Drive corridor · sweet spot
Los Angeles to Yosemite NP drive: 11 ranked stops, break in Selma
Los Angeles, CA → Yosemite NP, CA. Ranked detours with honest +N min estimates — then open a pre-filled plan door when you're ready to drive it.
Worth the detour
Stops along the drive
7 stops · 4 hidden
- Fort Tejon State Historic Park+2 minHistoric Sites · CA
Restored 1854 Army post at the top of the Grapevine with original adobes and living-history days; the fort once hosted the Army's camel corps.
- Castaic Lake SRA+12 minNature Stops · CA
Twin-lake reservoir under a 425-foot dam: motorized upper lake, quiet lower lagoon, picnic coves.
- Yosemite National Park+26 minNational parks · CA
Granite cliffs, waterfalls & giant sequoias
- Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park+28 minHistoric Sites · CA
Restored town founded in 1908 by Colonel Allen Allensworth - the first California town founded, financed, and governed by African Americans; schoolhouse, church, and homes.
- Watts Towers+29 minRoadside Americana · CA
Simon Rodia’s 99-ft mosaic spires
- Tuolumne Meadows Campground+56 minCamping · CA
Yosemite’s granite-domed high country
- Cathedral Lakes (Tuolumne)+54 minHikes · CA
a high-country classic below Cathedral Peak
Multi-city cycles
Part of these loops
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State hubs & places
Stay & experience
Where to break the drive
Long drive — book a night near Selma, then compare stays in Yosemite NP.
At the destination: Yosemite NP →
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Things to do near Yosemite NP
Browse guided tours and bookable activities that fit this stop.
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FAQ
Before you go
- How long is the drive from Los Angeles to Yosemite NP?
About 6 hr 6 min and 311 mi of road driving, before any detours.
- What are the best stops between Los Angeles and Yosemite NP?
Top ranked stops include The Elderberry House, Fort Tejon State Historic Park, Castaic Lake SRA. Each stop shows an honest +N min detour estimate from the main drive.
- Can I plan this drive in Roamward?
Yes — open the pre-filled From→To planner for Los Angeles to Yosemite NP, pick a detour budget, and save the trip.
Paper backup
Glovebox note
Dead zones happen. Plan this corridor, then use Print glovebox sheet on the trip page for a paper itinerary with coordinates — no signal required. Start here: pre-filled From→To door.