Tioga Pass
Tioga Pass
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Dramatic drive starting at elevation 6,100 feet outside of Yosemite Valley and finishing 47 miles later atop Tioga Pass.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
1,180 reviews
Excellent
937
Very good
215
Average
23
Poor
3
Terrible
2
Susan H
Tacoma, WA4,117 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
We entered the park through the east entrance and found the line to enter was quite short and only took about 10 minutes. The drive was beautiful with trail heads and picnic spots along the way. I felt the signage in the park could have been better it was sometimes difficulty to know where you were even with the park map. In late September, there was minimal traffic along the drive except when we got to the valley area. The valley was full of people and with all the construction, a number of the parking lots were closed. They were replaced and all but still closed even though the other lots were full. It was a mess at the visitor’s center and we never did find a place to park and never got to even visit the center. I understand the need for construction but it appeared they were not trying to make it easy on visitors. Sad when for many it is a one time visit. Another bummer was the road construction all through the park which meant a number of times we were waiting in line for a pilot car in order to get through the construction areas. They are doing a lot of work in the park which is great unless you are visiting during the construction. Tip… There is a gas station along the drive with a small convenience store and to our surprise the gas there was a lot cheaper then outside the park in Lee Vining or Mammoth Lakes.
Written October 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wgm51
Albuquerque, NM128 contributions
Jun 2021
We drove to Yosemite from north Lake Tahoe, so came in via the Tioga Pass Road. The drive was a beautiful introduction to this iconic National Park. It ranks right up there with another spectacular high altitude drive we have been on, the Million Dollar Highway in southwest Colorado. Fortunately. I am comfortable driving on roads like this with big drop offs, lots of climbing, turning and descending but my wife is a somewhat reluctant passenger. She was grateful when we stopped for lunch next to the Tioga Pass Visitor Center, then took a short loop hike in Tuolumne Meadows to Soda Spring. We continued on this beautiful drive with a stop at Tenaya Lake and at Olmstead Point, where we got our first view of Half Dome, before reaching our destination lodge in El Portal.
Written July 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sparkyart53@yahoo.com
Reno, NV13 contributions
Sep 2022
I have traveled Tioga Pass several times as I live in Nevada and we frequently take guests to Yosemite. I am writing this review as a response to an irresponsible article about Tioga Pass om MSN. First of all, the only time Tioga Pass would be open or plowed by April is if we have a very dry winter. People really need to contact the National Park Service before they assume the pass has been plowed. There have already been close to 50 FEET of snow this season, so the pass will likely not be open until some time in June. The article on MSN gave a longest crossing time of 1.75 hours. That might be true leaving the park, assuming there are not too many crazy tourists. However, if you are entering the park from the east, all it takes is a couple of Airstreams, or other large RVs, and you will be sitting on a very steep hill for quite a while before you get over Tioga Pass. I always recommend that folks go in the west side of Yosemite very very early, and exit through Tioga in early afternoon, where you will have great view of stopped traffic coming up the road. Be safe!
Written March 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chuck L
Florissant, MO271 contributions
Aug 2020
This is a GREAT drive, with beautiful view of mountains, valleys, and Half Dome. If taking the road from the west, it starts off slow but gets better as you head towards the Tioga Pass. Once you reach the pass, you need to continue out of the park for about another 20 miles to the town of Lee Vining, through Inyo National Forest. This drive was about 20 miles, dropping from an elevation of 9,945 feet to 6,837 feet. It was INCREDIBLE!!!! The town was nothing. We thought we would stop for some Ice cream, but could not find anything from a convivence store. But you will LOVE the drive, almost straight down, with the view of mountains, lakes and the valley. Don't miss it!
Written August 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ceci
Akumal, Mexico11 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
Oh this pass is scary. Great view but there is a point (direction yosemite to Lee Vining) where you are just about hanging on the cliff, driving to the edge no barriers no protection no anything. We were driving also with an RV which made it worse. You are at a point looking ahead and you observe the road going abruptly down on the other side of the mountain thinking omg are you going to be there too and oh yes you are.
My heart stopped beating till we got over that and for no reason I am doing this again or reccomending it to anyone. Take the longer road in peace and be safe.
If you are coming from Lee Vining direction yosemite you are going to be on the inside part of the road.
My heart stopped beating till we got over that and for no reason I am doing this again or reccomending it to anyone. Take the longer road in peace and be safe.
If you are coming from Lee Vining direction yosemite you are going to be on the inside part of the road.
Written July 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bill K
Mantorville, MN6,307 contributions
Jun 2022
The east entrance to the park is the lesser-used entrance and a beautiful drive through mountains, meadows, and valleys. We were fortunate enough to get a day pass, but the line was still very long because it was filled with people that did not realize they needed a pass. Once in the park, we sat for a long time in a construction pilot car line. The parking lots in the valley were all full or closed. The park has become a very difficult place to maneuver/enjoy. The sights are spectacular, but the time spent getting from one place to another detracts greatly from the experience.
Written July 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Angel57
Essex UK2,092 contributions
Sep 2024 • Couples
We first drove through the pass in May 1999 with our kids, the road had not long reopened after Winter & the banks were piled up with 8-10ft of snow & Lake Tenaya was partly frozen - a magical experience.
This time it was a different drive but equally magical. There had been some snow the day before & while the road was clear(one icy patch) all the trees & mountains had a light covering of snow. The views were just amazing.
This time it was a different drive but equally magical. There had been some snow the day before & while the road was clear(one icy patch) all the trees & mountains had a light covering of snow. The views were just amazing.
Written September 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PacificNWFamily
Washington State103,408 contributions
Jun 2022
We had to wait for a pilot car to travel on Tioga Pass Road through the construction, but there is no more beautiful place to sit in a car. Everywhere you look are amazing views.
Several parking lots were closed, but it appears that the actual locations that are closed will change as the road crew completes sections of the road.
Remember to bring your patience.
Several parking lots were closed, but it appears that the actual locations that are closed will change as the road crew completes sections of the road.
Remember to bring your patience.
Written June 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tracey T
New Jersey15 contributions
Oct 2021 • Friends
This is a beautiful drive from the valley through the alpine of Yosemite. It’s a spectacular drive into Lee Vining. We drove it all the way to 6E and then through Nevada but the pass itself is wonderful. I would love to do it when I have time to stop and do some of the hikes or swim in the lake.
Written October 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
YMaya
Riverside, CA64 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
This is a beautiful drive that shouldn’t be missed when the road is open. I love that it wasnt’t crowded in mid august. Granite formation you see along the drive, the lakes, the snow capped peaks was incredibly scenic! I prefer Tioga pass than the valley floor honestly. From Lee Vining to the valley floor we made 4 stops & ended up to be an 8 hour ordeal. Take your time & just take it all in. You won’t regret it. Tip: if you’re short on time skip Tuolumne grove. The hike back is strenuous 1 mile.
Written September 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi,
As part of our road trip we will be travelling to Yosemite from Vegas via Death Valley on 28th May.
I have planned a stop over in Mammoth Lakes on 28th May for one night and planned to travel to Yosemite the next day, but i have just been informed that i probably will not be able to get to Yosemite Via Tioga Pass due to road closures because of snow.
Can anyone please advise if this is correct, and if so i would be most grateful if anyone can offer advise on how to get to Yosemite from Mammoth Mountain or Death Valley.
We are from the UK so are not at all familiar with the conditions to expect on this road trip. Any help would be very much appreciated
Kind regards
Written February 3, 2023
It all depends on the snowfall of the season. Sometimes they can open the road late May but in 2019, it wasn’t until July! Again, their park website will be the best for most up to date Information. That area has already had a lot of snow this season. We were there in September of 2022 and it was absolutely beautiful. I hope it works out for you!
Written February 4, 2023
Hi there, what an amazing looking road Tioga Pass is! I've read online that the clearing of the road usually starts around April 15 and the time it takes depends on how much snowfall there has been in the winter months.
Given that, I was wondering if anyone local to the area could let me know if there's been lots (or not lots) of snow this year? I'm in the Yosemite area in mid-May so I was wondering if there's any chance that Tioga will open early this year.
Written February 28, 2022
Hi
Next time post directly on the active Yosemite forum.
Folks hope that Tioga Pass Road will open in time for Memorial Day holiday weekend traffic.
Written May 12, 2022
Hello! Me and my boyfriend are travelling to San Francisco mid of October for a road trip (we are still far off but I'm really looking forward to it :)! ).
We plan to start our itinerary by driving from San Francisco to Death Valley and then Vegas.
Which route do you recommend us, and how long does it take? I was thinking about maybe going through Tioga Pass (if not closed), spend the night near Bishop and then continue our way to Vegas, via Death Valley. What do you think?
Thank you and greetings from Portugal!
Written January 11, 2020
Tioga Pass would be perfect if it’s open. Also I stayed in Mammoth Lakes and Bishop they are close together. Mammoth Lakes was really fantastic. If you can hike to the Devils Postpile National Monument and or Rainbow Falls it’s worth it.
In Nevada their is a ghost town with some incredibly strange but memorable sculptures - Rhyolite Nevada. It’s worth a visit if you have time.
Death Valley has countless things to see.
In Nevada - Mt Charleston area outside of Las Vegas is stunning. The Valley of Fire State Park Also close to Vegas is a good as any National Park.
In Death Valley I liked the Devils Golf Course, Zabriskies Point, the Artist Drive area all near the Visitor Center. It was a 100 degrees F in March when I went.
Written January 11, 2020
Tioga Pass in den ersten Tagen im Oktober, kann da Schnee sein?? Kann es gefährlich sein??
Written August 11, 2019
Tioga Pass closes most years in Nov. and reopens Mid April or first part of May. This year, with all the snow, the pass did not open till June 21. If the road is dangerous, ice and snow, the rangers will close the road. You can always check the web site to see road conditions in the park.
Written August 11, 2019
Hi! I will be driving Tioga Pass west from south Lake Tahoe to Yosemite. I have a fear of heights and am wondering if anyone can tell me if I'll be on the inside or outside of the road heading that way and if on the outside, is the road on the edge of cliffs?? Really nervous. Thanks
Written August 4, 2019
I don’t remember being on the edge of any cliffs. The road has a high elevation but wasn’t a winding mountain pass. You spend a lot of time driving through meadows and besides lakes. There are tall domes around you. It’s quite beautiful.
Written August 4, 2019
Salve,andrò al yosemite ad agosto vorrei fare la tioga road,vado bene se la tappa successiva è il sequoia park, o devo saltarlo???
Written July 13, 2019
Can anyone tell me exactly where the Tioga Pass Entrance from Yosemite Valley floor is? Specifically how far can you drive if the road is still closed? It seems it may not re-open before Memorial Day this year and I was wondering if it is worth the drive as far as you can go, and is there parking to get out and explore a bit. Any info is helpful,. Thank you!
Written March 26, 2019
Hallo,
wir fahren nächstes Jahr auch von San Francisco nach Mammouth Lakes. Wielange ungefähr ist Dauer der Fahrt wenn man sich nicht lange mit Aussichtspunkten aufhält.
LG. Mani
Written January 26, 2019
It's about an 5 hour plus drive, 259 miles. It's a mountain drive through Yosemite, it can be a slow drive. There are many spots you'll want to stop to enjoy the views. You'll need to check the time of year for the pass to be open. The Tioga Pass doesn't open until the end of May most years because of snow. Enjoy!
Written January 27, 2019
Hi
I am going to visit the Yosemite Park at the first weeks of May. Will the Tioga pass be opened?
How can I know excactly when this pass and the Glacier pass will open in 2019 season?
Written January 23, 2019
It depends on the snow fall. The pass usually opens around the end of May. You can check this site ( sorry TipAdvisor won't let me add a site)for the latest updates on roads into Yosemite. Sorry Goggle Yosemite Park road conditions (it's a nps.gov/yose) listing Enjoy!
Written January 23, 2019
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