Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Quickest route from San Fran

I've been given two routes and I'm curious which one is quicker. We'll be leaving in a couple weeks.

1. 580E - 205E - 120E (via Yosemite) - 395S. I guess an alternative to this one is to bypass yosemite by taking 120E - 108N - 395S

2. 580E - 5S - 46E - 99S - 178E - 395N

We'll be leaving early and returning late so as to avoid as much traffic as possible. If #1 is quicker, is it worth it to bypass Yosemite? Any thoughts?

#1 is a good deal shorter distance, and somewhat quicker in time. It is also one of the most spectacular drives in the U.S. Good lunch is available at the gas station where #120 meets #395. Seriously, they have an excellent restaurant.

Per Mapquest:
SF to Lone Pine via southern route 456 miles, 7 hours 53 minutes

SF to Lone Pine via #120 ($20 roundtrip toll is good for a week and a visit to Yosemite)
357 miles, 7 hours 17 minutes

SF to Lone Pine via #108 (Sonora Pass has no $20 toll and less traffic)
376 miles, 7 hours 54 minutes

I would second briangoo. Go thru Yosemite and take highway 120East and then go down 395South. The drive is spectacular. If you leave either late (after 8pm) or very early (around 5am) you should be able to make the trip in about 6 to 7 hours. I have a day hike permit for 7-11. When are you planning to go?

Glenn:

Since you said you were looking for the quicker route, you may also want to consider the traffic on 120 you will likely encounter this time of year -- it can be pretty significant, especially at the entrances to Yosemite. Recent reports have indicated waits of up to 25-30 minutes (which would almost wipe out any realized time savings by not going the southern route). Plus, as has been referenced in different threads on this Board, if you get stuck behind a sluggish vehicle (RV?) over Tioga you might be significantly slowed for several miles (i.e., the passing zones are few and far between). The fact that you're planning to leave early and depart late will definitely help, though.

While I'd never really pass up an opportunity for a side-trip into Yosemite, these traffic considerations might be of importance to you.

If you drive through the night, the trip through Yosemite wouldn't be worth it, and you have to be more on your toes for the crooked road. So consider that, too. If you go the Bakersfield routh and like to push the speed limit, you could probably beat the Mapquest time estimate, since the roads are straight and fast most of the way.

If you go both ways, post a report of your own times.

I always go through Yosemite (not the park floor, but Tuolome Meadows) and just plan the timing so that I ge through the park either very early or late to avoid the traffic. it is a beautiful drive and worth an overnight stay in the Tuolome Meadows area if you have the time.

I have driven down to lone pine from the Bay area a variety of ways. In my opinion it is a much better drive to go through yosemite driving the 120 and then picking up the 395 from there at Lee Vining. Despite being a very beautiful drive, it can take quite a long time, particularly if you get stuck behind someone slow (almost a certainty now). On the other hand, driving south on the 5 and then taking 178 over to 395 is rather a crappy drive up until you leave Bakersfield (I just drove down there a few weeks ago as the 120 was still closed). You pass by Lake Isabella which is a refreshing swim and you have nice views of the Kern river - but getting to Bakersfield is less than thrilling. The last way is to take the 108 - this in my opinion is even more beatiful than the 120, offers a variety of campsites along the way, and doesn't appear to be that much of a detour (may save you time with the 120 being so heavily impacted). The 108 will now be my route of choice. Hope this helps...

D

I didn't notice until drewski mentioned Lake Isabella. Being from Fresno, we often choose the Bakersfield route. But Glenn, the faster route is to take the 58 via Tehachapi, not 178 via Isabella. The Tehachapi road is four-lane, 178 is comparable to Tioga in speed and curves. And Mapquest reports 452 miles, 7:50 hours SF to Lone Pine via Tehachapi.

Starting from here in Fresno, it is only 4 miles farther to Lone Pine via Yosemite than it is via Tehachapi, but it takes at least an hour more via Yosemite.

<a href="http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~stevec/" target=_new>Steve C</a>

Steve,

To put things in perspective, Fresno (Route 41 and Route 99) is about 113 miles south of Manteca (Route 120 and Route 99). I agree that Route 41 is slow going up to Yosemite from your Fresno perspective, but you also are over an hour away from Manteca.

As you say, Route 58 is a lot easier to navigate than Route 178 (which has some slow hairpin turns). My map tool says that the distance from Route 99 to Route 14 is about 87 miles via 178 and the equivalant distance from going down to Route 58 is about 98 miles. Unless people like winding roads, I agree that Route 58 is worth the added distance.

Here's some data and mileage breakdown (source Microsoft MapPoint). I have considered three potential routes from Bay Bridge to Lone Pine. The first two go east and then south (through Sonora Pass and Tioga pass, respectively) and the 3rd one goest south, then east, then north (via Bakersfield). A fourth variation (going through 178 to get from 14 to 58 or vice versa via Lake Isabella saves only 10 miles over going through Tehachapi and is just not worth it if one is looking for quickness). Here's the breakdown:

52 miles on 580E (common to all routes)

- Route via Sonora Pass (north of Yosemite)
80->580->205->5->120->108->395
14 miles on 205
2 miles on 5
30 miles from Lathrop to Manteca to Oakdale (relatively slow)
87 miles on 108 from Yosemite Junction to 395 (relatively slower and windy)
43 miles on 395 to Lee Vining (relativey faster)
120 miles on 395 from Lee Vining to Lone Pine
376 miles total; pretty

- Route via Tioga Pass (through Yosemite)
80->580->205->5->120>395
14 miles on 205
2 miles on 5
30 miles from Lathrop to Manteca to Oakdale (relatively slow)
106 miles on 120 from Yosemite Junction to Lee Vining (relatively slower and windy)
120 miles on 395 from Lee Vining to Lone Pine
352 miles total; shortest but slowest

- Route via Bakersfield
80->580->5->46->99>58->14->395
184 miles on I-5; can be relatively fast
25 miles on SR 46, potentially slower (~50-60 mph)
23 miles on 99
60 miles on 58 (and through Tehachapi), relatively fast
44 miles on 14 (relatively fast)
67 miles on 395
455 miles total; longest but fastest (personal experience)

-Joyjeet

Everyone seems to forget, the Yosemite route has the Whoa Nellie Deli at the 120/395 junction. That alone should be worth the drive if you can get there before 9pm. Some of the best food on the east side.
Eric

I have passed by the deli and heard that it is run by a "famous" chef. It really must be worthwile - I'll check it out my next time through.