Its an easy hike out to the dunes from the parking lot, but remember that youll be walking on sand, so its significantly harder than it looks. The scenic itinerary will have you driving along Death Valley, then the impossibly scenic Sierra Nevada range and its constituent parks. Las Vegas is a 123-mile (198-kilometer) drive away. Don't pass through Alabama Hills without exploring some of the rock formations (many of them painted with quirky faces). Its quite different to the other viewpoints and reminds more of a traditional sand desert. Very impressive location with a lot of beautiful photo opportunities. Bartenders are very very excellent. Have stayed in one other hotel in the area, just for a change, but Ill always call Aliante my home away from home when Im visiting my kids in Vegas. Just gorgeous! Bring water, a camera, and comfortable sports clothing for a special day. Remember to take your water and hat. My suggestion is to . It was a bustling gold and silver mining town for a few years and then they were all gone! photo: Steve Dunleavy, This was our last point traveling on 120. Definitely good value since it is near the city (40 mins) and has perfect moderate difficulty slopes. There are pools of all temperatures, the hottest being the one nearest the parking area. There are no trails that take you further into the Golf Course, though none are needed. Anyway, I recommend spending a day at Lee Canyon. If you are planning a road trip, you might also want to calculate the total driving time from . The restaurant, bar and restrooms look great!! Basically trying to find things to do since we will be here for the New Years Eve fiesta It depends on when you visit! Mono Lake began to form around 750,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest lakes in North America. Prices will vary based on the campsite you need, but each comes with either a campfire ring or a grill. Mesquite Flat, the most popular dunes in Death Valley, is very accessible from the main road. Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are the most well-known and easy to reach sand dunes in Death Valley. The volcanic crater, some 600 feet deep, was formed a mere 300 years ago when rising magma hit ground water and the resulting trapped steam exploded. Death Valley is a desert valley in Eastern California, in the northern Mojave Desert, bordering the Great Basin Desert. Access: Paved roadFacilities: Toilet in car parkTime needed: 30 minutes 1 hour+ Distance from Furnace Creek Visitor Centre:23 miles (35km)/ 26 minutes. By the way, had a small issue with a steak, was resolved immediately and made us a customer for life. As with many casinos, it offers several different entertainment attractions on the grounds, but the casino itself is really praised for its variety. This attraction is out of the way, about 1 hour and 15 minutes (61 miles) one way. Theres something for everyone here, train lovers, mining buffs, antique collectors, you name it, they have over 30+ displays throughout the property. Explore Sierra Nevada along the way in Yosemite National Park, Mammoth Lakes and Inyo and Stanislaus National Forests. An hour and 16 minutes away from the park's gate, Fresno offers visitors an urban experience, complete with a plethora of restaurants, cultural centers, and outlets. A stunning drive over the mountain which at a height of nearly 10,000 feet, was quite literally, breathtaking! It ends in Yosemite National Park, California. So that was pretty cool to see. Making Sand Angels on the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes | Photo by Sharlene Earnshaw. The Ghost Town Rhyolite is right next to it, also worth exploring. The Devils Golf Course is another expansive area of salt formations but far different that the ones you saw at Badwater Basin. From here, you can reach Yosemite within 18 minutes. There are also numerous accommodation options here. The drive up just demands a number of stops to take photos, and the drive down into Yosemite is no different. In other words, during the rest of the year, your best option is a 9-hour drive covering about 510 miles. the Tenaya Lodge, with its countless on-site activities, is always an amazing choice. It can be a bit of a travel day coming from the east coast but now you can fly directly into mammoth saving you the drive from Reno. You can sand board here, if you happen to have a board or a sled. Its not too crowded, which is great when taking pictures. Once a lake bed, this area has now dried up leaving salt formations in its place. The trees are awesome. Your three days in Yosemite National Park comes to a brilliant conclusion with a sunset stroll through the Tuolumne Meadows. They were quick to accommodate us. Great preview tour! While the trails are open year-round, the roads are weather dependent. It's easy to fly into and car rentals can be picked up at the airport and traffic isn't as congested as it is in Los Angeles. Free Wi-Fi is offered. On the opposite side of the park, way north of Dantes View (about 80 miles away, which says something about how big Death Valley is), youll find the one manmade attraction inside the park that should be photographed. Off Highway 120 East and about 1.5 hours from the Valley floor is Tuolumne Meadows. You can see the milky way from there. If youre spending a few days at Yosemite National Park, you may want to set aside a day to explore the back part of Yosemite along Tioga Road. Once you're (literally) out of the woods, make a left onto State Route 120 when you see Mono Lake to your right, and follow it through Tioga Pass. Amazing!! You will love to spend around 2 hours here. From there, youll be able to branch out into the park to explore the natural landmarks of your choice. Be sure to check whether it is closed or not before attempting to take this route. Another iconic view of Death Valley is available at the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes the most famous and accessible of the national parks numerous dune sites. Time your trip to Tuolumne Meadows carefullythis 8,600-foot high area is accessible only from June to October. 22% as popular as Death Valley National Park, 5 minutes off the main route, 20% of way to Las Vegas. Sunset at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes is an absolute MUST for any Death Valley itinerary. You can catch unique views of Cathedral Peak, Pothole Dome and Lembert Dome alongside the Tuolumne River Bridge and Tuolumne pools. It is hard to photograph here and get a compelling picture and since I knew that I prioritized other locations above this, but I would like to mention that you at least have to visit this gorgeous place on your way to DV. As the best-known sand dunes within the park, the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are a popular destination for hikers of all experience levels. The Calico Tanks is a 2.5 mile round trip hike with about 400-500 feet in elevation change. for Yosemite National Park. Rising temperatures this week have many residents on edge. Sand dunes cover less than 1% of the surface area of Death Valley National Park, but are undoubtedly among the main sights in the park. Don't worry about the lengthy trip: There will be plenty of sights and activities to break up the journey. Yosemite-National-Park and Las-Vegas are both in the same time zone America/Los_Angeles. Some things to do within Red Rock Canyon include driving the 13-mile Scenic Drive and hiking its many trails. The views from this point are amazing. Seriously, this app does it all! Airlines Southwest Airlines Allegiant Air Advanced Air, LLC Spirit Airlines JSX Train operators Amtrak Bus operators Yosemite Area Regional Transportation Amtrak Greyhound USA Wondering what to do with one day in Yosemite? Nice cool weather (on labor day weekend) when the valley was 100f. Just an hour away from Yosemite, the city of Fresno makes for an affordable home base for those planning on exploring Yosemite National Park for several days. This one percent is spread across five different dune areas, of which the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are the most well-known. Nowadays, the aforementioned switch tower oversees trains passing through California to and from Buffalo, New York. Death Valley National Park is a really unique place thatll have you thinking youre on another planet. This 660 foot deep crater along the road to Scottys Castle is the result of a volcanic explosion a couple hundred years ago. Sleep in a tent cabin, nosh on a burger from the Tuolumne Grill, or attend a poetry gathering at the log-walled Parsons Lodge. And it's a good question, because you have two alternative routes -. Your email address will not be published. It is also designated as the first National Conservation Area in Nevada. What To Wear In Acropolis [Inc. You can check out the town's website for additional information. After tasting the wines we went into their restaurant for dinner. On a sunny bluebird day it's so amazing to be out on the mountain here. Trail is open but for safety, take the North shore trailhead and avoid the Fishermans trail since its an avalanche prone area (as one local informed). A soak with a side of views? That means if you decide to leave the park to explore all the cool landmarks to the east or west of the park, youll be able to get back into the park within 7 days without having to pay that fee again. Tuolumne Meadows is another underrated spot outside of Yosemite Valley. Driving from Phoenix to Yosemite National Park will take you through the best of the southwest if you choose the 870-mile Scenic Route, which will take about 16 hours and 40 minutes (not accounting for stops). Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes is another recognizable attraction in Death Valley. This 11,059-ft. lava dome mountain features a winter ski resort & summer biking. For just a $7 entry fee, you can get your fill of rock climbing, mountain biking, horseback riding, and hiking! Scenic site with a landmark columnar basalt rock formation, hiking trails & a popular waterfall. Nonstop drive: 366 miles or 589 km Driving time: 6 hours, 7 minutes Realistically, you'll probably want to add a buffer for rest stops, gas, or food along the way. There are four lakes in the Bishop Creek Canyon, each offering a variety of recreational activities. Beautiful hotel and casino indeed. Youll get an incredible opportunity to see Las Vegas, the Red Rock Mountains, and the Southwest Valley at sunrisethe most beautiful time of the day. You can finish your long day like we did, with a treat at In and Out a short drive away after you get down from the mountain :). How far is Yosemite National Park from Las Vegas? You will see the pristine mountains, beautiful lakes and green pines everywhere. The sand dunes extend 14 square miles with the highest dune one mile away from the parking lot. Oh yes, dont miss the opportunity to stop byErick Schats Bakkery to carbo-load on delicious breads/pastries, an activity you need NOT be shameful of. While Tioga Pass is the quickest (and most scenic) route to get from Las Vegas to Yosemite, its important to know that its not open year-round. One of the last stops we made inside the park was Ubehebe Crater, and Im glad we decided to make the drive up to here!. 17 minutes off the main route, 66% of way to Las Vegas. Red Rock Canyon is visited by more than 2 million people every year. I highly recommend a visit there. Full-moon nights are especially magical. A stop at the Furnace Creek Visitor Centre is a must do, to learn about the fascinating history, landscape, people and animals of Death Valley. A treat to explore, its colorful canyons offer up all kinds of excellent outdoor activities with stupendous views and nature wherever you go. Show only these on map. You can take a bus from Yosemite National Park to Las Vegas via Yosemite Valley Visitors Center, Merced Transpo, Merced Bus Stop, and Bakersfield in around 15h 15m. The favorite stop of the guests is the visitor center. You can visit Furnace Creek Visitors Center website for more information about seasonally-available campsites, prices, and to schedule your stay. Definitely a detour but we didn't at all regret this. My best friend had her fair share of laughs. The 370-mile road trip from Las Vegas to Yosemite National Park will take 6 hours 20 minutes of driving. Turn left onto CA-190 E, continue for 5 miles, turn left onto Scottys Castle Road for 33 miles. For me, its home to one of my favorite hikes in all of the USAthe hike to Big Pine Lakes! The surface of the Golf Course is so rough and the temperature so hot during the day, it is said that only the Devils can play golf there. At the bus stop need to hike about 1 miles. We're doing a month long trip and this was the stretch we weren't going to. Located in the high sierras, Tuolumne Meadows is a beautiful location that sadly doesnt get the attention that Yosemite Valley does. If you come from the south to visit the Artists Palette, you could unwittingly overlook this location. The gift shop is top notch and they have clean bathrooms. Be sure to check the temperature of the water before plunging. What a place. Admission is a donation. I attached photos of our meal. You can drive from Yosemite National Park to Las Vegas. I would recommend bringing a snow or sand slider. Take a detour right before you hit Mammoth Lakes, CA to see a series of sparkling lakes and gorgeous flora! When you get to the end, scale the wall for an amazing view of the entire Las Vegas Valley. I think its place #1 you should go! That is how the name was coined. Easily accessible hot spring are rare, so expect this site to be crowded on weekends, and expect a diverse crowd of people. Regardless of which route you take, youre probably going to need a lot more time to account for traffic, photo stops at scenic areas, overnight stays, food stops, and bathroom breaks. This is the crme de la crme of planning apps! Passengers, keep your eyes peeled because you wont be disappointed by the sights! Its superb. With jagged peaks of rock salt that not even the devil would be able to play golf on, this enormous expanse of earth is fun to explore but just careful not to fall over. The Devils Golf Course is an immense area of rock salt eroded by wind and rain into painful jagged spires. You'll see the original 1883 train depot, a post office, a schoolhouse and other rickety old buildings. Nighttime offers some of the absolute best views of the relaxing night sky, but daytime is where the excitement is! Great little museum exhibits on the region and wildlife! There are also a number of outlets operating in the area, making Barstow an ideal stop for visitors who want a more diverse shopping experience than the historically-oriented one Calico provides. The highway is completed, but has not reopened because, according to the tour guide, the construction workers don't want to deal with would be tourists trying to get on premises while the castle is closed and they're working. Ways To Experience Washington, DC, A Pandemic Puppys Epic Adventure with Her Adopters, Discover the Worlds Tallest Observation Wheel: High Roller Ferris Wheel in Las Vegas. The access road is often closed by snow in winter. The timings of scenic drive during sunrise depends on seasons which includes several packages. This post may contain affiliate links. Or, just wander around. Ashford Junction, once upon a time, was one of the most active railroad towns operating in California. Have plenty of water and NEVER leave the road/trail-it is called Death Valley for a reason! In many ways, Las Vegas, Nevada, seems like the perfect gateway to a vacation in the West. If youre looking for a dreamy and magical retreat, Tuolumne Meadows offers a totally tranquil escape. If you're planning a road trip, you might be interested in seeing the total driving distance from Las Vegas, NV to Yosemite National Park. From here you have to choose which direction you have to go. Furnace Creek is in the middle of Death Valley. You can drive right up to the massive crater. If its quiet, you might hear the salt crystals popping as it expands in the heat. The distance between Yosemite and Las Vegas is 400 miles and takes approximately 7 and a half hours. The area is full of photo-worthy natural beauty and rugged red rock formations. So, leaving from Mammoth Lakes, we leisurely drove around, stopped for some sighseeing, including scenic outlooks in Death Valley National Park. . This small town has a particular charm to it that makes it an ideal place to get out of the car and stretch your legs. You can't get lost, as the canyon walls lead back to the trail head. Check out this post for ideas! Hi Sarah, Whether youre looking to start exploring Yosemites natural wonders or just want to catch a glimpse of some of the worlds tallest trees, Mariposa Grove is definitely worth a visit. Follow the highway along Death Valley, then take State Routes 266 and 168 to get into California and onto Highway 395 at Big Pine. the Death Valley National Park is the most popular city on the route it's 6 hours from Yosemite National Park and 3 hours from Las Vegas. Nicknamed the Singing Sands or Singing Dunes, youll find that as you are walking along the ridge of the dunes as lots of sand begins to drop off the sides, it will make a super unique sound. As Nevadas first national conservation area, this 200,000-acre park offers spectacular views of rock formations, desert vegetation, hidden springs, wide open dunes, and vistas. Winter Update 20-21 season: . Oh and the water, yes the WATER was so refreahing! Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates. Very accessible trail for everyone, seniors, children and handicap. 2 hr drive out of vegas right pass Beatty, NV. The full loop is a leisurely 13 mile drive, but be sure to stop at several lookouts and plan a hike or picnic at one of the stops. In terms of elevation, it is important to know that youll experience some pretty drastic elevation changes (an example would be from Lee Vining to Yosemite via Tioga Pass), so make sure your car is capable of accelerating and braking without any issues. Love the old buildings, trucks, and other items from years ago. The wine tasting was informative and plenty (dont forget to tip). You can take a bus from Newark to Yosemite National Park via Las Vegas, SB Main after Ogden, SB Casino Center before Garces, Las Vegas, Bakersfield, Merced Bus Stop . The lakes are seasonal and things look very different in fall. The grove is home to over 500 Giant Sequoias, some of which are over 3,000 years old. This salty drainage basin in Death Valley National Park sits 282 ft below sea level. One of our favorite finds wasMammoth Gear Exchangewhere we found new and gently-used outdoor gear at steeply discounted prices! First: dont trust google maps. Visiting from Australia, I always wanted to see a real ghost town in USA. Pack a lunch, strike out west of the Strip and within half an hour youll be in a gnarled and reddish sandstone landscape rising to more than 900 metres. If you think Death Valley is only good for your wide angle lenses, you are totally wrong. 98,266 posts. Although you could definitely do this drive in a day, gas and food breaks included, you'll definitely want to stretch it out as much as possible in the interest of seeing everything there is to see on the way. Re: Las Vegas - Death Valley - Monterey- LAX . The road stretches along the southern edge of the meadow and is the only road that crosses the High Sierra. Bunny hill is getting pretty crowded after 11 AM, and it is just the right size of slope although relatively short. Located just east of Stovepipe Wells Village along Highway 190, the sand dunes are easy to access from either a parking lot or if you like, you can park on the roads wide dirt shoulder and simply hike a short distance into the thick of them. But hold on, this isnt a golf course, but a rough bumpy field. There is a nice little gift store with some cool unique souvenirs. You will want to bring your camera and take plenty of photos of the stunning scenery. Located 53 miles north of Furnace Creek in Grapevine Canyon is a hidden oasis. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area feels like an entirely different world from the Vegas Strip, despite being only a 20-minute drive west of downtown Las Vegas. Share your memorable experience with our audience in comment box. The signs say that dogs are not allowed, comma but that didn't stop a lot of people from being dirtbags. Deep, narrow canyon with a dirt road, limestone rock formations, petroglyphs & native plants. These also the most accessible sand dunes in the national park, situated just off of Highway 190, a couple of miles east of Stovepipe Wells. Absolutely beautiful. I would like to come back time and time again. We stepped up to their wine bar and begun tasting some very delicious wines. This is(was) a great place to get away for a few hours, the restaurant was pretty good with decent prices, the jewel of their menu was most definitely the bison steak and the bison burger, not always available but worth the trip to find out. Time Difference Driving distance from Yosemite National Park to Las Vegas, NV The total driving distance from Yosemite National Park to Las Vegas, NV is 366 miles or 589 kilometers. As the water turned into steam, it expanded until the pressure gave way to a cataclysmic Ubehebe Crater is a large volcanic crater 600 feet deep and half a mile across. 98,267 posts. I'm really sad to hear this place will be demolished to make way for yet more unwanted housing to facilitate corporate greed. The parks Junior Ranger handbook has a scavenger hunt for the kids to complete while at the castle. Yes, just like all National Parks in the US, there is an entrance fee. Only 1 hr 10mins away from Henderson. Named after a line in the 1934 National Park Service guide book for Death Valley, which stated that Only the devil could play golf on its surface, due to large, sculptural edges of the salt crystal formations. Red Rock Canyon is a peaceful and well-needed getaway from the flashy city. The trails give you a lot of access. There is a challenging and not stroller friendly climb to get to the top and see the hexagon tops of the basalt formations. This is dog friendly so long as theyre on a leash, you clean their poop and you stay on trail. Need to park at the gondola. "All the snow will stay up in the mountains, but most mountain areas should . 2 May 2023, 1:53 am. Tuolumne Meadows is a gorgeous high alpine meadow with beautiful rock formations, a clear and calm river, and wildlife galore. Tuolumne Meadows is one of the most picturesque areas in Yosemite, with 2mi (3km) of blooming fields, the winding Tuolumne River and a backdrop of rising peaks. It was very scenic with towering trees and cascading rock formations fluttering in my eyes. The most accessible dunes in Death Valley are an undulating sea of sand rising up to 100ft high next to the highway near Stovepipe Wells Village. Be sure to visit when the visitors center is open- they have lots of information! To be honest, I have not imagined them being so huge and wide. One thing that slightly complicates matters is Vegas' position relative to Yosemite - the only way to enter the park from the east is only available for about half a year, with the exact opening and closing dates depending on the weather in a particular year.
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