California - Ahwahnee to Mammoth Lakes in the evening

Because of a change in trip dates, I had to cancel a long-standing reservation to stay at the Ahwahnee and of course I now cannot get reservations for my new date. Nor is the Inn at the Falls available. Tenaya is, but I don't want to pay that kind of money and stay outside the park

We are a party of 10, with 6 children, and will be driving over from SFO that day. I thought to get to the valley floor, explore a bit, then have an early dinner at 5:30 at the Ahwahnee, then drive over the mountains and stay in Mammoth Lakes. There doesn't look to be anywhere we would like to stay in Lee Vining.

My question is: Is this do-able? If we were to leave the Ahwahnee at 7:30 in the evening and take it easy driving over the mountains, could we arrive in Mammoth Lakes between 9:30 and 10 pm?

Any other suggestions??

I'm not sure what your schedule is - are you flying into SFO that day? My guess is that the drive you describe is closer to 3 hours, especially at night, and I think it would be a shame to take this spectacular drive in the dark. You would also miss Mono Lake and Bodie, both of which are worth a stop.

If you can leave the Bay Area earlier in the day, perhaps you could have lunch in the valley and drive over Tioga Pass late afternoon/early evening. If not, what about a stop in Sonora. There is a very decent Best Western there as well as other places to stay, and there are a couple of attractions the kids would like - Columbia State Park is a restored western gold mining town where you can pan for gold and an excellent restaurant at the old Columbia Hotel, and the train at Jamestown is definitely a worthwhile attraction. You could then drive into the park in the morning, have lunch there, and drive over the pass that afternoon.

Thanks, JerryFF -- No, we will have spent five days in SFO before heading to Yosemite.

I will check out the geography of what you suggest. We need to be in Panamint Springs (Death Valley) by the following night.

I see that Sonora is well before the West Entrance to the Park. That would mean backtracking after lunch or dinner.

How long is the drive from San Francisco to the Yosemite Valley floor on a Thursday in early August? An early start and arriving in time for lunch at the Ahwahnee might do it. But I think they stop serving at 2:30.

Can you drive this road at night? It's been a while but, from what I remember, you need to pay close attention while driving this road (sharp turns, steep dropoffs, narrow highway) and it best negotiated during daylight

OP- With all due respect I don't think you have appreciation for the time and distances involved. Sure it's possible, but you will not have time to stop and experience any of the places. You will "see" but not "experience" and might as well just watch a DVD on each place. And putting kids through a long drive with few stops almost guarantees a bad experience for both child and parent.

If there are 10 people, I assume it's a van? The roads are slow, and a van with 10 people will be struggling at the 9000 foot (3km) altitude crossing the Sierras. And the road over Tioga Pass is challenging and I would not want to do it with a fatigued driver at night.

I would either reduce your SFO stay by one day or decide on Yosemite or Death Valley but not try to do both. True, both places have spectacular sights but your schedule will not allow time to appreciate it.

I would either reduce your SFO stay by one day or decide on Yosemite or Death Valley but not try to do both. True, both places have spectacular sights but your schedule will not allow time to appreciate it.

where did you get Death Valley from??

the OP said Yosemite and Mammoth Lakes which is just over the mts from Yosemite and in my opinion both are doable and its a beautiful drive, thusly why Id hate to do it at night and not see anything

the 1 good reason to do it at night is with all the very high temps Cali and The West is getting, its pobably easier on the motor if its done at night when it will be cooler then by day

where did you get Death Valley from??

Read post #3. :)

Thanks, All --

To be clear, we are going on the next night (after Yosemite / Mammoth Lakes) to Death Valley. I didn't want to start that day on the western side of Yosemite.

We now plan to leave San Francisco at 8 am, arriving Ahwahnee at 1 pm for lunch. Then walk some on the valley floor and head over the mountains while it is still daylight.

Thanks again for the advice! ^

Thanks, All --

To be clear, we are going on the next night (after Yosemite / Mammoth Lakes) to Death Valley. I didn't want to start that day on the western side of Yosemite.

We now plan to leave San Francisco at 8 am, arriving Ahwahnee at 1 pm for lunch. Then walk some on the valley floor and head over the mountains while it is still daylight.

Thanks again for the advice! ^

Sounds like a good plan except you may run into some commuter traffic depending on the route you take leaving before 9. My point about Sonora was only if you were leaving SF late am - I was suggesting stopping overnight there and then continuing into Yosemite the next morning, but that is irrelevant now, given your early am departure.

You might want to call Ahwahnee for last-minute cancellations which may not be on the website (if you haven't done that already).

The speed limits are quite slow on Tioga Pass (around 40 mph IIRC) so don't plan on driving fast (single lane pretty much all the way). I don't remember it being that twisty (but I was on a hog :p ) but it isn't an interstate.

Sorry if my reply was unclear, the OP's was. I was clear they are going from SFO to Yosemite to DV. My comment was that they are on a very rushed schedule that will leave the everyone frazzled and will be "drive-by" sightseeing. The suggestion was considering rebalancing time in the 3 places to decompress the trip. Hope that explains it better.

Sounds like a good plan except you may run into some commuter traffic depending on the route you take leaving before 9.

Can anyone suggest the route out of San Francisco that would be least affected by the morning traffic? Toward Yosemite, that is! ;)

Read post #3. :)


Missed that 1 :(:rolleyes:

and agree with You, trying to see evrything might mean not really seeing anything at least in a meaningful way. And having been to Yosemite,ML and DN numerous times i wouldnt try to do what the OP is trying to do. Sort of like having a 4 hr layover at JFK and wanting to get in all of Manhattan. sure you can drive up and down but IMO you didnt experience Manhattan if thats how a person will do it

I'm definitely not an expert on Bay Area commutes but here's my 2 cents - take the Oakland Bay Bridge to 580 east to 205 to 5 north to 120 east. Most of the way out of the city will be in the opposite direction to the majority of commute traffic.

Check it out:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/21/SPPP188E0C.DTL

I gotta ask: why in the world would ANYONE want to visit Death Valley in August? Even if it is the only time in your life you will be within a zillion miles of it, the time is far better spent somewhere else -- anywhere outside of the desert.

And bear in mind that I am not saying this because I hate Death Valley, it's my favorite national park. But never, ever in the middle of summer.

Should your car break down, do not leave it, regardless of the temperature and other conditions. Get out and sit in the shade of the car. Carry emergency water for your 10 people (minimum one gallon per person assuming you are rescued within a day). Do not assume that just because you are on a paved road, your mobile phone will get a signal. You may be there for a while but the highway patrol does try to pass by most all paved roads at least once a day in summer. Do not leave paved roads.

Thanks, Richard -- The short answer is because we need to get to Las Vegas. The longer answer is that we will be in the US from Spain, probably our only opportunity to shiver next to San Francisco Bay (low last night 52F, 11C) and then sweat in the desert. Its one night and Death Valley is unique. And, in Madrid we´re used to 40C with no humidity, so what are a few more degrees?

Thanks for the advice, though!

If you're staying in DV (in the summer of course), try to have a cold shower and then ask the front desk where the cold water is! ;)

Just to wrap up this discussion, to thank all posters for their useful comments, and leave a trail for future searchers on this topic.

In the end (three days before arrival) we were able to book two rooms at the Lodge at the Falls, and booked a third upon arrival -- there had been a recent cancellation. So no need to drive over Tioga Pass at night.

For future searchers -- it would have been between difficult and miserable to leave the Valley floor at 5 or 6 pm and arrive at Mammouth Lakes by 10, in a 15-passenger van. The road climbs to 9900 feet, there are many curves, and many sections without guardrails.

As for Death Valley, as planned we spent one night at Panamint Springs, a "resort" with a 1950's style motel and a burger restaurant. Not bad, but not as good as Stovepipe Wells or Furnace Creek, where we could not get in. But we were lucky to have booked Panamint a month before. Two Italian families tried to get rooms on the evening, and were told that all three accommodations within Death Valley were full that night. The temp the next day hit 120º F, down 6º from the high the previous week.

Thanks to all for your suggestions!

I regard Panamint Springs as downright grungy, rather than 1950's, I'd say it fits better in the 1850's. There is good accomodation in Death Valley (the Furnace Creek Inn) but it is closed in summer. If Furnace Creek Ranch was truly full, it is likely because significant portions were closed off for summer, it has a lot of rooms.

More "trail" for future searchers: If you visit Yosemite NP and don't go up to Glacier Point for that incredible "airplane" view looking out possibly 50 miles over the landscape, well don't talk to me.