Through Yosemite Mariposa to Lee Vining Over Tioga Pass

There's a lot more to Yosemite National Park than just the famous valley. On this drive, you'll also see alpine meadows, crystal-clear lakes, and get a bird's eye view of Yosemite Valley from above..
The 100-mile route starts in the foothill town of Mariposa, climbs into the mountains and through the Yosemite Valley alongside the Merced River. Don't give in to temptation and spend all your time visiting the valley unless you have more than one day to make the trip. Instead, drive over the mountains through Tioga Pass to see Yosemite's high country..
This drive is beautiful any time of year. In the spring, you will see lots of flowering trees and wildflowers and the rivers and waterfalls will be at maximum flow. You can take the drive roughly from October through May, but in the winter, the mountain pass closes because of snow. You can get a look at historical opening and closing times at the Yosemite website..
Even though it looks like any other state highway on the map, this route goes through a national park with an entrance fee which applies even if you're only driving through..
Where to Stop.
The most spectacular vista points along the drive are Olmstead Point, Tenaya Lake, and Tuolumne Meadows..
You can easily make this drive in a day, but if you want to stop along the way, you will find cabins at White Wolf Lodge and more lodging at the Tioga Pass Resort..

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