Drive through Yosemite
Direction from Northern California
If you are heading here from the Bay Area be sure to take the scenic Yosemite route
Don’t drive the route through Reno and Hawthorne it is long and boring! Instead…
First set your GPS to Lee Vinning, CA,. Choose either tolls - SR-120 Yosemite National Park (+$20) or no tolls: SR-108 coming out at Bridgeport, CA.
Stop there for lunch at Monocone - they have excellent burgers, fries, and ice cream and a great backyard patio. it is cash only but across the street is an ATM (inside the coffee shop Mono cup) or there is one at the Shell.
Be sure to also stop at Mono Lake and take a short 1.2 mile walk on the boardwalk to see the world famous tufa’s
From there set your GPS to Goldfield, NV. You can choose to gas up in Lee Vinning and then turn off at Silver Peak to see the largest Lithium Mine in North America or follow the GPS through Tonopah, NV and stop and gas up there where it is cheaper. The big grocery store in Tonopah is Raily’s and closes daily at 9pm. Casinos are 24/7 and A&W is open till 12am on Friday and Saturday night if you arrive late and want a snack. Everything in Goldfield closes early.
Tufa’s
Mono Lake is well worth a stop to see the lake and learn about the history of the LA water shortage that made the tufa’s visible.
From Las Vegas
Simply drive North on the US-95 for 2.5 hours. Be sure to stop off at Eddie World Gas Station in Beaty, NV. They have 20+ varieties of fresh beef jerky, a massive selection of homemade nuts and candy, and plushies for sale!
Take a detour to Death Valley National Park
One hour south of Zesty Cheese Ranch is Death Valley, National Park. There you can experience the hottest place on earth! Walk the salt flats, check out the devil’s golf course, the painted rocks, and more. It is a wonderful park to explore. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, good shoes (flip-flops will melt!), and don’t forget there is a fee to enter the park.
Don’t forget to shop in Las Vegas
At OMEGA-MART! Great deals in store