Trip from Philadelphia to Yosemite

davidsuzanne · January 10

Hi fellow travelers. We plan to visit Yosemite and the surrounding parks this fall arriving early Sept. Driving from Philadelphia. Any suggestions on preferred routes and roads to avoid. This will be a 60-70 day trip. Best Dave

wildebill308 · January 11

10 hours ago, davidsuzanne said:

Hi fellow travelers. We plan to visit Yosemite and the surrounding parks this fall arriving early Sept. Driving from Philadelphia. Any suggestions on preferred routes and roads to avoid. This will be a 60-70 day trip. Best Dave

Dave there are thousands of things to see and do going and coming back. You need to start a list of what you and wife like and want to do. Then work those items into the trip.

Bill

cwswine · Tuesday at 04:23 PM

Here is a plan you can build on:

### Day 1: Philadelphia, PA to Bedford, PA
- **Distance**: Approx. 240 miles
- **Route**: I-76 W
- **RV Campground**: Friendship Village Campground in Bedford, PA
- **Things to See**:
- Gettysburg National Military Park (take a short detour)
- **Lunch Stop**: Rest area along I-76

### Day 2: Bedford, PA to Columbus, OH
- **Distance**: Approx. 290 miles
- **Route**: I-76 W to I-70 W
- **RV Campground**: Alton RV Park in Galloway, OH (near Columbus)
- **Things to See**:
- Columbus Museum of Art
- **Lunch Stop**: Rest area along I-70

### Day 3: Columbus, OH to Indianapolis, IN
- **Distance**: Approx. 180 miles
- **Route**: I-70 W
- **RV Campground**: Indianapolis KOA Holiday
- **Things to See**:
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
- **Lunch Stop**: Rest area along I-70

### Day 4: Indianapolis, IN to St. Louis, MO
- **Distance**: Approx. 240 miles
- **Route**: I-70 W
- **RV Campground**: St. Louis West / Historic Route 66 KOA
- **Things to See**:
- Gateway Arch National Park
- **Lunch Stop**: Rest area along I-70

### Day 5: St. Louis, MO to Kansas City, MO
- **Distance**: Approx. 250 miles
- **Route**: I-70 W
- **RV Campground**: Kansas City East / Oak Grove KOA
- **Things to See**:
- Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
- **Lunch Stop**: Rest area along I-70

### Day 6: Kansas City, MO to Salina, KS
- **Distance**: Approx. 180 miles
- **Route**: I-70 W
- **RV Campground**: Salina KOA Journey
- **Things to Do**:
- Explore local parks and enjoy a quiet evening.
- **Lunch Stop**: Rest area along I-70

### Day 7: Salina, KS to Denver, CO
- **Distance**: Approx. 420 miles (may split into two days if desired)
- **Route**: I-70 W
- **RV Campground**: Denver East / Strasburg KOA
- **Things to See**:
- Denver Art Museum
- **Lunch Stop**: Rest area along I-70

### Day 8: Denver, CO to Grand Junction, CO
- **Distance**: Approx. 243 miles
- **Route**: I-70 W
- **RV Campground**: Grand Junction KOA Holiday
- **Things to See**:
- Colorado National Monument (near Grand Junction)
- **Lunch Stop**: Rest area along I-70

### Day 9: Grand Junction, CO to Richfield, UT
- **Distance**: Approx. 196 miles
- **Route**: I-70 W
- **RV Campground**: Richfield KOA
- **Things to See**:
- Enjoy the scenic drive through Utah
- **Lunch Stop**: Rest area along I-70

### Day 10: Richfield, UT to Ely, NV
- **Distance**: Approx. 200 miles
- **Route**: US-50 W
- **RV Campground**: Ely KOA Journey
- **Things to See**:
- Great Basin National Park (short detour option)
- **Lunch Stop**: Rest area along US-50

### Day 11: Ely, NV to Reno, NV
- **Distance**: Approx. 320 miles
- **Route**: US-50 W and US-95 N
- **RV Campground**: Reno KOA at Boomtown
- **Things to See**:
- National Automobile Museum
- **Lunch Stop**: Rest area along US-50

### Day 12: Reno, NV to Yosemite National Park
- **Distance**: Approx. 200 miles to the park entrance
- **Route**: I-80 W to CA-120 W
- **RV Campground**: Yosemite Lakes RV Resort
- **Things to Do**:
- Spending several days exploring Yosemite's iconic sites like El Capitan, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls.

### Attractions and Food Along the Way:
- Choose local diners, cafes or truck stop restaurants for lunch.
- Research and make reservations at prominent restaurants at overnight stops, especially in major cities or popular areas.

### Yosemite National Park Tips:
- **Duration**: Spend at least a week enjoying all the park has to offer — hiking, photography, and relaxation.
- **Places to See**: Glacier Point, Mariposa Grove, Tuolumne Meadows.

### Return Journey:
For your return trip, consider exploring an alternate route such as I-40 or I-80 for a different experience. Plan stops with similar driving patterns and rest.

### General Refueling Advice:
Use apps like Trucker Path or GasBuddy to find truck stops within your range and major highways.

### Considerations:
- Check for road or campground closures, especially since weather can change plans.
- Make advance campground reser