# California State Route 120

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/California_State_Route_120
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/California_State_Route_120.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Route_120
> Source revision: 1340732818
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Highway in California

State Route 120 SR 120 highlighted in red; the gap represents the unofficial segment through Yosemite National Park Route information Maintained by Caltrans Length 152.562 mi[1] (245.525 km) (Does not include the portion in Yosemite) Existed 1934–present Tourist routes Tioga Road/Big Oak Flat Road Lee Vining Canyon Scenic Byway Restrictions Segments through Tioga Pass, and between Mono Lake and Benton, closed in winter Major junctions West end I-5 in Lathrop Major intersections SR 99 in Manteca SR 108 from Oakdale to Yosemite Junction SR 49 from Chinese Camp to Moccasin Big Oak Flat Road to SR 41 / SR 140 in Yosemite National Park US 395 from Lee Vining to Mono Mills Junction East end US 6 at Benton Location Country United States State California Counties San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Mono Highway system State highways in California Interstate US State Scenic History Pre‑1964 Unconstructed Deleted Freeways ← SR 119 → SR 121

**State Route 120** (**SR 120**) is a [state highway](/source/State_highway) in the central part of [California](/source/California) that connects the [San Joaquin Valley](/source/San_Joaquin_Valley) with the [Sierra Nevada](/source/Sierra_Nevada_(U.S.)), [Yosemite National Park](/source/Yosemite_National_Park), and the [Mono Lake](/source/Mono_Lake) area. It runs between [Interstate 5](/source/Interstate_5_in_California) (I-5) in [Lathrop](/source/Lathrop%2C_California) and [U.S. Route 6](/source/U.S._Route_6_in_California) (US 6) in [Benton](/source/Benton%2C_California), traversing four counties over a distance of approximately 153 miles (246 km). The route rises from near sea level in the Central Valley to 9,945 feet (3,031 m) at [Tioga Pass](/source/Tioga_Pass), the highest highway pass in the [state highway system](/source/State_highways_in_California).[1] While SR 120 is signed as a continuous route through Yosemite, the portion inside the park is federally maintained and is not included in the state route logs. The segment through Tioga Pass and the stretch between Mono Lake and Benton are subject to annual winter closure, typically from November through late May.[2]

The route has origins in the [Gold Rush](/source/California_Gold_Rush)-era [Big Oak Flat Road](/source/Big_Oak_Flat_Road), a wagon road completed to [Yosemite Valley](/source/Yosemite_Valley) in 1874. Through Yosemite, SR 120 follows **Tioga Road**, designated as both a [National Scenic Byway](/source/National_Scenic_Byway) and a [National Forest Scenic Byway](/source/National_Forest_Scenic_Byway).[3]

## Route description

Route 120 is defined in section 420 of the [California Streets and Highways Code](/source/California_Codes). The definition omits the federally maintained segment through [Yosemite National Park](/source/Yosemite_National_Park), as well as the [concurrency](/source/Concurrency_(road)) with [US 395](/source/U.S._Route_395_in_California) instead of duplicating that segment in the other route's definition in the code:[4]

Route 120 is from: (a) [Route 5](/source/Interstate_5_in_California) near Mossdale to the west boundary of Yosemite National Park via the vicinity of Manteca and Oakdale, and via Big Oak Flat and Buck Meadows. (b) The east boundary of Yosemite National Park to Route 395 near Mono Lake. (c) Route 395 near Mono Lake to Route 6 near Benton Station.

SR 120 is part of the [California Freeway and Expressway System](/source/California_Freeway_and_Expressway_System).[5] Both the western portion and the eastern portion west of US 395 are part of the [National Highway System](/source/National_Highway_System_(United_States)) (NHS), a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the [Federal Highway Administration](/source/Federal_Highway_Administration).[6][7] SR 120 is eligible to be included in the [State Scenic Highway System](/source/State_Scenic_Highway_System_(California)) but is not officially designated as a scenic highway by [Caltrans](/source/Caltrans).[8][9]

### San Joaquin Valley

SR 120 near [Oakdale](/source/Oakdale%2C_California) in [Stanislaus County](/source/Stanislaus_County%2C_California)

SR 120 begins at an interchange with [I-5](/source/Interstate_5_in_California) near the Mossdale area of [Lathrop](/source/Lathrop%2C_California), where it continues the alignment of [Interstate 205](/source/Interstate_205_(California)) eastward as a four-lane [freeway](/source/Freeway).[10] The freeway passes through the southern part of [Manteca](/source/Manteca%2C_California), serving several interchanges including the [diverging diamond interchange](/source/Diverging_diamond_interchange) at Union Road, the first of its kind constructed in California, which opened on November 25, 2020.[11] The freeway section, once known locally as "Blood Alley" for its high rate of head-on collisions on the original alternating-lane configuration, was subsequently improved with center median barriers.[10]

In eastern Manteca, SR 120 has a brief overlap with [SR 99](/source/California_State_Route_99) before the freeway ends and the route continues east as a conventional two-lane highway. The road crosses the flat agricultural landscape of the [San Joaquin Valley](/source/San_Joaquin_Valley), passing through the small city of [Escalon](/source/Escalon%2C_California) and continuing into [Stanislaus County](/source/Stanislaus_County%2C_California). At [Oakdale](/source/Oakdale%2C_California), the route begins a concurrency with [SR 108](/source/California_State_Route_108), which continues together as the highway leaves the valley floor and enters the [Sierra Nevada foothills](/source/Sierra_Nevada_foothills).

### Sierra foothills

Night view looking west from New Priest Grade over [Moccasin](/source/Moccasin%2C_Tuolumne_County%2C_California)

Main Street in [Chinese Camp](/source/Chinese_Camp%2C_California), a Gold Rush settlement at the SR 120/SR 49 junction

East of Oakdale, the highway enters [Tuolumne County](/source/Tuolumne_County%2C_California) and the landscape transitions from valley grasslands to oak-studded foothills. SR 108 splits off to the east toward [Sonora](/source/Sonora%2C_California) at Yosemite Junction, while SR 120 turns southeast toward [Chinese Camp](/source/Chinese_Camp%2C_California), a [Gold Rush](/source/California_Gold_Rush) settlement designated as [California Historical Landmark](/source/California_Historical_Landmark) No. 423.[12] At Chinese Camp, the route begins a concurrency with [SR 49](/source/California_State_Route_49), the historic [Mother Lode](/source/Mother_Lode) highway.

The combined SR 120/SR 49 crosses the [Tuolumne River](/source/Tuolumne_River) on the [James E. Roberts Bridge](/source/James_E._Roberts_Bridge), a 1,400-foot (430 m) structure spanning [Don Pedro Reservoir](/source/Don_Pedro_Reservoir). The bridge was built in 1970 to accommodate the new highway alignment created by the expansion of [New Don Pedro Dam](/source/New_Don_Pedro_Dam).[13] SR 49 separates near [Moccasin](/source/Moccasin%2C_Tuolumne_County%2C_California), and SR 120 begins its climb into the mountains via **Priest Grade**. The **New Priest Grade**, opened in 1915, features over one hundred curves with a sustained 4-percent gradient, built as an alternative to the much steeper **Old Priest Grade**, which has a 17-percent grade.[14] Both grades are paved, but trailers and [recreational vehicles](/source/Recreational_vehicle) are prohibited from Old Priest Grade, which has a 7,500 pounds (3,400 kg) weight limit.[15]

Above Priest Grade, SR 120 passes through [Groveland](/source/Groveland-Big_Oak_Flat%2C_California) and the adjacent community of [Big Oak Flat](/source/Groveland-Big_Oak_Flat%2C_California), both founded during the Gold Rush in 1849.[16] These communities serve as the primary western gateway to Yosemite National Park along the SR 120 corridor. Continuing east, the route passes through [Buck Meadows](/source/Buck_Meadows%2C_California), the last community with traveler services before the park entrance, at an elevation of approximately 2,900 feet (880 m). A short distance beyond Buck Meadows, SR 120 reaches the western boundary of [Yosemite National Park](/source/Yosemite_National_Park), where state maintenance ends and the road comes under federal jurisdiction.

### Yosemite National Park

Big Oak Flat Entrance Station at the western park boundary

SR 120 as Tioga Road near [Tenaya Lake](/source/Tenaya_Lake) in [Yosemite National Park](/source/Yosemite_National_Park)

Inside Yosemite National Park, state routes are federally maintained and are not included in the state route logs, although the park signs the routes at intersections. Visitors entering through the **Big Oak Flat Entrance Station** must pay a park entrance fee or present a valid pass.[17]

From the entrance station, the highway descends as **Big Oak Flat Road** toward [Crane Flat](/source/Crane_Flat), a junction at approximately 6,200 feet (1,900 m) elevation.[18] At Crane Flat, Big Oak Flat Road turns southeast toward [Yosemite Valley](/source/Yosemite_Valley), while SR 120 continues east as **Tioga Pass Road** (commonly **Tioga Road**).[19] Near Crane Flat, the road passes the [Tuolumne Grove](/source/Tuolumne_Grove), one of three [giant sequoia](/source/Giant_sequoia) groves in the park.

Tioga Pass Entrance Station at the eastern park boundary

Tioga Road and [Tenaya Lake](/source/Tenaya_Lake) viewed from [Pywiack Dome](/source/Pywiack_Dome)

Tioga Road is a winding two-lane mountain road that traverses the park's [subalpine](/source/Subalpine_zone) high country. The road passes through forests of [lodgepole pine](/source/Lodgepole_pine) and [red fir](/source/Red_fir), ascending gradually past [Siesta Lake](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Siesta_Lake&action=edit&redlink=1), [White Wolf](/source/White_Wolf%2C_California), and Yosemite Creek to [Olmsted Point](/source/Olmsted_Point), a scenic overlook at 8,300 feet (2,500 m) with views of [Tenaya Lake](/source/Tenaya_Lake) and the [granite domes](/source/Yosemite_Valley#Geology) of the park's backcountry. The road then descends to [Tenaya Lake](/source/Tenaya_Lake) before climbing again to [Tuolumne Meadows](/source/Tuolumne_Meadows), the largest [subalpine](/source/Subalpine) meadow in the [Sierra Nevada](/source/Sierra_Nevada_(U.S.)), at an elevation of approximately 8,600 feet (2,600 m).[20]

East of Tuolumne Meadows, Tioga Road ascends through [Dana Meadows](/source/Dana_Meadows_(California)) to [Tioga Pass](/source/Tioga_Pass), at 9,945 feet (3,031 m) the highest highway pass in both the Sierra Nevada and the California state highway system.[21] Tioga Pass marks the park's eastern boundary, where the **Tioga Pass Entrance Station** collects fees from visitors entering from the east.[17] A winter closure gate is located near the entrance station; the road is typically closed from around November through late May, though exact dates vary by snowfall conditions.[2]

Tioga Road/Big Oak Flat Road is officially designated as both a [National Scenic Byway](/source/National_Scenic_Byway) and a [National Forest Scenic Byway](/source/National_Forest_Scenic_Byway).[3] The Tioga Pass Road was designated as a California Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the [American Society of Civil Engineers](/source/American_Society_of_Civil_Engineers) in 2002.[22]

### Eastern Sierra and Mono Basin

Tioga Road near Lee Vining, descending the eastern Sierra escarpment

[US 395](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=US_Route_395_in_California&action=edit&redlink=1) through [Lee Vining](/source/Lee_Vining%2C_California), at the SR 120 junction

East of Tioga Pass, the highway begins a dramatic descent through **Lee Vining Canyon**, dropping more than 3,000 feet (910 m) over approximately 12 miles (19 km) as it descends the steep eastern escarpment of the Sierra Nevada. This segment through Lee Vining Canyon is designated as the **Lee Vining Canyon Scenic Byway**, a [National Forest Scenic Byway](/source/National_Forest_Scenic_Byway) administered by the [Inyo National Forest](/source/Inyo_National_Forest).[23]

The canyon road ends at the community of [Lee Vining](/source/Lee_Vining%2C_California), on the southwestern shore of [Mono Lake](/source/Mono_Lake), where SR 120 meets [US 395](/source/U.S._Route_395_in_California). The two routes share a concurrency southward for approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) to **Mono Mills Junction**, where SR 120 separates and continues east as **Mono Mills Road**.[24] This segment skirts the southern end of Mono Lake, providing access to the [Mono Lake South Tufa](/source/Mono_Lake_Tufa_State_Natural_Reserve) area and the historical site of [Mono Mills](/source/Mono_Mills%2C_California). The [BLM](/source/Bureau_of_Land_Management) [Granite Mountain Wilderness](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Granite_Mountains_Wilderness_(California)&action=edit&redlink=1) lies immediately north of the route in this area.[25]

The highway crests **Sagehen Summit** before descending to its eastern terminus at a junction with [US 6](/source/U.S._Route_6_in_California) in [Benton](/source/Benton%2C_California). Both the Tioga Pass segment and the stretch between Mono Lake and Benton are subject to winter closure. The Tioga Road usually opens by the [Memorial Day](/source/Memorial_Day) weekend at the end of May and typically closes for the winter sometime in November.[26][2]

## History

Tioga Road, 1921

Historic postcard of Priest Grade, captioned "166 Turns in seven miles"

### Origins and early roads

The origins of SR 120 lie in the Gold Rush era. The **Big Oak Flat Road** began as a pack trail from [Stockton](/source/Stockton%2C_California) that became popular with prospectors around 1849, named after the mining settlement of [Big Oak Flat](/source/Groveland-Big_Oak_Flat%2C_California) through which it passed. By 1874, it had been improved to a wagon road extending to [Yosemite Valley](/source/Yosemite_Valley), serving as a major tourism and freight route.[27][28]

The **Tioga Road** was built in 1883 as a mining road to reach the Sheepherder and Tioga silver mines east of [Tioga Pass](/source/Tioga_Pass). It became a private toll road, charging $2 per horse and rider. In 1915, [Stephen Mather](/source/Stephen_Mather), who would become the first director of the [National Park Service](/source/National_Park_Service), purchased the road for $15,000 using his own funds and donations from the [Sierra Club](/source/Sierra_Club) and the Modesto Chamber of Commerce, enabling public access through the park's high country.[29]

### Legislative history

In 1921, the [California State Assembly](/source/California_State_Assembly) authorized [San Joaquin County](/source/San_Joaquin_County%2C_California) to transfer the [county road](/source/County_road) connecting [Manteca](/source/Manteca%2C_California) with then-[Route 5](/source/Legislative_Route_5_(California_pre-1964)) (now [I-5](/source/Interstate_5_(California))) at [Mossdale](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mossdale,_California&action=edit&redlink=1) to the state.[30] It was numbered **Route 66**, as was a 1933 extension from Manteca east to [Route 13](/source/Legislative_Route_13_(California_pre-1964)) in [Oakdale](/source/Oakdale%2C_California). Also in 1933, Route 40 was extended east from Mono Lake to [Route 76](/source/Legislative_Route_76_(California_pre-1964)) ([US 6](/source/U.S._Route_6_in_California)) at [Benton](/source/Benton%2C_California).[31] The route from Manteca to Benton was marked as **Sign Route 120** in 1934,[32] and was soon extended west to Mossdale,[33] replacing what had been part of [U.S. Route 99W](/source/U.S._Route_99W_(central_California)).[34]

### New Tioga Road construction, 1958–1961

In 1956, the National Park Service developed plans to relocate the Big Oak Flat Road from Crane Flat to the park's eastern boundary, and reconstruct the unimproved central section of the Tioga Road. NPS management wanted to open the [High Sierra](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=High_Sierra_(California)&action=edit&redlink=1) section of the park to increased numbers of visitors and planned new facilities at Tuolumne Meadows. This brought fierce opposition from the [Sierra Club](/source/Sierra_Club), led by photographer [Ansel Adams](/source/Ansel_Adams). Adams and his supporters opposed the blasting of a granite dome southwest of Tenaya Lake and the routing of the highway along the western shore of the lake. Internally, many Sierra Club members supported the project. The controversy created a serious rift in the relationship between the environmental organization and the National Park Service. The government ultimately proceeded with the project as originally planned, with only minor modifications.[35]

The present Big Oak Flat Road was constructed by the [Bureau of Public Roads](/source/Bureau_of_Public_Roads) with [Public Works Administration](/source/Public_Works_Administration) funding between 1935 and 1940.[36]

### Manteca Bypass and safety improvements

The Manteca Bypass section of SR 120 opened in spring 1980 as a "super two" facility with limited overpasses. The original alternating-lane configuration earned the highway the nickname "Blood Alley" due to frequent head-on collisions. Local advocacy led to the installation of center median barriers separating the directions of traffic, substantially reducing fatalities. The bypass was subsequently widened to a full four-lane divided freeway.[10]

### California's first diverging diamond interchange

On November 25, 2020, the first [diverging diamond interchange](/source/Diverging_diamond_interchange) in the state of California opened to traffic at the interchange with Union Road (exit 4) in [Manteca](/source/Manteca%2C_California).[11]

## Major intersections

Except where prefixed with a letter, [postmiles](/source/California_postmile) were measured on the road as it was in [1964](/source/1964_state_highway_renumbering_(California)), based on the alignment that existed at the time, and do not necessarily reflect current mileage. R reflects a realignment in the route since then, M indicates a second realignment, L refers to an overlap due to a correction or change, and T indicates postmiles classified as temporary (for a full list of prefixes, see [California postmile § Official postmile definitions](/source/California_postmile#Official_postmile_definitions)).[39] Segments that remain unconstructed or have been relinquished to local control may be omitted. The numbers reset at county lines; the start and end postmiles in each county are given in the county column.

County Location Postmile [1][37][38] Exit [40] Destinations Notes San Joaquin SJ R0.49-21.18 Lathrop R0.49 1 I-5 – San Francisco, Los Angeles, Stockton, Sacramento Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; signed as exits 1A (south) and 1B (north); west end of SR 120; former US 50 west; I-5 exit 461 Manteca R1.33 1C Yosemite Avenue Signed as exit 1 eastbound R2.30 2 McKinley Avenue[41] R3.32 3 Airport Way (CR J3) – Sharpe Depot R4.31 4 Union Road Diverging diamond interchange: first one constructed in California and opened to traffic on November 25, 2020[11] R5.31 5 South Main Street T6.87 5.82[N 1] 6 SR 99 south – Modesto, Fresno, Los Angeles West end of SR 99 overlap; SR 99 exit 241 6.65[N 1] 6.20 East end of freeway on SR 99 SR 99 north / Yosemite Avenue – Sacramento, Central Manteca Interchange; east end of SR 99 overlap; SR 99 exit 242 8.84 CR J5 (Jack Tone Road) ​ 11.64 French Camp Road Escalon ​ CR J6 / CR J7 north (Escalon-Bellota Road, McHenry Avenue) – Farmington, Modesto West end of CR J7 overlap R16.92 CR J7 south (Main Street) / Kern Street East end of CR J7 overlap Stanislaus STA 0.00-T18.17 ​ 3.16 CR J9 north (Valley Home Road) – Valley Home West end of CR J9 overlap ​ ​ CR J14 north (Twenty-Six Mile Road) West end of CR J14 overlap Oakdale 5.12 SR 108 west (F Street) / CR J9 / CR J14 south (Yosemite Avenue) – Modesto West end of SR 108 overlap; east end of CR J9 / CR J14 overlap Tuolumne TUO R0.00-R41.52 ​ 8.19 CR J59 (La Grange Road) – La Grange, Merced Northern terminus of CR J59 ​ ​ CR E15 (O'Byrnes Ferry Road) – Copperopolis Southern terminus of CR E15 ​ 12.08 SR 108 east – Sonora East end of SR 108 overlap Chinese Camp 15.52 SR 49 north – Sonora West end of SR 49 overlap Tuolumne River / Don Pedro Reservoir R19.61 James E. Roberts Bridge ​ R23.90 SR 49 south – Coulterville, Mariposa East end of SR 49 overlap Buck Meadows R39.46 CR J132 (Smith Station Road, Greeley Hill Road) to SR 132 – Coulterville, Merced Eastern terminus of CR J132 Yosemite National Park East end of state maintenance at western park boundary ​ Big Oak Flat Entrance Station; park fee or pass required for entry[17] Mariposa MPA R41.52-43.75 ​ Big Oak Flat Road to SR 41 / SR 140 – Yosemite Valley ​ Tuolumne Grove (winter closure gate near the eastern end of the grove)[2][42] Tuolumne TUO 43.75-R56.15 ​ Tioga Pass Entrance Station (closed in winters); park fee or pass required for entry[17] ​ West end of state maintenance at eastern park boundary Mono MNO R0.00-58.99 ​ R8.54 Westbound winter closure gate Lee Vining R12.06 50.74[N 2] US 395 north / Airport Road – Reno West end of US 395 overlap June Lake Loop North Junction 46.40[N 2] SR 158 south – June Lake Northern terminus of SR 158 Mono Mills Junction 45.96[N 2] 13.37 US 395 south – Bishop East end of US 395 overlap ​ 18.49 Eastbound winter closure gate ​ 39.05 Westbound winter closure gate ​ 51.86 Benton Crossing Road to US 395 – Owens River, Crowley Lake Benton 58.99 US 6 – Tonopah, Bishop East end of SR 120 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Concurrency terminus Tolled

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-SR_99_42-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-SR_99_42-1) Indicates that the postmile represents the distance along [SR 99](/source/California_State_Route_99) rather than SR 120.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-US_395_44-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-US_395_44-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-US_395_44-2) Indicates that the postmile represents the distance along [US 395](/source/U.S._Route_395_in_California) rather than SR 120.

## See also

- [California Roads portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:California_Roads)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-trucklist-2026_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-trucklist-2026_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-trucklist-2026_1-2) ["State Truck Route List"](https://dot.ca.gov/programs/traffic-operations/legal-truck-access/truck-route-list). California Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 9, 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-YOSE_winter_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-YOSE_winter_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-YOSE_winter_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-YOSE_winter_2-3) ["Yosemite National Park Winter Road Closures"](https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wroads.htm). *National Park Service*. Retrieved January 29, 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-byway-tioga_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-byway-tioga_3-1) Staff. ["Tioga Road/Big Oak Flat Road"](https://web.archive.org/web/20111120100918/http://byways.org/explore/byways/2302). *America's Byways*. [Federal Highway Administration](/source/Federal_Highway_Administration). Archived from [the original](http://byways.org/explore/byways/2302/) on November 20, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-CSHC420_4-0)** ["Section 420"](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=SHC&sectionNum=420.). *California Streets and Highways Code*. Sacramento: California Office of Legislative Counsel. Retrieved February 25, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-cafes_5-0)** ["Article 2 of Chapter 2 of Division 1"](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=SHC&division=1.&title=&part=&chapter=2.&article=2.). *California Streets and Highways Code*. Sacramento: California Office of Legislative Counsel. Retrieved February 6, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-fhwa-nhs_6-0)** Federal Highway Administration (March 25, 2015). [*National Highway System: California (North)*](https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/nhs_maps/california/ca_californianorth.pdf) (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved September 30, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NHS-FHWA_7-0)** Natzke, Stefan; Neathery, Mike & Adderly, Kevin (June 20, 2012). ["What is the National Highway System?"](https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/). *National Highway System*. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved July 1, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-scenic_8-0)** ["Article 2.5 of Chapter 2 of Division 1"](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=SHC&division=1.&title=&part=&chapter=2.&article=2.5.). *California Streets & Highways Code*. Sacramento: California Office of Legislative Counsel. Retrieved February 6, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-caltransscenic_9-0)** California Department of Transportation (August 2019). ["Officially Designated State Scenic Highways and Historic Parkways"](https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/design/documents/desig-and-eligible-aug2019_a11y.xlsx) (XLSX). Sacramento: California Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 30, 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-cahighways_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-cahighways_10-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-cahighways_10-2) ["California Highways: Route 120"](https://www.cahighways.org/ROUTE120.html). *cahighways.org*. Retrieved February 9, 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ddi_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ddi_11-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-ddi_11-2) ["State Route 120 / Union Road Interchange Project"](https://mantecaddi.net/). City of [Manteca](/source/Manteca%2C_California). Retrieved February 14, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Chinese Camp"](https://ohp.parks.ca.gov/ListedResources/Detail/423). California Office of Historic Preservation. Retrieved February 9, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["James E. Roberts Memorial Bridge"](https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=29998). *The Historical Marker Database*. Retrieved February 9, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Priest Grade, Grizzly Gulch"](http://www.pinemountainlake.com/Priest-Grade,-Grizzly-Gulch~335619~21389.htm). Pine Mountain Lake Association. Retrieved June 6, 2013.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["CA-120 E"](https://www.google.com/maps?saddr=CA-120+E/New+Priest+Grade+Rd&daddr=CA-120+E&hl=en&ll=37.818836,-120.287418&spn=0.031698,0.066218&sll=37.8167,-120.285745&sspn=0.031698,0.066218&geocode=FSYBQQIdV2LU-A;FcL-QAIdBszU-A&mra=prv&t=m&z=15). Google, Inc. Retrieved June 6, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Groveland: South of the River"](https://tchistory.org/groveland-south-of-the-river/). Tuolumne County Historical Society. Retrieved February 9, 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-YOSE_entry_fee_17-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-YOSE_entry_fee_17-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-YOSE_entry_fee_17-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-YOSE_entry_fee_17-3) ["Yosemite National Park Fees & Passes"](https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/fees.htm). *National Park Service*. Retrieved December 31, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Crane Flat Area"](https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/cf.htm). National Park Service. Retrieved February 9, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["The Tioga Road; a History 1883–1961 (1961, 1980), "Reconstruction," by Keith A. Trexler"](http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/tioga_road/reconstruction.html). *yosemite.ca.us*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Good Things to Know About Tioga Road in Summer"](https://yosemite.org/good-things-to-know-about-tioga-road-in-summer/). Yosemite Conservancy. Retrieved February 9, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Tioga Pass"](https://www.britannica.com/place/Tioga-Pass). Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved February 9, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["The Tioga Pass Road Historical Marker"](https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=49970). *The Historical Marker Database*. Retrieved March 6, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** Staff. ["Lee Vining Canyon Scenic Byway"](https://web.archive.org/web/20111023091305/http://byways.org/explore/byways/2298). *America's Byways*. [Federal Highway Administration](/source/Federal_Highway_Administration). Archived from [the original](http://byways.org/explore/byways/2298/) on October 23, 2011. Retrieved October 23, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["Floodgap Roadgap's Summer of 6 -- U.S. Highway 6, Part 1: US 6 in California"](http://www.floodgap.com/roadgap/6/u1/). *floodgap.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["BLM Granite Mountain Wilderness"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160828193825/http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/bishop/wilderness/granite_mountain.html). Archived from [the original](https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/bishop/wilderness/granite_mountain.html) on August 28, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** ["Winter Driving Tips"](https://dot.ca.gov/travel/winter-driving-tips). Caltrans. Retrieved January 2, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** ["Groveland: South of the River"](https://tchistory.org/groveland-south-of-the-river/). Tuolumne County Historical Society. Retrieved February 9, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** ["Big Oak Flat Road – Yosemite National Park CA"](https://livingnewdeal.org/sites/big-oak-flat-road-yosemite-national-park-ca/). Living New Deal. Retrieved February 9, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** ["The Tioga Pass Road Historical Marker"](https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=49970). *The Historical Marker Database*. Retrieved March 6, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-30)** Statutes 1921 p. 1627: [State highway in San Joaquin County](https://books.google.com/books?id=CNQ3AAAAIAAJ&pg=RA3-PA17)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-info_31-0)** [California Department of Transportation](/source/California_Department_of_Transportation), [State Highway Routes: Selected Information](http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/tsip/hseb/products/state_highway_routes_selected_information_1995_revised.pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070316231706/http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/tsip/HSEB/products/state_highway_routes_selected_information_1995_revised.pdf) March 16, 2007, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), 1994 with 1995 revisions

1. **[^](#cite_ref-32)** Dennis, T.H. (August 1934). ["State Routes Will Be Numbered and Marked with Distinctive Bear Signs"](https://archive.org/details/californiahighwa193436calirich). *[California Highways and Public Works](/source/California_Highways_and_Public_Works)*. **11** (8): [20](https://archive.org/details/californiahighwa193436calirich/page/20)–21, 32. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0008-1159](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0008-1159) – via [Archive.org](/source/Archive.org).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-33)** [H.M. Gousha Company](/source/H.M._Gousha_Company), [California](http://members.cox.net/mkpl2/hist/droz-ca42.jpg) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20071013161636/http://members.cox.net/mkpl2/hist/droz-ca42.jpg) October 13, 2007, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), 1942

1. **[^](#cite_ref-34)** [American Association of State Highway Officials](/source/American_Association_of_State_Highway_Officials), [log of U.S. Highways](https://books.google.com/books?id=Yg8iAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Stockton+6%2C+French+Camp+7%2C+Mossdale+6%2C+Manteca), [American Highways](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=American_Highways&action=edit&redlink=1), ca. 1932

1. **[^](#cite_ref-35)** ["Tioga Road (HAER No. CA-149)"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Tioga_Road_(HAER_No._CA-149)_written_historical_and_descriptive_data). Historic American Engineering Record, National Park Service, U.S. Dept. of the Interior. Retrieved October 8, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-36)** ["Big Oak Flat Road – Yosemite National Park CA"](https://livingnewdeal.org/sites/big-oak-flat-road-yosemite-national-park-ca/). Living New Deal. Retrieved February 9, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-bridgelog_37-0)** California Department of Transportation (July 2007). ["Log of Bridges on State Highways"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120701125434/http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/structur/strmaint/brlog2.htm). Sacramento: California Department of Transportation.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-38)** [California Department of Transportation](/source/California_Department_of_Transportation), [All Traffic Volumes on CSHS](http://traffic-counts.dot.ca.gov/), 2005 and 2006

1. **[^](#cite_ref-trucklist_39-0)** California Department of Transportation. ["State Truck Route List"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150905083346/http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/trucks/truckmap/truck-route-list.xlsx). Sacramento: California Department of Transportation. Archived from [the original](http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/trucks/truckmap/truck-route-list.xlsx) ([XLS file](/source/Microsoft_Excel#File_formats)) on September 5, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-40)** [California Department of Transportation](/source/California_Department_of_Transportation), [California Numbered Exit Uniform System](/source/California_Numbered_Exit_Uniform_System), [SR-120 Eastbound](http://www.dot.ca.gov/trafficops/exit/docs/onetwentyeast.pdf) and [SR-120 Westbound](http://www.dot.ca.gov/trafficops/exit/docs/onetwentywest.pdf), accessed February 2008

1. **[^](#cite_ref-41)** Wyatt, Dennis. ["McKinley Interchange is Manteca Game Changer"](https://www.mantecabulletin.com/news/local-news/mckinley-interchange-manteca-game-changer/). *Manteca/Ripon Bulletin*. Retrieved January 6, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-43)** ["View of eastbound Tioga Road at the open winter closure gate east of Tuolumne Grove"](https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7606317,-119.8024893,3a,75y,53.1h,87.35t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s4wCWYkeU8Q5Ez0mb5jHmYg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656). *Google Street View*. October 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2023.

- Map: "Stanislaus National Forest, California," U.S. Forest Service, 1979.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [California State Route 120](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:California_State_Route_120).

English [Wikisource](/source/Wikisource) has original text related to this article:

**[Tioga Road (HAER No. CA-149) written historical and descriptive data](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/en:Tioga_Road_(HAER_No._CA-149)_written_historical_and_descriptive_data)**

English [Wikisource](/source/Wikisource) has original text related to this article:

**[Big Oak Flat Road (HAER No. CA-147) written historical and descriptive data](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/en:Big_Oak_Flat_Road_(HAER_No._CA-147)_written_historical_and_descriptive_data)**

**[KML file](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Attached_KML/California_State_Route_120&action=raw)** ([edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Attached_KML/California_State_Route_120&action=edit) · [help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Attached_KML))

[Template:Attached KML/California State Route 120](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Attached_KML/California_State_Route_120)

KML is from Wikidata

- [Caltrans: State Route 120 highway conditions](https://roads.dot.ca.gov/)

- [Caltrans Traffic Conditions Map](https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/)

- [California Highway Patrol Traffic Incidents](https://cad.chp.ca.gov/)

- [A Brief History Of The Tioga Road](http://www.undiscovered-yosemite.com/tioga-road-history.html)

- [Tioga Road (Highway 120 through the Yosemite National Park) conditions](https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm)

- [California @ AARoads.com – State Route 120](http://www.aaroads.com/california/ca-120.html)

- [California Highways: SR 120](http://www.cahighways.org/113-120.html#120)

v t e Yosemite National Park Attractions Yosemite Valley Yosemite Village Hetch Hetchy Glacier Point Badger Pass Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias Tuolumne Meadows Tioga Pass Wawona Tree Chilnualna Falls Valley attractions Half Dome Yosemite Falls El Capitan Films: El Capitan, The Dawn Wall, Free Solo, To the Limit Bridalveil Fall Happy Isles Mirror Lake North Dome Vernal Fall Nevada Fall Little Yosemite Valley LeConte Lodge Bracebridge Dinner Yosemite Firefall Yosemite Valley Chapel Hiking trails John Muir Trail Mist Trail Panorama Trail McGurk Meadow Ostrander Lake Taft Point Sentinel Dome Alder Creek Mariposa Grove Wapama Falls Lembert Dome Rock climbs Fairview Dome, North Face Half Dome, Northwest Face Lost Arrow Spire Midnight Lightning Royal Arches Route Salathé Wall (El Capitan) Steck-Salathé Route (Sentinel Rock) Separate Reality The Nose (El Capitan) People John Muir Stephen T. Mather Galen Clark Shelton Johnson Buffalo Soldiers Chief Tenaya Ahwahnechee people Lodging and camping Yosemite Lodge at the Falls The Ahwahnee Curry Village Wawona Hotel Housekeeping Camp High Sierra Camps Camp 4 Natural disasters 1938 Yosemite TWA crash 1996 Yosemite Valley landslide 1997 Merced River flood 2013 Rim Wildfire 2022 Washburn Wildfire Transportation Nearby airports FAT RMY MMH YARTS Route 140 Route 41 Route 120 Nearby municipalities Foresta El Portal & Arch Rock Entrance Yosemite West & Chinquapin Wawona Bootjack Mariposa Briceburg Oakhurst Midpines Lee Vining Additional information History of the Yosemite area Geology of the Yosemite area List of historic places List of waterfalls Yosemite Category California Portal

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [California State Route 120](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Route_120) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Route_120?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.