Mobile to San Diego to Yosemite

[RBAYBE]

Need some input again. Last year we took 10 to 8 and back. This year going to try 40 but not sure best way to cut down to San Diego. Is 15 bad? Also, best way to Yosemite from San Diego. Any advice on Yosemite and the best route out of Yosemite towards Mobile.
Thanks!!

[cliff841]

I can't address most of the trip but I can comment on your route from I-40 to San Diego. I-15 is by far the most direct route. It is not a bad drive for the most part although it is not scenic. The traffic can be brutal on Sunday afternoons or the last day of holiday weekends as people are returning to Los Angeles from Las Vegas. Also traffic can be an issue during rush hour once you pass Cajon pass and reach I-10 but that is par for the course in Southern California. I've driven this stretch of I-15 with my old pick-up and 5th wheel combo many times with no problems.

Certainly, if I needed to go from I-40 to San Diego that is the route I would take. I see no reason for that to impact your plans. Also, you will see beautiful scenery in parts of Arizona and New Mexico on I-40. I've never been on I-40 east of Oklahoma City.

[Ronnie Bledsoe 2006 Dutchstar 43']

I agree on the I 40 to I 15 to San Diego. In Southern Ca TIMING is most important. I try to do any movement on weekends or between 10:30 and 2:00 during the week.
For the segment from San Diego to Yosemite shortes is I 5 to I 405 back to I 5 intersection West of downtown LA. I 5 over the Mt Range and then Ca 99 toward Bakersfield. 99 to Fresno then Ca 41 to Yosemite.

[RVThere]

Did the I5 to 99 to 41 last year that Ronnie suggests with no problems. However, Rt. 41 will have construction this year:

Wawona Road Rehabilitation Project
(Hwy. 41: 25 miles of road work from the South Entrance to Yosemite Valley)

• Project will begin again as soon as the weather permits, anticipate April 18, 2011 start and May 27, 2011, completion.
• The overall project is substantially complete.
  
• There are approximately four weeks of work remaining.
  
• The remaining work includes ditch paving, headwall repairs, sign repairs, crosswalk striping, drop inlet repairs, and some other minor grinding and paving.
• Expect up to 30-minute delays this spring.
  

Schedule of Delays: Scheduled wait times are listed below.
Although wait times are scheduled, expect overall slow travel times through the construction zone (due to longer traffic lines and following a pilot car) to increase beyond what is scheduled below.
**Because multiple locations may be being worked on simultaneously throughout the project area, you may have multiple wait periods. Wait times listed below indicate a total amount of time stopped throughout the 25-mile corridor.
Time Length of Wait TimeMonday (6:00 am) - Friday (5:00 pm)
see below 6:00 am - 7:30 am up to 15-minutes 7:30 am - 3:30 pm up to 30-minutes 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm up to 15-minutes 4:30 pm to 5:00 pm up to 30-minutes
PS - my son will be working as a chef at the Ahwanhee Hotel from May to the end of July.

[Ronnie Bledsoe 2006 Dutchstar 43']

For the return trip, how much time do you have? I have never driven Tioga pass...maybe someone else can chime in on that with your 34' M/H. If that works 395 to Ca 58 and I 40 in Barstow. or head North on 395 to Carson City Ca 50 across NV to I 15 to I 70 across Rockies to Denver then stay on I 70 to I 55 to Mobile. If you head toward Denver side trip to Moab UT (Arches Nat'l Park). If you head toward Barstow you might want to go up to Las Vegas and then to Zion Nat'l Park.
If you decide against Tioga Pass take 120/108 out of the park toward Groveland then 49 to Sonora. 49 to Jackson and then 88 to Carson City?Minden Nv. where you can take 395 South or 50 East or 395 North to Reno and I 80 to Cheyenne Wy across to Denver and I 70.
OR you can return the way you came.

[skigramp]

We travel I-15 (going South to North) yearly ... the traffic where I-15 and I-10 intersect requires diligence ... watch the lane signs carefully so that you do not need to make sudden changes ...

I have found that CA drivers are very courteous in letting you change lanes when you signal ...

I am not aware of any rest stops on I-15 between Apple Valley and San Diego ... so we utilize malls with large parking lots ...

[Tom and Patty]

Leaving Yosemite over Tioga will be a beautiful drive. We have been up and down over Tioga numerous times in our Alpine w toad. Just be sure you start the descent around 25 mph and my advice is to keep it near that speed. There are plenty of places for cars to pass if they want. This is one of the few roads that I don't care if people stack up behind me. If they know what they are doing they will pass, if not, they will
make it to the bottom safe and sound:-).

It's approximately 8 miles of downgrade with a sharp drop-off on your right, but most of the way down you will have a shoulder of sorts. It then levels off for a bit ( at least it seems like it) you can rest the brakes if you are using them, we do not(use the brakes at 25). However the last mile or so steepens and there is a stop sign at the bottom. You will need your brakes here:-(.

Tuolumne Meadows is IMO the prettiest part of the park. Anyone who visits should not miss it.

Safe travels

[RBAYBE]

Thank you for the replies.