Yosemite Backpacking Trips

Backpacking - Mt Conness - Directions

From SAN JOSE INT'L airport

Start out going NORTHEAST on AIRPORT PKWY toward TECHNOLOGY DR. .4 miles, AIRPORT PKWY becomes E BROKAW RD. 1.1 miles. Merge onto I-880 N toward OAKLAND. 7.0miles. Merge onto MISSION BLVD / CA-262 E toward I-680 / SACRAMENTO. 1.5 miles. Merge onto I-680 N toward SACRAMENTO. 17 miles. Merge onto I-580 E toward STOCKTON. Merge onto I-5 N 1.1 miles. Merge onto CA-120 E via EXIT 461 toward MANTECA / SONORA. Merge onto CA-120 E / CA-99 N via the exit on the LEFT toward SACRAMENTO / SONORA. 1.7 miles Take the CA-120 E / YOSEMITE AVE exit toward SONORA. .1 Mile Turn RIGHT onto E YOSEMITE AVE / CA-120. Continue to follow CA-120. 19.8 miles Turn LEFT onto E F ST / CA-108 / CA-120. Continue to follow CA-108 E / CA-120 E. 24.9 miles Turn RIGHT onto CA-120. 12.5 miles Turn RIGHT onto OLD PRIEST GRADE. 0.1 miles. Turn LEFT to stay on OLD PRIEST GRADE. 1.8 miles Turn LEFT to stay on OLD PRIEST GRADE. 0.1 miles Turn RIGHT onto CA-120. 25.9 miles through Groveland. . Once at Groveland, you’ll continue up and enter Yosemite National Park. Be prepared to pay the Park entrance fee of 20$ per car. Continue on Hwy 120 East and follow the signs to Tuolumne Meadows. Note that 120 east takes a hard left hand turn away from Yosemite valley direction, signed at Crane Flat Rd. but it clearly signed. Leave yourself about 4.5 hours for this drive.

From SAN FRANCISCO, OAKLAND airports

Exit the airport and take US-101 South towards San Jose. Continue for about 7 miles and merge onto CA-92 East to Hayward, crossing the San Mateo Bridge. Look left for a beautiful view of San Francisco! Merge onto I-880 North towards Oakland. Proceed 3 miles and merge onto I-238 East to Castro Valley/Stockton. Proceed 3 miles and merge onto I-580 East.

From Oakland you'll take 880 north to 580 east.

Once on 580 east, Continue for about 45 miles then merge onto I-205 East towards Tracy/Stockton. At the junction of I-205 East and I-5 North, take CA-120 East and follow signs to Manteca.

At Manteca, take CA-99 North and exit immediately to stay on CA-120 East. Continue on CA-120 East to Oakdale (note that CA-120 makes a left-hand turn in the middle of Oakdale). 26 miles beyond Oakdale, turn right at Yosemite Junction and continue on CA-120 East through Groveland. Once at Groveland, you’ll continue up and enter Yosemite National Park. Be prepared to pay the Park entrance fee of 20$ per car. Continue on Hwy 120 East and follow the signs to Tuolumne Meadows. Note that 120 east takes a hard left hand turn away from Yosemite valley direction, signed at Crane Flat Rd. but it clearly signed. Leave yourself about 4.5 hours for this drive.

From the FRESNO airport

Exit airport, go straight through the light, across Clinton. The road dead ends on McKinley, make a right and follow McKinley to Hwy. 41 North. Take 41 to Oakhurst( approx. 45 miles). Take CA-41 North into Yosemite National Park and Yosemite Valley. Connect with CA-120 West out of Yosemite Valley. Follow the signs to 120 East to Tuolumne which will be hard right hand turn that is signed at Crane Flat Rd.

From the LOS ANGELES airport

Leave the airport and follow signs to 405 North. Take 405 to 5 North to 99 north to Fresno. At Fresno, take 41 North (Southern Yosemite Highway) to the town of Oakhurst. Take 41 to Oakhurst( approx. 45 miles). Take CA-41 North into Yosemite National Park and Yosemite Valley. Connect with CA-120 West out of Yosemite Valley. Follow the signs to 120 East to Tuolumne which will be hard right hand turn that is signed at Crane Flat Rd

From Lake Tahoe area

Take CA-89 South to I-395 South. Make a right onto CA-120 West and enter Yosemite National Park. Tuolumne meadows will be on your right.

From Mammoth Lakes area

Take I-395 North. Make a left onto CA-120 West and enter Yosemite National Park. Tuolumne meadows will be on your right.

From the airport to the Tuolumne Meadows

We recommend renting a car at the airport and driving to Yosemite, and getting a California highway map before departing. Follow the above directions and call 800-231-4575 should you have difficulties on the road. There are also public transportation options, though this route is a rather lengthy choice from a time standpoint. If you would like to explore public transportation options please call our office for information. 99% of our clients who travel from out of state rent a car to travel from the airport to Yosemite.

Please call the SYMG office with any questions. (800) 231-4575.

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