Fish camp to mammoth lakes

Question

Will be staying at Tenaya at Yosemite for 1 night 23rd October. Then planning on visiting Yosemite village any hopefully it’s open using the Togo pass to end in mammoth lakes to stay. Is this doable in a day? Can’t get a time it should take as the Tioga is closed at the moment.

Answer

Traveling from Tenaya Lodge at Fish Camp to Yosemite Village and then on to Mammoth Lakes in late October requires careful planning, especially because the Tioga Pass (Highway 120 through the park) is typically closed by mid-October due to snow and seasonal closures. This will significantly impact your route options.

1. Feasibility:

If Tioga Pass is closed, you will not be able to drive directly from Yosemite Valley to Mammoth Lakes via the usual Tioga Road route. Instead, you would need to drive south out of the park toward Highway 41 or Highway 140 and then loop around via Fresno or Sonora to reach Mammoth Lakes. This adds several hours to the trip.

2. Approximate drive times (if Tioga Pass is closed):

Fish Camp (Tenaya) → Yosemite Village: ~1 hour under normal conditions, allowing for brief stops.
Yosemite Village → Mammoth Lakes via alternate southern route: ~6–7 hours depending on road conditions and stops.

3. Recommendations:

Check current Tioga Pass status on the official National Park Service website before your trip. If it is open, the direct drive from Yosemite Village to Mammoth Lakes is ~2–3 hours.
Consider spending extra time in Yosemite Village in the morning to see the key sites (Lower Yosemite Falls, Cook’s Meadow, Yosemite Valley viewpoints) before heading out.
If Tioga Pass is closed, you may need to leave very early from Yosemite Village to make it to Mammoth Lakes at a reasonable evening hour. Factor in fuel, meals, and daylight, as mountain driving can be slower.
Alternative option: Stay an extra night in the Yosemite area to explore more of the valley and then drive to Mammoth the next morning for a more relaxed day.

4. Planning tips:

Always check current road conditions and closures for Highway 120 East (Tioga Road) before setting out.
Carry snacks, water, and layers in case of cold or unexpected delays.
If you are set on reaching Mammoth Lakes the same day, be prepared for a long day of driving, especially if Tioga Pass is closed.

In summary, visiting Yosemite Village from Tenaya Lodge and then driving to Mammoth Lakes in one day is only comfortably doable if Tioga Pass remains open. If it is closed, the day becomes long and challenging, so consider adjusting your itinerary or allocating an extra night.

Fish camp to mammoth lakes

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