Your Guide to 7 Incredible Stops on the Death Valley to Yosemite Road Trip

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.

Table Of Contents

1. Death Valley National Park

A stunning view of Death Valley National Park, featuring vast golden and beige sand dunes with soft, curving shapes. The barren, desert landscape extends into the background with rugged, multi-colored mountains lining the horizon. The sky above is mostly clear with a touch of clouds, reflecting the vast and arid terrain encountered on a Death Valley to Yosemite road trip. — Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

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.

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

A serene nature scene in Bishop, California, located along the Death Valley to Yosemite road trip route. The image shows a peaceful river flowing through a forest with colorful autumn foliage. The trees reflect in the calm water, and the distant mountains peek through, creating a tranquil wilderness setting. — Image Credit: ©Charles Morra via Canva.com

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!

3. Bishop

CA serene nature scene in Bishop, California, located along the Death Valley to Yosemite road trip route. The image shows a peaceful river flowing through a forest with colorful autumn foliage. The trees reflect in the calm water, and the distant mountains peek through, creating a tranquil wilderness setting. — Image Credit: ©sierrarat via Canva.com

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.

4. Crowley Lake

A traveler standing at the iconic columns of Crowley Lake on a Death Valley to Yosemite road trip. The individual, dressed in a red jacket, touches one of the large stone pillars carved out by nature. Behind them, the still blue waters of Crowley Lake stretch out, with snowy mountains visible in the distance, offering a scenic contrast between stone, water, and sky. — Image Credit: ©Kamchatka via Canva.com

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

A picturesque view of Convict Lake as part of a Death Valley to Yosemite road trip. The image features a man sitting on a large log near the crystal-clear lake, gazing at the majestic mountains towering over the water. The mountains, with their steep cliffs and patches of greenery, are set against a vibrant blue sky with white clouds. — Image Credit: ©jjwithers via Canva.com

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.

6. Mammoth Lakes

A tranquil scene from Mammoth Lakes on a Death Valley to Yosemite road trip. The photo shows a lake surrounded by forest, with snow-capped mountains in the background. The shimmering water reflects the surrounding trees and mountains, while a single figure paddles across the lake, adding a peaceful and adventurous element to the scene. — Image Credit: ©Alisha Bube via Canva.com

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.

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

A stunning view of June Lake, framed by vibrant green trees along the shore, with a mirror-like surface reflecting the surrounding mountains. Snow-dusted peaks rise in the background, while the pristine blue water shimmers under the bright sky. The scenic vista is a highlight of the Death Valley to Yosemite road trip. — Image Credit: ©Joe Lach via Canva.com

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.

Planning to Spend a Day in Death Valley?

Shreeyeh jumping on sand dunes in Death Valley National Park — Image Credit: Bae Area and Beyond

There is so many things to see in Death Valley National Park but if you’re planning to just spend a day there, here’s a guide on the best stops to see that you can fit into your 1 day. You’ll see 10 unique spots during your day trip.