Originally Posted by
markf
Years ago (1984) I followed CA 120 from Yosemite Valley to the East Bay, overnighted somewhere in the Central Valley. Lots more climbing than 140 but much more scenic and (back then) less traffic to contend with. If you follow this route from the central Valley to Yosemite you'll be going downhill through all the tunnels between Crane Flat and the Valley floor, so you can get through them faster. You still should have lights for the tunnels, though.
My concern is that I won't be able to make the trip from Modesto to Yosemite in one day. I think it's something like 90 miles. So I will need to stop over somewhere, either camp out, or spend the night in a motel.