Yosemite & beyond

Staying in Yosemite for 3 days this summer then planning to go over Tioga Pass to Mono Lake stopping some where local. From there want to make my way to Coast somewhere about Cambria, with a one night stop over on the way.

From what I gather the most scenic route is straigth down the 395 then cutting across through Bakersfield.

What would be the best stop over point?

Yosemite %26amp; beyond

I suggest you stay in Bishop or Mammoth Lakes. If you are desperate further south there is an EconoLodge at Inyokern - but that%26#39;s off the beaten track.

If you want value, then on your way pick up one of those brochures that offer cheap motels. I found a great one that was not on the main road in Bishop - full of Europeans, very few Americans with a free breakfast. There are a few motels not on the main drag. You can eat trout at night - they are very big round there.

Go to Galen Rowell%26#39;s art gallery in Bishop.

Just south of Bishop to the east of 395 is the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest - make sure you are filled up on gas before you go. My mother thought they were dead old trees but they are some of the oldest in the world. The road is as high as Tioga Pass. Its worth a stop.

If you stay in Mammoth, you can get off-season ski accommodation. There%26#39;s the trip to the Devil%26#39;s Postpile - basalt columns - not very spectacular and the road is narrow. Furthermore they make you pay if you have a National Park Pass - which you can buy at Yosemite.

When you are over Tioga Pass just north of Mono Lake is Bodie an old ghost town - if you leave Yosemite early enough you might fit that in.

Its possible to float in Mono lake - there are flies and brine shrimp round the edge but if you%26#39;ve never floated in a salt lake - Dead Sea, Salt Lake UT come to mind - you might want to try it if its hot.

If you wanted to get away from the Sierras fast - then I%26#39;d get up early from Yosemite and get beyond Bakersfield and push on to Cambria in one day and stay there.

Yosemite %26amp; beyond

Severus,

Is speed, scenery, price or something else your primary motivation?

I am imagining that you want to cross over the sieras for 395 for scenic purposes, else why go the opposite direction of Cambria? Given this, you might look at the June Lake region for lodging though this doesn%26#39;t get you too far on your way to Cambria.

Another great stop in Bishop includes Erik Schatt%26#39;s Bakery on the right as you are headed south at the only stop light in town.

Have a fun holiday!

Mammoth Lakes or June Lake Loop are a nice place to stayh for the first night (as already mentioned.)

http://www.junelakechamber.org/

One other option to see more beautiful scenery would be to drive to Sonoma Pass and see more of the Sierras:

ponderosascenery.homestead.com/sonora.html

Its about a 3 hour - 140 mile drive.

This is a very pretty drive.

Then drive from here to Santa Cruz - or MOnterey

3 hours - 156 miles.

Stay overnight here;

Next day take the Highway 1 route from Monterey to Cambria seeing the Big Sur area.

Thanks for the info guys.

I have pretty much decided on staying at Mammoth Lakes and making use of the out of season ski accommodation.

Looking for another stop over as don%26#39;t want to just rush through and see nothing but the car infront.

Currently thinking of ambling down the 395 and stopping at Mojave(?) to see some desert or Kernville and taking in some rafting.

Need to hit coast at Cambria and drive up Big Sur as flight home is from San Fran.

Cheers again

Severus-Clan,

I%26#39;m sorry, but I don%26#39;t understand why you%26#39;re driving through Tioga Pass on Highway 120 (Tioga Road) to get to Cambria.

When you drive through Tioga Pass, you%26#39;re driving away from the coast. You%26#39;re heading in the wrong direction.

If you want to enjoy the coastal scenery, why do you plan to head away from the coast into the desert?

Going over Tioga Pass as it is supposed to be a stunningly beautiful drive. Also interested in seeing Brodie Ghost Town %26amp; Mono Lake.

I know this will add a couple of hours on to my journey to the coast but presume it is worth it.

It is worth it if you have the time; it is a beautiful drive that offers some stunning and unusual scenery. At Mono Lake, go to the new visitor center and interpretive trail at the north end of the lake; walk out to the water%26#39;s edge to enjoy the masses of birds and read the story of the restoration of the lake.

Mammoth Lakes is a great choice for an overnight stop. Some of the lakes have nice rustic cabins, if that is to your liking. I stayed in one at Lake Mamie years ago; it was tiny but very peaceful. Or there are lots of ski condos available right near the ski slopes.

if you are looking to book before going - i found some nice Yosemite options on http://www.holiday-velvet.com/yosemite pretty easy to use and owners reply direct.