Yosemite National Park is a dream destination for road trippers looking to escape into the beauty of nature. If you’re visiting from Oregon, Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City, you would need to take U.S. Highway 395, a highway that goes through 4 states California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.
This road trip to Yosemite takes you through gambling cities, ghost towns, lakes, and more! Here are the 9 best stops:
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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 around 740 miles (less or more depending on where you’re staying in Oregon). It’ll take around 13 hours without breaks to get there. For directions, take Hwy 395 for its many attractions from Portland, Oregon 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!
Portland to Yosemite Road Trip Stops
1. Reno, NV
Reno, Nevada is a modern and chic city and is well-known for its casinos and gambling opportunities. But the city also offers plenty of other attractions for visitors, including museums, shopping, and outdoor recreation.
With wide-open spaces, the Truckee River running right through town, and breathtaking mountain views, Reno is a great vacation destination any time of year; not just a stop on a road trip to Yosemite.
With so much to offer, Reno is a fantastic destination for families, couples, and solo travelers. Reno also offers a wide selection of getaway accommodations, including luxury boutique hotels, family resorts, and bed and breakfasts.
Find the best car rental deals here!
2. Carson City, NV
Carson City is home to several casinos and draws visitors from around the world to its famous casinos.
The city also has family-friendly attractions, theaters, museums, restaurants, and a bustling downtown area. Two great museums to check are the Nevada State Railroad Museum and the Nevada State Museum.
If you love shopping, Carson City also has a variety of stores, including antique stores, art galleries, and specialty shops.
Its historic downtown has many local stores with unique finds. It’s also just a 30-minute drive to Lake Tahoe, the largest alpine lake in North America.
3. Topaz Lake
Known for its trophy trout, Topaz Lake lies between the California-Nevada border. It’s a nice stop to spend some time walking, fishing, and sailing in the lake.
This is a man-made lake that has a 25-mile shoreline! You can also camp here at the Topaz Lake County Park with consists of over 40 campsites.
Looking for a lodging option with a casino? Stay at the Topaz Lodge Resort and Casino, a 120-room hotel with 175 game machines.
Need a car to go to Yosemite? Find the best car rental deals here!
4. Bridgeport
Bridgeport is a very cute town with its gorgeous surrounding scenery. It’s got a couple of dining and lodging options and a general store on Main St.
Plus, right on Main St., is the Mono County Courthouse that is the second oldest courthouse in use in California. Built in 1881, this courthouse was designed in Italianate architecture and packed with history.
Stop for the night in Bridgeport and book your stay at Silver Maple Inn, the best accommodation in the area! We stayed here and it was a nice cozy place after driving through Tioga Pass.
Bridgeport is a popular place for outdoor activities with nearby lakes, hot springs, and canyons. Drive to the Twin Lakes for Bridgeport Reservoir for fishing, hiking, or bird watching.
Travertine Hot Springs, a short drive from downtown Bridgeport, is a collection of geothermal mineral springs as high as 180°F.
5. Bodie
Interested in a ghost town in the wild west? Bodie State Historic Park was one of several mining camps established during the California Gold Rush. The town began as a mining camp in the 1800s.
Almost 200 buildings including a school, a saloon, a barbershop, a church, and mining equipment from that era have been preserved.
Back in the 1800s, Bodie used to be a busy place with a population of 10,000, and more than $35 million worth of gold and silver was dug out! The town is a National Historic Landmark.
Find the best car rental deals here!
6. Mono Lake Vista Point
This spot gives you an amazing panoramic view of Mono Lake and the surrounding mountains, making it a perfect place to take a break and snap some photos. If it’s a clear day, you can see some of the tufa towers in the distance. The viewpoint is easily accessible, right off U.S. Highway 395, so there’s no long hike involved – just pull over and enjoy the scenery.
Pro Tip: Try to visit early in the day or close to sunset for the best lighting—it makes the lake and mountains look even more stunning!
7. Lee Vining
Lee Vining is the town closest to Yosemite’s east entrance, Tioga Pass. It’s a small town with a handful of dining and lodging options. Make a stop at the Mono Basin History Museum that’s located inside an old schoolhouse with history about the Mono Basin.
The museum also has exhibits, furniture, artifacts, farming, and mining equipment. There’s also an upside-down house!
But it’s the main attraction is the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve. Mono Lake is one of the oldest and deadliest lakes in the US. It’s a saline soda lake which means it contains a high concentration of sodium and carbonates, making it three times as salty as the ocean.
What is super cool about the lake are the “tufa towers”. These are spire-like formations made of calcium carbonate that was naturally created when the lake water interacted with the freshwater springs.
8. Tenaya Lake
If you love crystal-clear water and stunning mountain views, Tenaya Lake is a must-see stop. Situated between Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows, this alpine lake’s calm, glassy waters reflect the surrounding granite peaks, making it a great spot for photos, have a picnic or take a break.
9. Olmsted Point
Olmsted Point offers one of the most unique views of the park’s rugged landscape. From this point, you can see sweeping panoramas that include the back of Half Dome, Clouds Rest, and the vast Yosemite wilderness. The viewpoint is easily accessible from the road and provides a dramatic perspective of Yosemite’s geology.
Need a car to go to Yosemite? Find the best car rental deals here!
Where To Stay In Yosemite
Yosemite has a variety of accommodations: hotels, airbnbs, resorts, campgrounds and more. We recommend these 3 options:
Budget-Friendly Option: Curry Village
Mid-Priced Option: Yosemite Valley Lodge
Lux Option: The Ahwahnee
What To Pack For Portland Oregon 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 Portland:
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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35 Best Viewpoints In Yosemite
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