The Sierra Passes
United States drives

The Sierra Passes

United States · Sierra Nevada

Over the Top of California

Guide statusPublished and available
Editorial updateAugust 12, 2026
Road conditionsCheck before departure
Check Tioga Road conditions

The route

The Sierra Nevada is the backbone of California, and this 262-mile route crosses it twice. Begin in Gold Country before climbing State Highway 108 through pine forest to Sonora Pass. The final approach is narrow, steep and highly seasonal.

The eastern descent reaches the Walker River valley and US 395, then turns south through Bridgeport and Conway Summit to June Lake Loop. From Lee Vining, Tioga Road climbs into Yosemite's high country before continuing through Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley.

Sonora Pass and Tioga Road close seasonally and can be affected by snow, fire, rockfall and emergency repairs. Confirm both roads with Caltrans and the National Park Service immediately before departure.

At 9,943 feet, the air is thin, the sky is close, and the road ahead is the only thing that matters.

The whole Drive Pack, not just a line on a map.

This complete edition includes the practical tools, considered places and editorial context listed below.

Buy this Drive Pack · $39
Route

Exact route map

The complete route, every rally point and sequential navigation links ready to open in Google Maps.

Itinerary

Full rally-point itinerary

A day-by-day sequence with distances, driving time and the stops that shape the journey.

Field notes

Road character & timing

Surface notes, corner character, suggested departure windows and the stretches that demand attention.

PDF

Downloadable roadbook

A premium PDF edition of the complete Drive Pack, designed for print and reliable offline use.

Web + PDF

Pre-drive checklist

Interactive and printable checks for the car, fuel, bookings, weather and offline navigation.

Live tools

Live departure desk

Official road-condition links and practical departure checks gathered in one place.

Curated

Stops, stays & tables

Curated accommodation, restaurants, wineries and worthwhile pauses matched to the route.

Route map

See the territory. Keep the discovery.

The shaded area shows the landscape of the drive. Members receive the verified road, sequence and navigation.

Explore the route region
  1. 01

    Day 1, Morning

    Gold Country

    18 miles · 40 minutes driving
  2. 02

    Day 1, Afternoon

    Sonora Pass Ascent

    67 miles · 2 hours driving
  3. Days 2–3 · Member Drive Pack

    The rest of the journey

    5 further rally points with verified routing, timings and road notes

Day by day

The drive, unfolded.

Gold Country01

Day 1, Morning

Gold Country

Foothills & Wine

Begin in the Sierra foothills, winding through the historic Gold Rush towns of Murphys and Columbia. Stop at Ironstone Vineyards or Newsome Harlow for a tasting before climbing into the pine forests.

Distance
18 miles
Drive time
40 minutes driving
Sonora Pass Ascent02

Day 1, Afternoon

Sonora Pass Ascent

The Steepest Highway

Climb from Sonora through Pinecrest to Sonora Pass. The road narrows, grades steepen and switchbacks tighten above the treeline before the 9,624-foot summit.

Distance
67 miles
Drive time
2 hours driving

Complete Drive Pack

5 more rally points await.

The complete itinerary includes exact timings, road character, every stop and the downloadable roadbook.

Public preview · 2 of 7 rally points

Beyond the road

Worth stopping for.

Places selected because they belong to the journey, not because they happened to be nearby.

Food & wine

3 more curated picks
Winery$$

Ironstone Vineyards

Murphys

A Murphys wine estate with tastings, gardens, wine caves, seasonal dining and bookable estate tours.

Booking note

Standard tasting does not normally require a reservation; reserve elevated tastings and tours. Confirm current days and hours directly.

Parking

Use the winery's signed on-site guest parking.

Restaurant$$$

Grounds Restaurant

Murphys

A long-running Murphys restaurant serving from-scratch, ranch-influenced California cooking on Main Street.

Booking note

Confirm current service hours and reserve directly for peak dinner periods.

Parking

Use legal Main Street or public town parking and allow time during busy weekends.

Roadhouse$$

Virginia Creek Settlement

Bridgeport

An Eastern Sierra lodging and dining stop on US 395, within reach of Bridgeport, Bodie and Mono Lake.

Booking note

Order-ahead and lodging reservations are available through the property; confirm current restaurant service directly.

Parking

Use the signed on-site guest parking.

View all 6 food & wine recommendations
Deli$$

Whoa Nellie Deli

Lee Vining

The deli inside Tioga Gas Mart at the Tioga Pass junction, overlooking Mono Lake and serving travelers since 1996.

Parking

Use the shared Tioga Gas Mart lot and expect busy periods in summer.

Café$

Tuolumne Meadows Grill

Yosemite

A seasonal outdoor food stop in Tuolumne Meadows serving fast-casual breakfast and lunch options.

Parking

Use designated Tuolumne Meadows parking and consider the seasonal area shuttle when operating.

Fine Dining$$$$$

The Ahwahnee Dining Room

Yosemite Valley

The Ahwahnee's grand dining room in Yosemite Valley, currently serving breakfast, lunch and a prix fixe dinner.

Booking note

Dining reservations can be made well in advance and are strongly recommended. A hotel booking does not include a dining reservation.

Parking

Follow current Yosemite and hotel parking guidance and allow time for Valley congestion.

Where to stay

2 more curated picks
Luxury Cabins$$$

Evergreen Lodge

Groveland

A historic Yosemite-area lodge near Hetch Hetchy with cabins, dining, a pool and guided recreation.

Parking

Confirm current guest parking arrangements when booking.

Historic Hotel$$

Bridgeport Inn

Bridgeport

A family-run Victorian inn built in 1877 on US 395, with hotel, motel and economy rooms plus a restaurant and bar.

Parking

Confirm current guest parking and the property's seasonal operating dates directly.

Resort$$$

Double Eagle Resort

June Lake

A four-season June Lake resort with cabins, rooms, restaurant, spa, indoor pool and mountain views.

Parking

Confirm current guest parking arrangements when booking.

View all 5 where to stay recommendations
Historic Lodge$$$$

The Ahwahnee

Yosemite Valley

Yosemite Valley's landmark hotel, with grand public rooms and direct access to the park's central sights.

Parking

Follow current Yosemite and hotel parking guidance and allow time for Valley congestion.

Lodge$$$

Rush Creek Lodge

Groveland

A contemporary mountain lodge just outside Yosemite's Highway 120 West entrance, with rooms, suites, villas, dining, spa and guided activities.

Parking

Confirm current guest parking arrangements when booking.

Before departure

Know before you go.

Fuel Stops

Fill up before each high-pass stage. Confirm current fuel locations in Sonora, Bridgeport and Lee Vining, and do not rely on services in Yosemite's high country.

Cell Coverage

Expect no cell service on Sonora Pass (Highway 108) and Tioga Pass (Highway 120). Service is also spotty on US 395 between Bridgeport and Lee Vining. Download offline maps and music before you go.

Advance Bookings

Reserve Yosemite lodging and The Ahwahnee Dining Room as soon as dates are firm. Reconfirm seasonal dining and lodging before departure.

Pass Closures

Sonora Pass and Tioga Road close seasonally. Check Caltrans and the National Park Service immediately before each pass stage because snow, fire, rockfall and repairs can change access.

Download Offline Maps

Before you go, download the entire route area in Google Maps or your preferred navigation app. This will be critical in the extensive no-service zones across the Sierra passes.

The complete journey

Take the full route with you.