Bay Area Pelicans - How long to Yosemite or Kings Canyon?

[deanp]

Yahoo maps says 4.5 hrs +/- to either location from San Fran, Pacifica and Marina. I know total time would depend on traffic and location within the parks.

Relatively accurate?

[Burnin' oil]

Relatively, yes. If you are going to Yosemite, remember that Highway 140 is closed at El Portal so either take 120 or 41.

[Tobra]

Depending on traffic, I would say that is sort of long, 3.5-4 better guess. Check out the roads, they had a lot of stuff get washed out this year. Pretty sure the TIoga Pass road is closed, but I don't know for sure

[jyl]

East Bay to Yosemite west entrance on Hwy 120 is 3.5 to 4 hours, depending on how fast you drive and if you hit traffic on the 580 around Livermore. The logical route is 580 to 99 to 120. When you get up in the mountains, take Old Priest Grade Road (this a right turn after the town of Moccasin) as a short-cut, assuming you're in a normal-sized car. Last gas is at Crane Flat, shortly after west entrance. From west entrance to valley floor is another 30-40 minutes, depending on how many RVs you run into.

[vash]

plan for 6 hours.

[deanp]

Thanks for the replies. 4-5hrs I could do, planning on 6 is just harsh. I guess that's the summer RV crowd causing addt'l delays? Is it easier to get to one rather than the other?

Basically, we've got an open day Monday the 24th in between MotoGP on Sunday and our flight on Tuesday. Was thinking a big loop from Marina to one or the other then onto Pacifica to the hotel. Figured a 6:00AM start to get by one by late morning, then get into Pacifica late evening. Worth the trouble for a very limited amount of time? I know a few days would be better, but it is what it is.

We're going to do a little exploring in San Fran and north of the city on Thursday when we get in (late morning) then head down to Laguna Seca Friday AM, spend Fri, Sat and Sun at the track then ??? on Monday.

[jyl]

I would spend Monday driving south on Pacific Coast Highway aka Highway 1. You'll be right there, and it'll be all scenic instead of 5 hours of getting to the scenic.

[vash]

keep in mind that HWY 1 is closed just south of pacifica. mothernature basically turned it into a culdesac. you will need to go around, to and from half moon bay.

[deanp]

Thanks for the update on HWY1 - we drove it from San Fran almost all the way down to Santa Cruz last year.

[Tobra]

Pretty much any roads in the hills or on the coast took a beating due to the El Nino class rainstorms this year(that damn W and the global warming he is responsible for) I have no doubt that Hwy 1 N of SF is washed out somewhere this year.



You will want to check whatever route you choose, I am hopeful that they are doing some repairs to the damaged roads, instead of installing red light cameras and nicer looking signs and lightposts beside a roadway that is crumbling.
Of course if there is work being done, rubberneckers always have to slow down to look at the three Caltrans guys watching the only guy in the crew actually working dig a hole.

[vash]

we are busting ass to fix hwy 1.



for the record, that is the most common caltrans comment.

[cbeers]

yup, there's Cliffy in the blue hat, watching the others work


Seems like only yesterday I made that comment too Cliff!!


time flies......

-Chris