Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Fastest Route from SF to Lone Pine

Will be leaving the SF area on Friday headed toward Lone Pine and was wondering the quickest route...Tioga or Sonora? The shorter distance may be to chose Tioga but am concerned about the volume of traffic that may exist on that road going through Yosemite. Thanks for the help!

I am heading down the same day from Sacramento. I have the same concern about Yosemite, so I am thinking I am going up to Tahoe and going down the 395. When plotting it on Google Maps there is only a 10 minute difference.

From Roseville area to Lone Pine, best way is up 80 to 395 and down. Due to road work on 80, consider 50 to 89 at Meyers, to 88, to 395. Actually about 30 miles shorter than 80, but a tad bit longer driving time. From Bay Area, would still consider 80 to Reno. Maybe a little longer, but a smooth straight drive. Be careful on 395, different speed zones while in Nevada and a lot of patrol.

Going through Reno from the Bay Area seems like a considerable trek north to go south. I have taken the Tioga 120 route twice (during the week) and had no problem during this time of year (it was the last week of July and the first week of August)If you are driving during the week, I would use the 120 route and save on the swing north.

Three weekends ago, I drove to Bishop via 120, and then back home via the Sonora Pass (108). They were close in terms of length of driving time. Like Bee, I would consider Reno a pretty significant detour. This week's trip to Whitney will probably be over the Tioga Pass/120.

Yeah, I agree going up to Reno seems a bit out of the way. I am going from to Sacramento to Tahoe via 50. It's a pretty easy route, where going 120 through Tioga pass always seems to take forever. Like I said previously, Google Maps says it's only 10 minutes longer to go via 50 to Tahoe over 120. We're stoping at Mammoth to go up the gondola to 11k feet to get in a little acclimation. We're heading out on Friday!

Agree, I think I will be heading across the Tioga Pass as well. I have traveled both as well and there seems to be a little more scenic eye candy going this way and that always helps. Good luck to you both and maybe I will see you on the trails this weekend!

Using Google Maps, and comparing Tioga Pass route with heading south through Bakersfield and Tehachapi, it is 100 miles farther via Tehachapi, but only an hour longer.

I find that the times through the mountains take longer than Google predicts, but you can pretty much move along at the speed limit or a little better going the other way. So... if you are going at night, you might appreciate the easier driving taking the southern route.

Consider taking I50 through Placerville, then El Dorado Forest Route 5, to 88, and then down the hill to 395. We often use Route 5, in the Summer months, as a short cut to Stockton and Sacramento. Almost zero traffic on Route 5 and 88.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado/conditions/roads/