to get a rental car or you can take public transit. You can take a bus with YARTS.
The closest major airport to Yosemite National Park is Oakland International Airport. Look for cheap flights on Expedia!
Death Valley to Yosemite Road Trip Itinerary
1. Death Valley National Park
Cover two big national parks by taking this route from Death Valley National Park to Yosemite National Park. Death Valley National Park is the largest park in the country and is known to be the lowest, hottest and driest of any U.S. national park.
Save by purchasing the Annual National Parks Pass! We saved $53 last year!
The park’s best-known features are the Badwater Basin, the Racetrack Playa, and Zabriskie Point, all of which are on or near the crest of the Panamint Range.
The Badwater Basin is the lowest spot in North America at 282 feet below sea level, and the temperature is often around 120 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer.
The Racetrack Playa is a dried-up lakebed, where the ground has cracked in three places, forming parallel lines that move across the ground.
The effect is most pronounced at night when the lines are clearly visible. Zabriskie Point, near the edge of the Panamint Range, is the site of several eroded rock formations, including Telescope Peak, the Cathedrals, and the Black Rock.
2. Lone Pine
When you cross through Lone Pine, check out the Museum of Western Film History. Here you can learn more about the actors and actresses who played in the American Cowboy movies in the 1800s to 1900s and other historical facts.
Then take the detour to Whitney Portal Road to see beautiful views of Mount Whitney and the mountainous range.
Mount Whitney is the highest mountain in the contiguous US at 14,505 feet high! If you’re really feeling adventurous and an expert in strenuous hiking, you can also hike Mount Whitney.
Plus take in the views of the Alabama Hills where a lot of movies including Iron Man, Django Unchained, and Gladiator had filmed over there!
Find the best car rental deals here!
3. Bishop
Next stop – Bishop, also known as a “Small Town With A Big Backyard” with surrounding jaw-dropping views.
There are so many things you can do in Bishop that you might as well stay a day or two before continuing on your road trip to Yosemite. For the sporty ones, you can fish, boulder, rock climb, mountain bike, and golf here!
Or for the outdoorsy ones, you can camp, hike, birdwatch, view wildlife, or even go ATV touring. Bishop also has cultural attractions including museums and galleries.
Visit Bishop Creek Canyon, a canyon with a little bit of everything – mountains, wildflowers, lakes, and more.
And drive to Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, a forest filled with the oldest trees in the world (4000 years old!) These trees are Bristlecone Pines that are weirdly shaped but a beautiful sight to photograph with the surrounding day or night sky.
Find the best car rental deals here!
4. Crowley Lake
Known for fishing trout, Crowley Lake is a great place to stop to go fishing, boating, wakeboarding, or waterskiing.
The history of Crowley Lake goes back 700,000 years ago when hot ash spilled down to Owens Valley due to volcanic eruptions. Until 1941, it was a meadow until the city built a dam and then created this lake.
The major attraction at Crowley Lake is the Crowley Lake Stone Columns. These are column-shaped stone formations that were formed when lava from a volcanic eruption flowed over ash and turned them into stone.
Then when it snowed, the snow melted on the hot stone and created spaces between the stone, forming columns.
5. Convict Lake
Another popular lake, Convict Lake is a smaller lake but still a beauty with its pure blue water and mountains all around it. Popular activities at Convict Lake include Rainbow and German Brown trout fishing, camping, hiking, and horseback riding.
With dining and lodging options, you can stay overnight before continuing back on the road. The lake is most famous for its name.
Convict Lake got its name after a group of convicts escaped here from prison in Carson City, Nevada in 1871.
Find the best car rental deals here!
6. Mammoth Lakes
A great attraction on all four seasons, Mammoth Lakes gets its name from the massive size of the mountains, lakes, and valleys and probably also the massive amount of activities you can do here.
Its popular attraction is the Mammoth Mountain for skiing in the winter and biking in the summer. You can also take a gondola ride up the Mammoth mountain that’s 11,053 feet high! Or can try out its hiking trails and hike to its summit.
Looking for the perfect place to stay for skiing with gorgeous views of Lincoln Mountain? Book your stay at Sunstone Lodge Vacation Rentals.
Rainbow Falls and Devils Postpile National Monument are two stand-out sights to check out. The Rainbow Falls is a 101-foot waterfall known to creates colors of the rainbow via the mist.
The Devils Postpile National Monument is another area to view columns that were formed by lava around 100,000 years ago. These columns are hexagonal and you can view it from the bottom or hike up and view it from the top.
7. June Lake
Looking to just drive around a lake? Drive around June Lake which is quite beautiful during the fall. The area also has tons of shopping, dining, and lodging options.
Plus as with any other lake attraction, you’ve got the water and outdoor activities. June Lake also has a ski resort, June Mountain Ski Area, so you’ve got a collection of winter activities to do!
More lakes on the way and then your road trip to Yosemite ends as you turn on to HWY 120 to enter through Tioga Pass, Yosemite’s East Gate Entrance.
Need a car to go to Yosemite? Find the best car rental deals here!
Where To Stay In Yosemite
With all the choices for where to stay in Yosemite, it can be difficult to choose. Here are the top 3 places to stay in Yosemite that are in the park:
Budget-Friendly Option: Curry Village
Mid-Priced Option: Yosemite Valley Lodge
Lux Option: The Ahwahnee
What To Pack For Death Valley to Yosemite Road Trip
Packing for road trips can be tiresome; from figuring out what clothes to pack to what food to bring along the way. If you’re looking all the road trip essentials, check out these 51 items to bring along the way. The top things to take:
- Car Windshield Sun Shade
- Emergency Flashlight
- First Aid Kit
- Jumpstart Kit
- Portable Air Compressor
- Snow Chains
- Travel Size Hand Sanitizers
- Video Camera
- National Parks Pass
California can have some hot sunny days and the more you drive inland towards the east, the more hotter it will get. Get a small cooler before your road trip to make sure you stay hydrated and cool throughout the whole trip.
Find the best car rental deals here!
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about how your Yosemite road trip? Here’s what you need to know before venturing from Death Valley:
How much is a road trip to Yosemite?
When it comes to the cost of a road trip to Yosemite, things to consider are the park’s entrance fees, gas, food, and possibly lodging if it’s a multi-day trip. On average, it cost us $100 per person daily.
If you’ve got the America the Beautiful—National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass, then the entrance fee for Yosemite would be free. And if you plan to visit at least 3 parks annually that have an entrance fee, then the pass is well worth it!
How many days do you need in Yosemite?
That depends on how many things you want to see in Yosemite. You can spend a day to a week and still have things to see on your next trip. Thinking about what to do and how many things to add to your itinerary? Check out the best viewpoints in Yosemite to guide your trip!
Do I need a reservation for Yosemite?
Make sure to check the National Park Service site for updates on reservations and restrictions. Currently, reservations are required during the summertime to reduce crowds and until the public health conditions in the US improve.
Can you drive your car into Yosemite?
Yes, you can drive your car into Yosemite but make sure the roads you are planning to drive on are open. Glacier Point Road and Tioga Pass Road are closed during winters but otherwise, you can drive through the whole park.
Need a car to go to Yosemite? Find the best car rental deals here!
Is the drive to Yosemite scary?
The drive to Yosemite can be scary and dangerous. I’ve felt my stomach do backflips while the road curves.
The roads can be narrow, steep, and curvy making it dangerous to drive above the speed limit so make sure you’re driving within the limit while leaving ample space between vehicles.
Sometimes you’ll feel like you need to drive faster because the vehicle behind you is tailgating you and in that case, stop at a turnout and allow those faster vehicles to pass by.
Final Thoughts
We love this route for its scenic stops along the way before heading to Yosemite. While Yosemite is the final destination, there are so many cool attractions to see on the way. Happy driving!
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Read More From Bae Area and Beyond
35 Best Viewpoints In Yosemite From A Local
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