ROAD SORTIES Scenic Roads

Tioga Road/Big Oak Flat Road

Tioga Road/Big Oak Flat Road is a National Scenic Byway in California. Within California it covers roughly 55 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Tioga Road/Big Oak Flat Road with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.

Tioga Road crosses the high country of Yosemite National Park, climbing to Tioga Pass at 9,943 feet — the highest highway crossing of the Sierra Nevada. It passes the granite domes and meadows of Tuolumne Meadows, the deep blue of Tenaya Lake, and sweeping views toward Half Dome from Olmsted Point. Deep snow keeps the road closed from roughly November into late spring or early summer.

Designated for its natural qualities

Plan a drive on Tioga Road/Big Oak Flat Road → Drive this route in Road SortiesTurn-by-turn on iPhone · App Store

Places to stop along Tioga Road/Big Oak Flat Road

  1. Big Oak Flat Information Station

    Yosemite's western entrance station for information and wilderness permits.

  2. Olmsted Point

    A granite viewpoint looking down Tenaya Canyon to the back side of Half Dome, with glacial erratics scattered across the slabs.

  3. Tenaya Lake

    A brilliant alpine lake beside the road, with sandy beaches and granite domes rising around it.

  4. Tuolumne Meadows

    One of the largest subalpine meadows in the Sierra, at 8,600 feet, with the Tuolumne River winding through it and granite domes all around.

  5. Tioga Pass

    At 9,943 feet the highest highway pass in California and Yosemite's east entrance. The road is closed from about November to late spring.

Where to Stay along Tioga Road/Big Oak Flat Road

13 campgrounds and RV parks sit within about 5 miles of Tioga Road/Big Oak Flat Road.

Yosemite National Park, CACrane Flat CampgroundCheck availability →CAPorcupine Flat CampgroundCheck availability →Yosemite National Park, CATuolumne Meadows CampgroundCheck availability →Yosemite National Park, CAHodgdon Meadow CampgroundCheck availability →Yosemite, CAWhite Wolf CampgroundCheck availability →Yosemite National Park, CAYosemite Creek CampgroundCheck availability →GROVELAND, CADimond OCheck availability →CATamarack Flat CampgroundCheck availability →Hotels & motelsNear Yosemite National Park, CASearch stays →Renting an RV?Near Yosemite National Park, CASee RV rentals →Harvest Hosts20% offPark free overnight at farms and wineriesSee membership →

Campsite, lodging, RV rental and membership links are affiliate links — booking through them may earn Road Sorties a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Recreation.gov links are not affiliate links.

What is a National Scenic Byway?

National Scenic Byways are roads recognized at the federal level for at least one outstanding quality — scenic, natural, historic, cultural, archaeological or recreational — that gives travelers a reason to seek them out rather than just pass through.

← All scenic roads in California