Best Route

Thanks for all you valuable advice and as a result, we are travelling from Las Vegas and are now booked in for one night at Lone Pine and then carry on to the Cedar Lodge just outside Yosemite for a further 4 nights, then on to San Francisco. Can anyone suggest the best route to travel so that we get to see as many o the best bits as possible between Las Vegas and San Francisco. Thanks in anticipation!

Best Route

To me, it sounds like you already did this....

Are you driving from Las Vegas through Death Valley National Park to Lone Pine? http://www.nps.gov/deva/

You will then be taking Highway 395 from Lone Pine to Mammoth Lakes - at the turn-off to Mammoth Lakes take this and if possible take the gondola to top of the mountain.

Then return to Highway 395 and continue up till you see the turn-off for June Lake Loop. Take that - its a 14 mile road where you%26#39;ll see June Lake, Gull, Silver, and Grant.

http://www.visitmammoth.com/

http://www.junelakechamber.org/

You%26#39;ll then continue north on Highway 395 and you%26#39;ll see Mono Craters. You might want to also stop at the visitor center at Mono Lake (a few miles north of Lee Vining.)

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=514

Then drive south again and take Tioga Pass into Yosemite Park. You will be driving through Toulumne Meadows which is beautiful. Get a very early start from Lone Pine so you have time to enjoy! With 4 nights in Yosemite, I%26#39;d mosey along this route. In Bishop, you might want to stop at Schatt%26#39;s Bakery -as its an excellent bakery.

Then enjoy Yosemite.

Upon leaving Yosemite, if you want to mosey to San Francisco (this is NOT the direct route) drive from San Francisco to Sonoma and then take Highway 49. This will let you see Columbia, some caves, and other interesting things in the area

such as Railtown 1897.

http://www.historichwy49.com/mainmap.html

http://www.columbiacalifornia.com/

http://www.csrmf.org/railtown/default.asp

You might want to also drive to Calveras Big Trees and also Ironstone Winery for wine tasting....

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=551

http://www.ironstonevineyards.com/

After enjoying the Highway 49 area, then take Highway 80 to San Francisco. You might want to stop by Old Town Sacramento. http://www.oldsacramento.com/

Excellent railroa museum here; fun place to visit....

and then continue down Highwy 80 until you get to Highway 29.

Plan on a late dinner in Napa, perhas at Celadon

http://www.celadonnapa.com/

After dinner, drive the last hour to San Francisco.

Enjoy yuor trip!