Yes, it is very much worth driving, and in both directions. Visitors to Yosemite National Park should consider making a day trip to Tuolumne Meadows, then down the pass to Lee Vining, Mono Lake and Bodie, the huge ghost town. It's very different than Yosemite on the east side of the pass -- the desert begins in earnest, and conditions are far harsher than what you might find on the valley floor in YNP.
Beautiful from either side. When they’d allow it, we used to ride to Tuolumne from Lee Vining on road bikes before the Pass opened in Spring. It’s a big bike path with no cars!
I always look forward to going back, when driving downhill back to Lee Vining, try not to speed and to drive slow, stay calm and try not to get distracted looking over the edge, if there are cars behind you, pull over and let them past and you’ll be ok. That’s what I do. It’s not a race to see who gets down the hill the fastest.
When we stayed in Mammoth Lakes, we drove Tioga Pass all the way up to Olmsted Point and returned back. Next day we went to see Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest near Bishop. Then we stayed overnight in Lone Pine and drove all the way to Sequoia N.P. next day, going south on US -395 and going west on CA-178 towards Bakersfield and then north towards Three Rivers. I suppose it can be done in reverse. Enjoy your road trip.
I drove it from Tuolumne Meadows down to Mono Lake in 1990, still gives the the shudders when i think about it, scared the life out of me, there was no guard rail at all in those days, only when you reached the bottom near the lake, where there were no drop offs.
@@adamreiss8446 I agree with you, driving east downhill to Lee Vining scares me the most. I’m going to try and go one more time this year and hope I make down that hill safe.
I would love to drive this road 👍
Yes, it is very much worth driving, and in both directions. Visitors to Yosemite National Park should consider making a day trip to Tuolumne Meadows, then down the pass to Lee Vining, Mono Lake and Bodie, the huge ghost town. It's very different than Yosemite on the east side of the pass -- the desert begins in earnest, and conditions are far harsher than what you might find on the valley floor in YNP.
Tioga Pass is wonderful. So is Sonora Pass on CA108.
Beautiful from either side. When they’d allow it, we used to ride to Tuolumne from Lee Vining on road bikes before the Pass opened in Spring. It’s a big bike path with no cars!
It is a great Drive, I've been over several times, and from both directions. For me, it never gets old.
Beautiful ride either way on a motorcycle, RV or car.
I always look forward to going back, when driving downhill back to Lee Vining, try not to speed and to drive slow, stay calm and try not to get distracted looking over the edge, if there are cars behind you, pull over and let them past and you’ll be ok. That’s what I do. It’s not a race to see who gets down the hill the fastest.
This is one of the best drives I have ever done. If you are in Yosemite N.P. you have to drive it.
Highly recommend Tioga Pass!! Beautiful drive.
Thanks for your comment!
So Beautiful
It’s currently under 20 feet of snow!
I want so visit the Sequoia National Park too but doing that I wont be able using the 395 highway and entering o the tioga pass by lee vining ?
When we stayed in Mammoth Lakes, we drove Tioga Pass all the way up to Olmsted Point and returned back. Next day we went to see Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest near Bishop. Then we stayed overnight in Lone Pine and drove all the way to Sequoia N.P. next day, going south on US -395 and going west on CA-178 towards Bakersfield and then north towards Three Rivers. I suppose it can be done in reverse. Enjoy your road trip.
I crapped by pantalón driving West to East. Scary!!
I drove it from Tuolumne Meadows down to Mono Lake in 1990, still gives the the shudders when i think about it, scared the life out of me, there was no guard rail at all in those days, only when you reached the bottom near the lake, where there were no drop offs.
@@adamreiss8446 I agree with you, driving east downhill to Lee Vining scares me the most. I’m going to try and go one more time this year and hope I make down that hill safe.
So beautiful, did your ears pop going up ?
I don't think they did. We were so exited that we didn't notice.
"is Tioga Pass worth driving?"
is that a rhetorical question?
Hello