California State Route 108
Encyclopedia
State Route 108, also known as Highway 108, is a numbered state highway
in California
. SR 108 runs generally northeast across central California
from downtown Modesto
near the SR 99
/SR 132
interchange, crossing the Sierra Nevada at Sonora Pass
, to U.S. Route 395 near the Nevada
state line. The route was once recommended to continue south of Modesto to Interstate 5, although today the route is a county road.
and is eligible for the State Scenic Highway System
. However, it is not a scenic highway as defined by Caltrans.
State Route 108 begins in downtown Modesto
at the junction of SR 99
and SR 132
, overlapping SR 132 for several blocks northeast on L Street to 9th Street. There it splits into a short one-way pair
, with eastbound SR 108 turning southeast with SR 132 on 9th Street to K Street and then northeast to Needham Street; the westbound direction remains on L Street to Needham Street. After several blocks eastward on Needham Street, SR 108 reaches McHenry Avenue, which it follows north out of the city. There is no route marker eastbound indicating where the route turns left from 9th Street to K Street, nor is there a route marker indicating where the westbound traffic turns left from Needham Street to L Street.
From Modesto, SR 108 runs north along McHenry Avenue for about 7 miles (11.3 km) before turning eastward on Patterson Road to follow the Stanislaus River
east-northeast. In Riverbank
, County Route J7 comes from the north and departs to the south after about a one mile (1.6 km) co-routing. After following the river about 10 miles (16.1 km), SR 108 passes straight through the heart of downtown Oakdale
.
At the main intersection in Oakdale, SR 120
joins SR 108 from the north and they are co-signed as they continue northeast, climbing into the foothills and passing just south of Knights Ferry
. SR 120 brings with it the title Northern Yosemite Highway for this segment; with State Route 132 being the middle route from the west and State Route 140 being the southern route to Yosemite
. Just past Knights Ferry, SR 108 crosses from Stanislaus County into Tuolumne County, and the road changes from two lanes to four-lane separated highway for about 6 miles (9.7 km). This is advantageous as steep grade is located along this stretch of the road and the extra lanes are useful as passing lanes both ascending and descending the mountain range. About a mile after the end of the separated pavement, La Grange Road (County road J59) heads south, passing just west of Lake Don Pedro and meeting SR 132 near the town of La Grange
. Another 3 miles (4.8 km) eastward, at Yosemite Junction, SR 120 finally separates from SR 108 and heads southward toward to a co-routing with State Route 49
through Chinese Camp
and across the upper end of Lake Don Pedro.
Another 3 miles (4.8 km) eastward, SR 49 joins from the south and is co-routed with SR 108 through Jamestown
and into Sonora
, where SR 49 departs to the north. SR 108 continues eastward and gains elevation as it passes through Twain Harte
, Mi-Wuk Village
, Long Barn, Cold Springs, Strawberry-Pinecrest Lake and Dodge Ridge Ski Area
, then on to Dardanelle
and Kennedy Meadow. SR 108 crosses the summit of the Sierra Nevada mountains at Sonora Pass
, then descends past the Mountain Warfare Training Center
at Pickel Meadows, finally reaching the eastern terminus at Sonora Junction where it meets U.S. Route 395.
{| class=wikitable
!County
!Location
!Postmile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=11|Stanislaus
STA 14.73Indicates that the postmile represents the distance along SR 132
rather than SR 108.-T18.17Indicates that the postmile represents the distance along SR 120
rather than SR 108.
|rowspan=5|Modesto
|14.73
|
|Continuation beyond SR 99
|-bgcolor=#ddffdd
|14.73
|
|Interchange; west end of SR 132 overlap
|-bgcolor=#ddffdd
|15.06
R22.44
|
|East end of SR 132 overlap; serves Modesto City-County Airport
|-
|24.81
|Briggsmore Avenue
|
|-
|26.06
|Standiford Avenue, Sylvan Avenue
|
|-
|
|27.62
|
|
|-
|
|29.15
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Riverbank
|31.05
|Oakdale Road
|
|-bgcolor=#ddffdd
|32.44
|
|West end of CR J7 overlap
|-
|
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|33.38
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|East end of CR J7 overlap
|-
|Oakdale
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|38.24
5.12
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|West end of SR 120 overlap
|-
|rowspan=14|Tuolumne
TUO R0.00-66.97
|
|8.19
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|
|-
|
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|12.08
L0.00
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|East end of SR 120 overlap
|-
|
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|L2.81
R11.59Indicates that the postmile represents the distance along SR 49
rather than SR 108.
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|West end of SR 49 overlap
|-
|Jamestown
|14.74
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Sonora
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|16.48
R0.00
|bgcolor=#ddffdd| – Downtown Sonora
, Angels Camp
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|Interchange; east end of SR 49 overlap; former SR 108 east; west end of Sonora bypass
|-
|
|South Washington Street, Lime Kiln Road – Sonora
|
|-
|
|R2.20
|
|Interchange; former SR 108
|-
|
|R3.42
|Hess Avenue, Phoenix Lake Road
|Interchange
|-
|
|T4.54
|Peaceful Oak Road
|East end of Sonora bypass
|-
|
|T4.70
|
|Mono Way was former SR 108 west
|-
|
|7.51
|Soulsbyville Road – Mono Vista
, Soulsbyville
, Willow Springs, Tuolumne City
|
|-
|
|R9.58
|Twain Harte Drive (SR 108 Bus. east), Plainview Road – Twain Harte
|
|-
|Twain Harte
|R11.75
|
|
|-
|Mono
MNO 0.00-15.15
|
|15.15
| – Walker
, Carson City
, Bridgeport
, Bishop
|
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. SR 108 runs generally northeast across central California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
from downtown Modesto
Modesto, California
Modesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
near the SR 99
California State Route 99
California State Route 99 , commonly known as Highway 99 or, simply, as 99 , is a north–south state highway in the U.S. state of California, stretching almost the entire length of the Central Valley...
/SR 132
California State Route 132
State Route 132 is a route in the Central Valley that leads to the Sierra Nevada foothills and the California Gold Country. It also connects the city of Modesto with the San Francisco Bay Area via I-580, although this route is discouraged due to it being a two-lane road between Modesto and...
interchange, crossing the Sierra Nevada at Sonora Pass
Sonora Pass
Sonora Pass is the second-highest highway pass in the Sierra Nevada, lower by 321 ft. than Tioga Pass to the south. State Route 108 traverses the pass.-Description:...
, to U.S. Route 395 near the Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
state line. The route was once recommended to continue south of Modesto to Interstate 5, although today the route is a county road.
Route description
This route is part of the California Freeway and Expressway SystemCalifornia Freeway and Expressway System
The California Freeway and Expressway System is a system of existing or planned freeways and expressways in the U.S. state of California. It is defined by the Streets and Highways Code.-List of roads in the system:*State Route 1 *State Route 2...
and is eligible for the State Scenic Highway System
State Scenic Highway System (California)
The State Scenic Highway System is a list of highways, mainly state highways, that have been designated by the California Department of Transportation as scenic highways. The California State Legislature, primarily through Section 263 of the Streets and Highways Code, makes highways eligible for...
. However, it is not a scenic highway as defined by Caltrans.
State Route 108 begins in downtown Modesto
Modesto, California
Modesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
at the junction of SR 99
California State Route 99
California State Route 99 , commonly known as Highway 99 or, simply, as 99 , is a north–south state highway in the U.S. state of California, stretching almost the entire length of the Central Valley...
and SR 132
California State Route 132
State Route 132 is a route in the Central Valley that leads to the Sierra Nevada foothills and the California Gold Country. It also connects the city of Modesto with the San Francisco Bay Area via I-580, although this route is discouraged due to it being a two-lane road between Modesto and...
, overlapping SR 132 for several blocks northeast on L Street to 9th Street. There it splits into a short one-way pair
One-way pair
A one-way pair, one-way couple, or just couplet is a pair of parallel, usually one-way streets that carry opposite directions of a signed route or major traffic flow, or sometimes opposite directions of a bus or streetcar route....
, with eastbound SR 108 turning southeast with SR 132 on 9th Street to K Street and then northeast to Needham Street; the westbound direction remains on L Street to Needham Street. After several blocks eastward on Needham Street, SR 108 reaches McHenry Avenue, which it follows north out of the city. There is no route marker eastbound indicating where the route turns left from 9th Street to K Street, nor is there a route marker indicating where the westbound traffic turns left from Needham Street to L Street.
From Modesto, SR 108 runs north along McHenry Avenue for about 7 miles (11.3 km) before turning eastward on Patterson Road to follow the Stanislaus River
Stanislaus River
The Stanislaus River in California is one of the largest tributaries of the San Joaquin River. The river is long and has north, middle and south forks...
east-northeast. In Riverbank
Riverbank, California
Riverbank is a city in Stanislaus County, California, United States. The population was 22,678 at the 2010 census, up from 15,826 at the 2000 census...
, County Route J7 comes from the north and departs to the south after about a one mile (1.6 km) co-routing. After following the river about 10 miles (16.1 km), SR 108 passes straight through the heart of downtown Oakdale
Oakdale, California
Oakdale is a city in Stanislaus County, California, United States. It is part of the Modesto Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city was founded in 1871 when the Stockton & Visalia Railroad met the Copperopolis Railroad...
.
At the main intersection in Oakdale, SR 120
California State Route 120
State Route 120 , in northern California, runs between the Central Valley near Manteca, through Yosemite National Park, and ends at U.S. Route 6 in Mono County.-Route description:...
joins SR 108 from the north and they are co-signed as they continue northeast, climbing into the foothills and passing just south of Knights Ferry
Knights Ferry, California
Knights Ferry is a town in Stanislaus County, California, United States. Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, it is about east of Modesto on the Stanislaus River. The Willms Ranch, a California Landmark near the town, was one of many filming locations for the television series Bonanza...
. SR 120 brings with it the title Northern Yosemite Highway for this segment; with State Route 132 being the middle route from the west and State Route 140 being the southern route to Yosemite
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is a United States National Park spanning eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in east central California, United States. The park covers an area of and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain...
. Just past Knights Ferry, SR 108 crosses from Stanislaus County into Tuolumne County, and the road changes from two lanes to four-lane separated highway for about 6 miles (9.7 km). This is advantageous as steep grade is located along this stretch of the road and the extra lanes are useful as passing lanes both ascending and descending the mountain range. About a mile after the end of the separated pavement, La Grange Road (County road J59) heads south, passing just west of Lake Don Pedro and meeting SR 132 near the town of La Grange
La Grange, California
La Grange is a small unincorporated community in rural Stanislaus County, California, United States. Its altitude is 249 feet. As of 2008 it has a population of 345. , and it is located at .-History:...
. Another 3 miles (4.8 km) eastward, at Yosemite Junction, SR 120 finally separates from SR 108 and heads southward toward to a co-routing with State Route 49
California State Route 49
State Route 49 is a north–south state highway in the U.S. state of California that passes through many historic mining communities of the 1849 California gold rush. Highway 49 is numbered after the "49ers", the waves of immigrants who swept into the area looking for gold, and a portion of it...
through Chinese Camp
Chinese Camp, California
Chinese Camp is a census-designated place in Tuolumne County, California, United States. The population was 126 at the 2010 census, down from 146 at the 2000 census. It lies in the grassy foothills of the Sierra Nevada near the southern end of California's Gold Country.-History:Chinese Camp is the...
and across the upper end of Lake Don Pedro.
Another 3 miles (4.8 km) eastward, SR 49 joins from the south and is co-routed with SR 108 through Jamestown
Jamestown, California
Jamestown is a census-designated place in Tuolumne County, California, United States. The population was 3,433 at the 2010 census, up from 3,017 at the 2000 census.A scene from the movie Hidalgo was filmed in Jamestown...
and into Sonora
Sonora, California
Sonora is the county seat of Tuolumne County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,903, up from 4,423 at the 2000 census. Sonora is the only incorporated community in Tuolumne County.-Geography:...
, where SR 49 departs to the north. SR 108 continues eastward and gains elevation as it passes through Twain Harte
Twain Harte, California
Twain Harte is a census-designated place in Tuolumne County, California, United States. The population was 2,226 at the 2010 census, down from 2,586 at the 2000 census...
, Mi-Wuk Village
Mi-Wuk Village, California
Mi-Wuk Village is a census-designated place in Tuolumne County, California, United States. The population was 941 at the 2010 census, down from 1,485 at the 2000 census...
, Long Barn, Cold Springs, Strawberry-Pinecrest Lake and Dodge Ridge Ski Area
Dodge Ridge Ski Area
Dodge Ridge Wintersports Area is a ski area near Pinecrest, California in Tuolumne County, off of Highway 108, east of Sonora. The resort in located in the Stanislaus National Forest and operates under a special use permit. Many skiers in Northern California use Dodge Ridge because of its...
, then on to Dardanelle
Dardanelle, California
Dardanelle is an unincorporated community in Tuolumne County, California, United States. Dardanelle is located on California State Route 108 northeast of Sonora. Dardanelle has a post office with ZIP code 95314, which was established in 1924....
and Kennedy Meadow. SR 108 crosses the summit of the Sierra Nevada mountains at Sonora Pass
Sonora Pass
Sonora Pass is the second-highest highway pass in the Sierra Nevada, lower by 321 ft. than Tioga Pass to the south. State Route 108 traverses the pass.-Description:...
, then descends past the Mountain Warfare Training Center
Mountain Warfare Training Center
The Mountain Warfare Training Center is a United States Marine Corps installation located in Pickel Meadows on California State Route 108 in the Toiyabe National Forest, 21 miles northwest of Bridgeport, California...
at Pickel Meadows, finally reaching the eastern terminus at Sonora Junction where it meets U.S. Route 395.
Major intersections
- Note: Except where prefixed with a letter, postmiles were measured in 1964, based on the alignment as it existed at that time, and do not necessarily reflect current mileage. The numbers reset at county lines; the start and end postmiles in each county are given in the county column.
{| class=wikitable
!County
!Location
!Postmile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=11|Stanislaus
Stanislaus County, California
Stanislaus County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. As the price of housing has increased in the San Francisco Bay Area, many people who work in the southern reaches of the Bay Area have opted for the longer commute and moved to Stanislaus County for the...
STA 14.73Indicates that the postmile represents the distance along SR 132
California State Route 132
State Route 132 is a route in the Central Valley that leads to the Sierra Nevada foothills and the California Gold Country. It also connects the city of Modesto with the San Francisco Bay Area via I-580, although this route is discouraged due to it being a two-lane road between Modesto and...
rather than SR 108.-T18.17Indicates that the postmile represents the distance along SR 120
California State Route 120
State Route 120 , in northern California, runs between the Central Valley near Manteca, through Yosemite National Park, and ends at U.S. Route 6 in Mono County.-Route description:...
rather than SR 108.
|rowspan=5|Modesto
Modesto, California
Modesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
|14.73
|
|Continuation beyond SR 99
|-bgcolor=#ddffdd
|14.73
|
|Interchange; west end of SR 132 overlap
|-bgcolor=#ddffdd
|15.06
R22.44
|
|East end of SR 132 overlap; serves Modesto City-County Airport
Modesto City-County Airport
Modesto City-County Airport , also known as Harry Sham Field, is located two miles southeast of the central business district of Modesto, a city in Stanislaus County, California, USA.- History :...
|-
|24.81
|Briggsmore Avenue
|
|-
|26.06
|Standiford Avenue, Sylvan Avenue
|
|-
|
|27.62
|
|
|-
|
|29.15
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Riverbank
Riverbank, California
Riverbank is a city in Stanislaus County, California, United States. The population was 22,678 at the 2010 census, up from 15,826 at the 2000 census...
|31.05
|Oakdale Road
|
|-bgcolor=#ddffdd
|32.44
|
|West end of CR J7 overlap
|-
|
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|33.38
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|East end of CR J7 overlap
|-
|Oakdale
Oakdale, California
Oakdale is a city in Stanislaus County, California, United States. It is part of the Modesto Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city was founded in 1871 when the Stockton & Visalia Railroad met the Copperopolis Railroad...
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|38.24
5.12
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|West end of SR 120 overlap
|-
|rowspan=14|Tuolumne
Tuolumne County, California
Tuolumne County is a county in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California. The northern half of Yosemite National Park is located in the eastern part of the county. As of the 2010 census, the population was 55,365, up from 54,501 at the 2000 census...
TUO R0.00-66.97
|
|8.19
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|
|-
|
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|12.08
L0.00
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|East end of SR 120 overlap
|-
|
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|L2.81
R11.59Indicates that the postmile represents the distance along SR 49
California State Route 49
State Route 49 is a north–south state highway in the U.S. state of California that passes through many historic mining communities of the 1849 California gold rush. Highway 49 is numbered after the "49ers", the waves of immigrants who swept into the area looking for gold, and a portion of it...
rather than SR 108.
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|West end of SR 49 overlap
|-
|Jamestown
Jamestown, California
Jamestown is a census-designated place in Tuolumne County, California, United States. The population was 3,433 at the 2010 census, up from 3,017 at the 2000 census.A scene from the movie Hidalgo was filmed in Jamestown...
|14.74
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Sonora
Sonora, California
Sonora is the county seat of Tuolumne County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,903, up from 4,423 at the 2000 census. Sonora is the only incorporated community in Tuolumne County.-Geography:...
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|16.48
R0.00
|bgcolor=#ddffdd| – Downtown Sonora
Sonora, California
Sonora is the county seat of Tuolumne County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,903, up from 4,423 at the 2000 census. Sonora is the only incorporated community in Tuolumne County.-Geography:...
, Angels Camp
Angels Camp, California
Angels Camp, also known as City of Angels and formerly Angel's Camp, Angels, Angels City, Carson's Creek, and Clearlake, is the only incorporated city in Calaveras County, California, United States. The population was 3,835 at the 2010 census, up from 3,004 at the 2000 census...
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|Interchange; east end of SR 49 overlap; former SR 108 east; west end of Sonora bypass
|-
|
|South Washington Street, Lime Kiln Road – Sonora
Sonora, California
Sonora is the county seat of Tuolumne County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,903, up from 4,423 at the 2000 census. Sonora is the only incorporated community in Tuolumne County.-Geography:...
|
|-
|
|R2.20
|
|Interchange; former SR 108
|-
|
|R3.42
|Hess Avenue, Phoenix Lake Road
|Interchange
|-
|
|T4.54
|Peaceful Oak Road
|East end of Sonora bypass
|-
|
|T4.70
|
|Mono Way was former SR 108 west
|-
|
|7.51
|Soulsbyville Road – Mono Vista
Mono Vista, California
Mono Vista is a census-designated place in Tuolumne County, California, United States. The population was 3,127 at the 2010 census, up from 3,072 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Mono Vista is located at ....
, Soulsbyville
Soulsbyville, California
Soulsbyville is an unincorporated census-designated place in Tuolumne County, California, United States. The population was 2,215 at the 2010 census, up from 1,729 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Soulsbyville is located at ....
, Willow Springs, Tuolumne City
Tuolumne City, California
Tuolumne is a census-designated place in Tuolumne County, California, United States. The population was 1,779 at the 2010 census, down from 1,865 at the 2000 census.-History:...
|
|-
|
|R9.58
|Twain Harte Drive (SR 108 Bus. east), Plainview Road – Twain Harte
Twain Harte, California
Twain Harte is a census-designated place in Tuolumne County, California, United States. The population was 2,226 at the 2010 census, down from 2,586 at the 2000 census...
|
|-
|Twain Harte
Twain Harte, California
Twain Harte is a census-designated place in Tuolumne County, California, United States. The population was 2,226 at the 2010 census, down from 2,586 at the 2000 census...
|R11.75
|
|
|-
|Mono
Mono County, California
Mono County is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of California, to the east of the Sierra Nevada between Yosemite National Park and Nevada. As of the 2010 census, the population was 14,202, up from 12,853 at the 2000 census...
MNO 0.00-15.15
|
|15.15
| – Walker
Walker, Mono County, California
Walker is a census-designated place in Mono County, California. It is located south of Coleville, at an elevation of 5403 feet . The ZIP Code is 96107, and mail to Walker should be addressed Coleville...
, Carson City
Carson City, Nevada
The Consolidated Municipality of Carson City is the capital of the state of Nevada. The words Consolidated Municipality refer to a series of changes in 1969 which abolished Ormsby County and merged all the settlements contained within its borders into Carson City. Since that time Carson City has...
, Bridgeport
Bridgeport, California
Bridgeport is a census-designated place that is the county seat of Mono County, California. It lies at an elevation of 6463 feet in the middle of the Bridgeport Valley. Bridgeport is located at the intersection of highways US 395 and State Route 182. The population was 575 at the 2010...
, Bishop
Bishop, California
Bishop is a city in Inyo County, California, United States. Though Bishop is the only city and the largest populated place in Inyo County, the county seat is Independence. Bishop is located near the northern end of the Owens Valley, at an elevation of 4147 feet . The population was 3,879 at the...
|