Going to Yosemite in August, gonna need a place to stay one night on the way home. We'll be heading back to AZ on the 10.

How hot will Temecula be that time of year?? I know Palm Springs will be hot as hell, so that's out of the question. Our A/C wouldn't be able to keep up!!

Any other places close to the 10, but outside of L.A.??

Temecula will be hot but nothing like Palm Springs. Usually low 90's for peak temps, cooling off into the mid 60's or so.

That should be doable. Thanks!!

Why would you be going that far out of your way?

Are you gonna be driving through San Diego to the 8 and then out to AZ?

Are you using an RV?

We can stay closer to San Bernadino, but I don't know of any where to stay, that won't be a million degrees. Is there places in the mountains to stay that'd be better??

If you come down the 395, you could go up to Wrightwood or Arrowhead.

Check for campgrounds in that area, book now, it could be full around then.

From Wrightwood, you can drop down the 138 to the 15 and then take the 215 to the 210 to the 10 and avoid the I.E.

Depending on where you stay around Arrowhead, Big Bear lake or Baldwin lake, you can drop down to the 10 from the east end by Joshua Tree. 18 to the 247 and then down to the 10, might be a faster way, someone that's been that way can post.

Silverwood Lake is a possibility.  Easy to get to from the 15 since they straightened 138.  It’s not far off the route depending on how you’re coming down.

Arrowhead and Big Bear are nice, but expect some mountain, winding roads.  Arrowhead is much easier/closer.

For a simple hotel, consider Rancho Cucamonga off Foothill and the 15.  It’s not as hot as Palm Springs and it’s not off the path at all.

Temecula might be worth the detour if you’re into winery’s and have time to sight see.  Other than that, not worth the effort in my opinion.

Assuming you are coming east over Tioga Pass and then south on 395?  The tow vehicle has A/C?  Does the trailer?  Do you need hook-ups?  What days of the week are you traveling?

I don't know that there's a convenient or reliable way to chase elevation and either find sites or avoid heat, if you can do without hook-ups, you might have more options but you could chase a lot of drive time doing it.   It's too far to drive through in a single long drive, for sure.  Motel as mentioned above could be an answer.

I'm not aware of any "hook-up" campgrounds in the Wrightwood area.  Maybe around Big Bear.  But that's more slow mountain driving and weekends especially are likely hard to book and busy, etc.  If you look at where the i15 and I215 split at the south end of Cajon Pass, not too far west in Lytle Creek, there's a Thousand Trails(?).  Maybe something in Victorville area, used to be a KOA by the Mojave River at the I15, still hot (and looks unpleasant when driven by).  Banning and Beaumont  in the Pass going east may have RV park areas, just you'd need to look them up.  Maybe Morongo reservation/casino.  They have, I think RV parking in a lot - no parling lot amenities, so no water, no electricity, unclear on dimmp station  But a nearby casino??

One other option, if you come down the 5, take the 58 or Ave D 138 and come into Lancaster via the 14. It will still be hot but the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds have RV camping. They have some hook ups, you would have to see what all they offer.

You can keep traveling down the 14 and take the 138 to the 15 and keep going from there or take the 14 down to the 210 and go east to the 10.

I don’t know of any hook ups in Wrightwood either.  There might be some campgrounds down by Jackson Lake, but really not worth the effort unless you know for sure where you are going to stop and have a reservation.

What route is OP planning to follow, eastern or western side of the Sierra?

Is OP looking for a hotel or an RV camp site?

I'll be following Google maps. I can either go up the 5, or take the 99. I'd like to avoid the 5 if at all possible.

We're pulling our travel trailer behind us.

How long will you have been in Yosemite?  How are you getting there?  Getting in will give you an idea of at least one of the exit routes.

If you've been in Yosemite for a while, you will likely have driven over part of the Wawona Rod (41) already.  It's more mountain road most of the way to Fresno.  Likewise, you will likely have driven the Tioga Road, both are common sightseeing routes in the Park.  Coming out of Yosemite on the west side. take either 140 west or 41 south.  Not sure there is an advantage when towing, 140 may be less troublesome for trailer pulling.  Perhaps the least unpleasant route for a trailer.  After getting out of the foothills, left on I believe it's Planada Road and you can make a straight south shot to join 99.  

No reason to drive across the valley to get to I5.  Highway 99 is high speed freeway.  If you come out on the west side, south on 99 to Bakersfield then east on 58.  You'll intersect Highway 395 at Kramer Junction.  If you exit east over Tioga Pass, come south on 395.  That's pretty good highway the whole way.  Eat at the Mobil Station on the right side of 120 as you enter Lee Vining.    Various interesting areas on Highway 395 if taking a more relaxed trip.  Highway 99, otoh, is basically flat ag country and not real interesting.

395 south from Kramer Junction takes you to the Victorville/Hesperia/Cajon Pass area.  That gets you to most of the areas discussed above.

I thought you were asking about the way home???

Coming from the east, have you considered Hwy 395?  You enter/exit the park at a small town called Lee Vining.  That road (west bound on Tioga Road) is one of the most amazing roads in the entire USA and world.

Hotel or RV parking spot?

Both ways, actually. I need a spot on the way there, and one on the way home.

RV spots, I'm pulling a trailer.

How big a trailer and tow vehicle combo?  It's been years since trying to reserve any sites except "off season" and the reservation system has changed and demand is insane, some sites are size limited, etc.  Where you get or have a spot might suggest which route to take.

I live somewhat east of Los Angeles.  When I lived in the Pasadena area, I'd allow 6 hours to get to Yosemite Valley.  2 hours to Bakersfield, 2 to Fresno, then 2 up 41 to the valley although you'd hit the Wawona/South entrance about an hour before getting to the Valley.  Might vary depending on who was going, tolerance or desire for stops on the way.  Trailer speed restrictions need at least some attention on the main highways and towing in the mountains will be slower than just driving a single vehicle.  Longer to get to Lee Vining and Tioga Pass.  Getting out of the L.A. Basin isn't all that direct to the east side of the Sierra.  We had a tent trailer and pulled with a pick-up, enough power and light trailer, so not too difficult.   I don't think you go over 4000 feet going in 140, 120 (the "north" west side route and 41 the "south" west side route will go over 6000 feet and a lot of curvy mountain driving.  Entering/exiting 120 - Tioga Pass, you're going over 9000 feet and again, a lot of curvy mountain driving.  Although there are some grades on 395, the worst mountain conditions are when you leave 395 at Lee Vining for 120.

Apple map shows Phoenix to Mojave (10 to 215 to 138 to 14) as about 6 hrs and 16 minutes.  I think that's optimistic.  Google showed 6 hrs and 43 minutes.  Even that may be a bit optimistic.  Both show something over 5 hours, Mojave to Yosemite Valley, either via 41 or 140.  Maybe slower with a trailer, again.  There are some RV parks in the Tehachapi area.  No experience or recommendations but higher elevation and likely to be at least somewhat nicer than in Mojave.

The Mission Inn in Riverside, or just stay in Orange County away from Santa Ana and Anaheim.

Pulling a trailer, and have a dog with us. Staying at a hotel isn't gonna work for us.

All right guys, I really appreciate the info. I've got 4 or 5 apps/websites going looking for a place to spend the night.

Since we're in no rush to get home, we might try Big Bear or Skypark on the way back. We've got capable mountain bikes, so if we can get in a ride, might as well!!

Just a comment.

Pulling a trailer, and with a dog who may be taking breaks...  that's a pretty fair haul to go from Yosemite to Big Bear in August in one day.

Not saying it can't be done or not to do it, but study it a little with realistic heat, climbs, traffic, breaks, etc. just to be sure.

You will want to stay someplace cooler like Big Bear in August, especially if you like to ride mountain bikes.

If camping and places like Yosemite are your thing, there are many really awesome places up in the western Sierra between leaving Yosemite and getting to Highway 10, including places like Arrowhead and Big Bear.

Safe Travels and have a great trip.

We'll be all right towing in the heat. We tow and camp all the time in the summer out here in AZ. The truck, the dog, and the wife are all seasoned veterans when it comes to summer traveling.

I can drive the whole trip in one day, but no one else in the truck would want to!!

I'm like that and my bunch were used to it, but most other folks wouldn't go half as far.

I always have long range tanks in the trucks and enough power margin to make sure we can climb in August with the air on and no fear.

We are all going to have a high water year. Likely they won't plow through the back side of the park till 4th of July or later this time.

The streams and falls in the valley should be nice even in August, so you will have a nice time.

The climbs from on the western side that take you to the big valley are not a challenge compared to the Tioga Pass on the eastern end.

The lunatics running the park have been taking out the parking spots and putting huge concrete barriers on the curbs that mean you have to know where to park before you go anywhere.

Last year, they even took that barrier curb all the way out past Tuolumne Meadows just to be anti human. I still recommend unhooking and taking the ride to the Tuolumne Meadow just for the scenery.

We're staying outside the park, and will take the bus to get in. We'll either walk or take our bikes to get around once we're there.

Big Bear area. Summers are gorgeous up there, warm days and cool nights.

When Covid hit, they took over the gate controls and forced a reservation system in the name of public health. They have changed the system a few times since this started.

They even went as far as forcing commercial drivers to get a reservation just to pass through in 2022, where in 2021 you could drive across within a time limit by just showing up.

I will recommend we watch to see if they release their grip but based on the trend I am expecting them to want to reinstate their reservation systems.

If they do, I recommend you play that game and get the latitude to drive in rather than subject yourselves to the bus. Last year it was a three day pass for commuting in and out of the park.

If you get lucky, you can score a reservation inside and avoid all that nonsense as well.

Last I saw, they aren't going the reservation route for entries,  Hints at responding to various sorts of pressure, whether local communities feeling an economic downturn as people avoid the hassle, or just overall concern that tourists can't always plan that far ahead often, etc.  That probably will make little difference in reducing gate or in park congestion.