San Jose area to Yosemite via 120

Some tips for the 580/205/120 route:

trying to shortcut through Livermore on 84 can take more time at stoplights than the longer route of 680 to 580

after Altamount Pass, leave 580 and get on 205,

205 joins 5 for a brief way, then head on to 120,

go past Manteca and on to 99 north using a left lane split,

and look for the next quick exit east on 120.

Most of the rest of the route will be on slow roads rather than freeways, some of it through towns that really want you to do the posted speed limit.

In Oakdale you will make a left turn at a light to continue on 120 east. At Yosemite Junction you will make a right (no light or stop sign in your direction at this intersection).

For the section between Don Pedro Reservoir and Groveland, use Priest Grade, DON'T try OLD Priest Grade. If it is at all hot weather, turn off your air conditioner as you drive the eight miles, sixty curves and switchbacks of Priest Grade, even if your car is in great condition. Don't turn the air conditioner back on right away when you get to the seeming top at Big Oak Flat. There is still some steep uphill through Priest Station. At the elevation 3000' sign more typical mountain down and up hill starts.

You will have to pay a (2014) $20 fee per car at the park entrance, or you can invest in a National Parks annual pass ($80) if you expect to go on our Yosemite winter trip, fall Grand Tetons trip or especially if you will visit a park like Grand Teton/Yellowstone for more than a week. No, you can't use your parents' pass, unless you have the same name, the Rangers ask for photo ID to go with the name on the pass.

There is a visitor center with restrooms on the right just after the Big Oak Flat entrance station.

You might want to top off your tank at Crane Flat in case the station at Tuolumne Meadows isn't functioning. There is a one way road/driveway into the station. After hours you can pay at the pump with a credit card.

In late June to July, maybe even August, you will see yellow flowers with petals that droop downward at the top of 3 to 6 feet tall stems blooming in the Crane Flat area meadows. These are Coneflowers. Look closer in these meadows and find Shooting Stars, Monkeyflowers, Forget-me-nots, Deers-tongue, Yampah (lacy white flowers on almost leafless stems 1 to 2 1/2 foot tall, which are not really Queen Anne's Lace, but sometimes called that) and Corn Lilies (up to 6 feet tall) in season. See: Tuolumne trip wildflowers.

Are we there yet? Not quite, it's forty miles from Crane Flat to Tuolumne meadows and you will want to make stops and sightsee.

Road work delays as announced by the park service, (but obviously subject to change and I might not see the changes and update this page) from 6/2/2014 to 9/30/15 are on a 15 mile segment of the Tioga Road from the Crane Flat intersection to just east of the Whitewolf campground.

Sunday nights thru Friday afternoon

11 p.m. to 6 a.m. 60 minute delays

6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. 15 minute delays

7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 30 minute delays

3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. 15 minute delays

4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. 30 minute delays

There is more, including a description of what you will find on the rest of the drive into Tuolumne Meadows, at:

Tuolumne trip

Yosemite trips index

Carpools are arranged among the students going on any Outdoor Club Trip, not by the club or the college. For info on how to get/give a ride and links to advice on how to do basic maintenance to get your car ready for a club trip go to Carpool FAQs You might also want to read How to not collide with a deer Road trip advice and etiquette or Safe driving in rain and fog.