Re: Best route from Yosemite to Las Vegas in late April ?

I'm trying to advise some Australians who will be visiting CA in late April of next year. They are thinking of going to Yosemite and on to Vegas. I know a lot of this will depend on this winter's snow level, but assuming 120 will be closed, what's the best way to get to Vegas, maybe going through Death Valley ?

Depends on what you mean by "best". Assuming Tioga Pass is still closed, the fastest route would be 140 to Merced (or 41 south to Fresno), 99 south to Bakersfield, and then east on 58/395/15 to Las Vegas. That's like 8-8.5 hours, but for much of the way it's not an interesting drive. That could be varied by detouring north through Death Valley, which will add maybe 2 hours more (if you don't stop). More scenic, but several hours longer, would be to go west from Yosemite (120 or 140), then either northeast on 108 through Sonora Pass to 395, or north on 99 and then east on 80 to Truckee, then drive around Lake Tahoe (east side or west side, it's all good), then hook up with 395. Then south to Death Valley and across to LV.

Thanks.
If 120 is still closed, do you think 108 will also be closed ?

Caltrans info for the past few years suggests that Sonora Pass generally opens a bit earlier than Tioga Pass.

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/clsdlst.htm

That may be b/c CalTrans is responsible for plowing the entire length of 108 whereas NPS is responsible for 120 within Yosemite. But as always with these things, at that time of year you can't really plan until shortly before you leave, new snow is still possible in April.

Quote
The Other Tom
If 120 is still closed,

If? It will almost certainly be closed.

Quote
eeek

Quote
The Other Tom
If 120 is still closed,

If? It will almost certainly be closed.

Yes, it would be bad news if it was open