Route map
Start / endStopsOvernight
Las Vegas to Yosemite: the drive
The drive from Las Vegas to Yosemite National Park covers 406 miles (654 km) and takes about 7 hr 45 min without stops, mostly on US-95, CA-120 and Tioga Road.
That's a lot of time behind the wheel for one day, so we suggest splitting it into 2 days with an overnight in Tonopah, NV. That keeps each day to about 3 hr 45 min of driving.
We found 9 worthwhile stops within about 25 miles of the route, including Hoover Dam, Seven Magic Mountains, Rhyolite Ghost Town and Mammoth Lakes.
| Main roads | Approx. miles |
|---|---|
| US-95 | 171 |
| CA-120 | 57 |
| Tioga Road | 47 |
| US-6 | 45 |
Best time to go: May to October. Tioga Road (the eastern entrance) is usually closed from November to late May or June.
Suggested 2-day itinerary
- Day 1: Las Vegas → Tonopah, NV (203 mi). Stops: Hoover Dam, Seven Magic Mountains and Rhyolite Ghost Town.
- Day 2: Tonopah, NV → Yosemite National Park (203 mi). Stops: Mammoth Lakes, Mono Lake South Tufa and Bodie State Historic Park.
Best stops between Las Vegas and Yosemite
Before you leave Las Vegas
- 3
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
A 13-mile one-way scenic loop 25 minutes from the Strip. A timed-entry reservation has been required for most of the year.
Photo: Wilson44691 · CC0
- 1
Hoover Dam
Walk across the 726-foot Art Deco dam, or take the power plant tour. The Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman bridge walkway gives the best view.
Photo: Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz) · CC BY-SA 4.0 - 2
Seven Magic Mountains
Seven towers of neon-painted boulders in the desert just off I-15 south of Las Vegas. Free, quick and very photogenic.
Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0 - 4
Rhyolite Ghost Town
Gold-rush ruins near Beatty with a bottle house, a crumbling bank and the eerie Goldwell Open Air Museum sculptures.
Photo: Tahoenathan · CC BY-SA 3.0 - ☾
Overnight in Tonopah, NV
End of day 1: about 4 hrs and 203 miles from Las Vegas.
See hotels in Tonopah → - 5
Mammoth Lakes
An Eastern Sierra resort town with Devils Postpile, hot springs and summer gondola rides up Mammoth Mountain.
Photo: Perfect Zero from Los Angeles, CA, US · CC BY 2.0 - 6
Mono Lake South Tufa
Otherworldly limestone towers rising from an ancient salt lake just east of Yosemite's Tioga Pass.
Photo: Dicklyon · CC BY 4.0 - 7
Bodie State Historic Park
California's best-preserved ghost town, left in a state of arrested decay. The last 3 miles are dirt and the road is snowbound in winter.
Photo: Roland Arhelger · CC BY-SA 4.0 - 8
Groveland
A gold-rush town on CA-120 with the 1850s Iron Door Saloon, and the last easy food and fuel before Yosemite's Big Oak Flat entrance.
Photo: Almonroth · CC BY-SA 3.0
Near Yosemite
- 9
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
Yosemite's largest sequoia grove, home of the Grizzly Giant, just inside the south entrance. A free shuttle runs from the welcome plaza in season.
Where to stay overnight on the way
Hotels and rentals around Tonopah, NV, the natural end of day one:
Map not loading? See places to stay near Tonopah →
Where to stay in Yosemite Valley / El Portal
Half Dome, El Capitan and some of the tallest waterfalls in North America, best in late spring. Yosemite Valley / El Portal is the closest town with lodging. Rooms near national parks sell out in peak season, so book early.
Map not loading? See places to stay near Yosemite Valley / El Portal →
Renting a car for this trip
Most travelers fly into Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) and pick up a car there. Booking a round trip from the same airport is usually much cheaper than a one-way rental. A mid-size car is fine for all paved roads on this route. You only need an SUV for the optional dirt-road detours.
Need a car?
Rental cars at LAS
Compare prices from major and local agencies at Harry Reid International Airport in one search.
Compare rental cars →Free cancellation on most bookings.
Trip cost calculator
Estimate gas or charging, hotels and car rental for a round trip from Las Vegas to Yosemite:
Las Vegas to Yosemite road trip FAQ
How long is the drive from Las Vegas to Yosemite National Park?
About 7 hr 45 min without stops for 406 miles via US-95, CA-120 and Tioga Road. With breaks for fuel and food, allow around 9 hr 45 min.
What is the halfway point between Las Vegas and Yosemite?
Tonopah, NV is about halfway, roughly 203 miles from each end. It's a good place for fuel and a meal.
Where should I stop overnight between Las Vegas and Yosemite?
To keep each day under about 4 hours of driving, stay overnight in Tonopah, NV. Book ahead in summer and on holiday weekends.
What are the best stops between Las Vegas and Yosemite?
Top stops include Hoover Dam, Seven Magic Mountains, Rhyolite Ghost Town and Mammoth Lakes. See the full list with detour times above.
How much does gas cost from Las Vegas to Yosemite?
About $52 one way in a car that gets 28 mpg with gas at $3.60 a gallon. Use the calculator on this page to plug in your own car and prices.
When is the best time to visit Yosemite?
May to October. Tioga Road (the eastern entrance) is usually closed from November to late May or June.
Route calculated from OpenStreetMap data and checked 2026-11-09. Drive times assume normal traffic and no stops.
