You're standing on the Strip, surrounded by neon lights and the smell of expensive air conditioning, and you think: "I want to see a giant granite wall." It sounds like a great idea. It actually is a great idea. But if you pull up your phone and ask how far is Las Vegas to Yosemite, the answer you get depends entirely on whether the Sierra Nevada mountains are currently trying to kill you with snow.
The straight-line distance is deceptive. On a map, they look like neighbors. In reality, there is a massive, jagged wall of rock standing between the desert of Nevada and the lush valley of Yosemite National Park. Depending on the time of year, your drive could be a breezy five-hour cruise or an eight-hour odyssey through the lonely corners of the Eastern Sierra.
The Summer Shortcut: Tioga Pass
If you are traveling between late May and October, you’re in luck. This is when the high-altitude Tioga Road (Highway 120) is open. This route is basically the holy grail for this road trip. From the heart of Las Vegas, you’re looking at roughly 330 to 350 miles.
It’s stunning. You'll head north out of Vegas on US-95, passing through places like Beatty—where you can grab a weirdly good sandwich at Gaby’s—and then cutting across toward Lee Vining. Once you hit Lee Vining, you start the climb. You go from the high desert floor to nearly 10,000 feet in what feels like a blink.
The distance in miles doesn't tell the whole story here. You aren't doing 80 mph on Tioga Road. You’re stuck behind a rental RV going 25 mph because the driver is staring at Tenaya Lake. Budget 6 to 7 hours for this. If you rush it, you’re missing the point of the drive. The transition from the beige Mojave to the deep blues and greens of the High Sierra is one of the best geological shifts in the country.
When the Snow Hits: The Long Way Around
Everything changes once the first big storm hits, usually in November. The National Park Service shuts down Tioga Pass because the snow drifts get tall enough to bury a house. When that happens, asking how far is Las Vegas to Yosemite gets a much more painful answer.
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You have two choices. You can go south through Bakersfield or north through Lake Tahoe.
The southern route is the standard "winter way." You’re looking at about 450 to 490 miles. It is a grind. You'll spend hours on Highway 58 and Highway 99. It’s flat. It’s dusty. You’ll see a lot of almond orchards and cattle. Expect this to take 8 to 9 hours. It’s not "scenic" in the traditional sense, but it’s reliable. Just watch out for the Tule fog in the Central Valley; it gets so thick you can't see your own hood.
The Northern Route (The Scenic Winter Gamble)
Some people try to go north toward Reno and then come down through the Gold Country on Highway 49. This is roughly 500 miles. It’s beautiful, but it adds significant time. You’re looking at a full 10-hour day of driving. I only recommend this if you actually want to see Lake Tahoe or the old mining towns like Sonora. Otherwise, it’s a lot of extra gas for not much gain.
Death Valley: The Secret Middle Section
Most people don't realize that the drive from Vegas to Yosemite takes you right past (or through) Death Valley National Park. If you have the time, don't just bypass it.
Take Highway 190.
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It adds maybe 30 miles to the total trip, but it takes you through Stovepipe Wells and past the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. Standing at 200 feet below sea level in the morning and then standing at 9,000 feet at Tioga Pass in the afternoon is a trip. It's the kind of contrast that makes your brain itch. Just check your tires. The heat in the valley floor can be brutal even in the "shoulder" seasons of April and October.
Why Your GPS Might Get It Wrong
Google Maps is usually smart, but it has a blind spot with Yosemite. If you search for the distance in April, it might try to route you over Tioga Pass because it "expects" the road to be open, or it might do the opposite and give you a 10-hour route when a shorter one is about to open.
Always check the NPS Road Conditions page or call 209-372-0200. I’ve seen people drive all the way to the Lee Vining gate in May only to find a "Road Closed" sign, forcing them to turn around and drive five hours back the way they came. Don't be that person.
Gas, Food, and the Reality of the Desert
Let’s talk about the stretch of US-95 between Vegas and Tonopah. It is empty. Really empty.
- Tonopah: This is your last "major" stop. If you like ghosts or creepy clowns, stay at the Clown Motel. If you prefer history, the Mizpah Hotel is legitimately cool and supposedly haunted by a "Lady in Red."
- Goldfield: A near-ghost town. Great for photos of rusted cars and crumbling stone buildings.
- Big Pine and Bishop: Once you hit the California side on the 395, things get better. Bishop is home to Erick Schat’s Bakkery. Get the Sheepherder bread. It’s a law. Everyone does it.
The distance between gas stations can be 60+ miles. In an electric vehicle? You need to plan your stops at the Tesla Superchargers in Beatty, Tonopah, and Bishop. If you miss the Bishop charger and head up into the park during winter, you’re going to have a very stressful climb.
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Factoring in the Yosemite Entry Requirements
Knowing how far is Las Vegas to Yosemite is only half the battle. In 2024 and 2025, the park has used a "Peak Hours Plus" reservation system.
If you drive 6 hours from Vegas and show up at the gate at noon without a reservation, they might turn you away. You can usually get in after 4:00 PM without one, but that means you've spent your whole day driving just to see the sunset. Plan your departure from Vegas for 5:00 AM. Seriously. Beat the heat, beat the traffic, and give yourself a buffer for the inevitable road construction on the 395.
Logistics at a Glance
To make this simple, here is the breakdown of what you're actually facing:
The Summer Route (Tioga Pass)
- Distance: ~340 miles
- Drive Time: 6–7 hours
- Best For: Scenery, photographers, and anyone who hates the Central Valley.
- Key Stop: Mono Lake (those weird tufa towers are worth 20 minutes of your life).
The Winter Route (Bakersfield)
- Distance: ~480 miles
- Drive Time: 8–10 hours
- Best For: Reliability and avoiding mountain passes during blizzards.
- Key Stop: Murray Family Farms near Bakersfield for snacks that aren't from a gas station.
A Note on Altitude Sickness
You are going from roughly 2,000 feet in Las Vegas to very high elevations very quickly. If you take the Tioga Pass route, you’ll hit nearly 10,000 feet at the park entrance. If you start getting a headache or feeling nauseous, it’s not just the Vegas hangover—it’s the elevation. Drink twice as much water as you think you need. The air in the Sierra is incredibly dry, and the desert you just drove through already sucked most of the moisture out of you.
Actionable Steps for Your Trip
- Check the Pass: If it's anytime between October and June, check the Tioga Road status on the NPS website before you leave the hotel.
- Reserve Your Entry: Go to Recreation.gov and secure your Yosemite entry permit weeks in advance.
- Gas Up in Tonopah: Never leave Tonopah with less than a full tank.
- Download Offline Maps: Cell service vanishes the moment you leave the Vegas outskirts and doesn't really come back until you're in Bishop.
- Pack Layers: It can be 100°F in Las Vegas and 45°F at Tuolumne Meadows on the same afternoon.
The drive from Las Vegas to Yosemite is one of the great American road trips, but it requires more respect than a standard highway jaunt. Treat the desert and the mountains with a bit of caution, and you'll actually enjoy the miles instead of just enduring them.