[robojester]

Any can't miss spots I see there are 2 routes.
One goes through yosemite but is longer.
I am guessing it would be more scenic?

Thinking may be best to wait for spring/early summer...

Input?

[Raiderman]

I'm planning a drive up, myself. I plan on stopping at the Goldfield Hotel and the clown motel/graveyard. Not sure what else yet.

[Cold Warrior]

Check the weather conditions if you are going to go up into the Sierras.

[robojester]

indeed!

[Cold Warrior]

I know its obvious, but some people don't realize the roads can close between September and May.

[Croce]

Originally Posted by Cold Warrior

Check the weather conditions if you are going to go up into the Sierras.

Concur. I would wait until late spring. We've been stuck up there a couple times. Once in Lake Tahoe when we couldn't get back through Reno and another time when the 95 was closed due to high winds.

[Buzz123]

Uhhh, the way to Reno is no where near Yosemite, even going up 395. You can get over to Yosemite from U.S. 395, at Lee Vining, but I think that road is probably closed now for the winter.

Take U.S. 95 north. The drive to Reno can be pretty boring, or it can get a bit exciting just north of Tonopah, where I always hit snow in winter. Mostly it's miles and miles of miles and miles. But you can do some (very weird) sight seeing in Gold Field, and Tonopah. If you have time, and most people headed for Reno don't usually have time since it's such a long drive, but you can take a side trip outside of Beatty to Rhyolite, NV Ghost Town, or Belmont Ghost Town from out of Tonopah. Ordinarily, you could take a side trip to Scotty's Castle in Death Valley, but the rain washed out the road. Hawthorn, NV, called Firecracker City, is home to the Navy Ammo dump, which you will see as you pass through, and Fallon, NV is home to the Navy's Top Gun school ...yes, it is a long way from the ocean.

When you get to Reno check on the road conditions before heading up to Lake Tahoe. But Lake Tahoe is one of the most beautiful places on earth, especially in winter. Be sure to take your skis, or at least rent an inner tube for snow tubing. There are something like 19 ski resorts around the Lake Tahoe area. You can take the aerial tram up to the top at Heavenly Valley, or at least you used to be able too, whether your are skiing or not.

Truckee, CA, is a very nice little town on I-80, and they have great restaurants and shopping there. When we go, we usually head over Donner Pass and down the mountain to Nevada City, Calif. They have all kinds of events going on in that little town, and one of the best is Victorian Christmas. Also at Truckee is a great Donner Party Museum on the shore of Donner Lake. Just be careful what you eat...it could be Bill or Jane.

[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by Croce

Concur. I would wait until late spring. We've been stuck up there a couple times. Once in Lake Tahoe when we couldn't get back through Reno and another time when the 95 was closed due to high winds.

I've been stuck a few times myself and loved every minute of it. Did not enjoy taking three hours to get to Truckee one year following a blizzard the night before that turned us back to spend a noisy night in a Reno Hotel. The train, at least it did, went right through downtown, and late at night there must have been 20 trains passing through, all blowing their horns as they crossed Virginia St. I lived in Reno for 2 years. It was fun. I've seen snow on the 4th of July, so I wouldn't worry about it. I bet we've been back there more in winter than in summer for skiing.

[robojester]

We are going sometime after Feb ..cuz its the Fla keys end of Jan ..so thinking spring trip.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Las+...6329!5i1?hl=en

is this not accurate ?

[Cold Warrior]

It is, but it takes about 2 hours to get to Yosemite Village from Lee Vining (reference: Google Maps).