yosemite
 

how far is the drive from LAX to Yosemite? (in hours) I know the mileage, but not the roads. This would be in June on a weekday.
Thanks..

Depending on traffic, about 5-6 hours to get to the bottom of the valley.

Yosemite is the most beautiful place on earth (IMHO). You'll love it!

Count on 6+ to the valley floor. Where are you staying?

you may want to check if you can actually camp in the valley. I believe they have a cap on the amount of people there these days.

Tuolumne Meadows is great as well.

You will need to make reservations now if you hope to do this.

NPS Yosemite

or maybe stay in Turlock or Modesto at some cheapy hotel

Turlock & Modesto are too far north. You can always find some place to stay in Fresno or Clovis (preferred) if you can't stay in the valley & go on up Hwy. 41. The time to Yosemite from there is about an hour & a half at most.
Art, Yosemite is really beautiful, but have you ever been to Zion? Out of all the natural beauty places I've been in the U.S. & Europe, Zion's the most beautiful to me.

Yosemite last summer. A great time!
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176116449.jpg

Avoid Yosemite Village at all costs. Too many tourists/screaming brats/poseurs. It's a zoo - LA traffic jam, just in the woods. I'd highly recommend either Glacier Point or Tuolumne Meadows though. Both are great, far away from the insanity of the Village, close to great trailheads, etc.

Sequoia Park/Kings Canyon also highly recommended, but a little further driving. Enjoy it!

I've never been to Zion, but St. George, Utah is a close 2nd to Yosemite for me. I visited Yosemite in the spring and it was the most gorgeous place I've ever seen.

Re: yosemite
 

Before or after the schools close for the summer? If it is during summer vacation...

And if it is the last week in June, the week before the July 4 weekend...

Yosemite - Friday - 4/6/2007 :

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176146000.jpg

Yosemite - 7/2/02
 

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176151982.jpg
Me at Glacier Point

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176152075.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176152105.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176152182.jpg

No matter how long it takes, if you can, make the trek - you won't be disappointed.

Yosemite a year ago :)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176152459.jpg

A few more gratuitous pics...July of 2004
 

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176154783.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176154807.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176154832.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176154850.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176154875.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176154895.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176154924.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176154943.jpg

Another pic from last Friday:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176159780.jpg

We were there 4th of July week last year and had no problems with traffic or tourists or crowds. If you've never been, by all means go.

Great pictures! That last one gave me vertigo just looking at it. I have not been to yosemite since my honeymoon 19 years ago. Makes me want to go back. My dad and I used to go back packing there when I was a kid. You might want to see if there are any places in El Portal or Mariposa. Thats a little closer to the park then Modesto, Fresno, or Clovis.

ok, well, we are finally replanning this trip. Plan is to fly into LAX, spend 3 days there, then drive up through Sequoia to Yosemite, then up to Tahoe and over to SF and leave out of there.
Hoping to do this in 10 days. Is there enough time to drive from LA area, visit the big trees and make it to Yosemite? Or Im guessing probably better to stop in Fresno area after the trees and then hit Yosemite the next day?