driving from Yosemite to LA

Question

Will leave Yosemite Park at noon and driving to LA. Should i stop over somewhere for a night ? Will be driving in December.

Answer

Driving from Yosemite to Los Angeles in December requires some planning, especially because winter conditions can make some routes slower and snow or ice may close certain passes. Leaving Yosemite at noon means you’ll be driving mostly in the afternoon and evening, which is not ideal if you plan to go all the way to LA in one day. The drive is approximately 5–7 hours via CA-99 or I-5 under clear conditions, but winter weather can easily extend that.

Given this, it’s often safer and more comfortable to plan a stopover. Depending on your preferred route and how much driving you want to do, here are some recommended stopover options:

Fresno / Clovis: About 2–3 hours from Yosemite Valley via Highway 41 or Highway 140. Fresno has plenty of hotels, restaurants, and is a convenient first night stop if you want to break the drive roughly in half.
Bakersfield: About 5–6 hours from Yosemite depending on the route. If you want to get a larger portion of the drive done in one day, Bakersfield is a reasonable stop before completing the remaining 2–3 hours to Los Angeles.
Visalia / Tulare: Located in the southern San Joaquin Valley, roughly 3–4 hours from Yosemite. These towns offer smaller hotels and are quieter than Fresno, making them good mid-point stops for overnight rest.
Mariposa: If you want to stay close to Yosemite the first night, especially if snow or icy conditions are present, Mariposa is about 45 minutes from the park and has several inns and motels. This is more for safety or scenic lodging before a longer next-day drive.

Additional considerations for December driving:

Check the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for winter road conditions, especially for Tioga Pass (Highway 120 East), which is usually closed in winter. Stick to CA-41 or CA-140 out of Yosemite to avoid closures.
Start driving with daylight if possible. Leaving at noon means much of your drive will be in the dark. Choosing a stopover in Fresno or Visalia lets you avoid driving unfamiliar rural roads at night.
Book hotels in advance, as December can be a busy travel period during the holidays and snow season for Yosemite visitors.

Suggested approach:

Leave Yosemite at noon, drive ~2–3 hours to Fresno or Visalia for your first night.
Depart early the next morning to reach Los Angeles with minimal stress and daylight driving.

This way, you reduce the risk of driving in winter night conditions, avoid potential closures, and make the trip much more manageable.