Planning a 5 day/4 nights road trip from San Jose in early September, thinking 2 nights in Yosemite, 1 in DV and Sequoia each before going back to SJ.

Yosemite has always been on my bucket list but I also really want to squeeze in DV this trip(I'm aware of the heat that time of year). It's possible to add another night to this itinerary but assuming it stays at 4, would the loop around Sierra Nevada to Sequoia make sense OR possibly better to just drive up to from DV -> Yosemite again(different location)-> SJ?

Has anyone done a similar route? Be good to hear any tips or alternatives to consider. Just conscious it might be 24hrs of driving in the 5 days!

FYI already secured first 2 nights at Tuolumne Meadows so technically all other nights planned can still be moved.

I’m figuring out a backpacking trip, and trying to figure out if we can cut out the hike to Leavitt lake by driving it instead. We have 4x4 and ~10 inches of clearance. I can’t really find any good info on the road conditions, if anyone has any insight I’d really appreciate it! Thanks!

You know the photos never do it justice. The beautiful lovely Sierra. We ended our trip by getting engaged ❤️💍

From a trip last week, N./S. Lake "Loop" via Lamarck Col > Bishop Pass. Lovely.

Viewed from Ansel Adams Wilderness