Central Yosemite Hwy and 6th St
7 crashes from 2021 to 2025
Most were rear-end crashes. Leave a bigger gap than you think you need, and brake early and smoothly when the lights change.
California › Driving test routes › Mariposa DMV
California DMV
Mariposa DMVDriving Test Practice Routes
5264 Highway 49-North, Mariposa, CA 95338
There are no sets of traffic lights within two miles of Mariposa DMV, so stop signs and judging gaps at junctions matter most. Golden Chain Highway runs close to the office. There are no roundabouts or railroad crossings nearby.
Start with the practice routes just below, then see how far a test can reach and how you'll leave the office.
Mariposa road test practice routes
Practice loops that start and finish at the DMV, each built from Mariposa's real streets and harder than the last.
These are practice loops we planned. They aren't official DMV test routes. Drive with a licensed supervisor, and follow the signs and conditions on the day, which may differ from the map.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Stage 1: Quiet streets
Mostly residential streets around Old Hwy North and Central Yosemite Hwy, with no traffic lights. Start here for your first few drives.
- Length
- 3.5 mi
- Approx. time
- 10 min
- Turns
- 11
- 7 stop signs
- 2.5 miles of residential streets
- Junction C below, among the busiest for crashes
- Not covered: traffic lights
Open in Google Maps
Send it to your phoneScan to open this route in Google Maps, or open it here.
Google Maps can pick slightly different streets between our stops, so check it against the map here. It works best in the Google Maps app.
Turn-by-turn directions (12 steps)
- Leave the DMV and head southwest on Smith Road. 150 ft
- At the stop sign, turn left onto Golden Chain Highway. 0.4 mi
- Turn right onto Joe Howard Street. 0.4 mi
- At the stop sign, turn right onto Coakley Circle. 0.1 mi
- At the stop sign, turn left onto Jessie Street. 450 ft
- At the stop sign, turn right onto Central Yosemite Highway. 150 ft
- Turn left onto 12th Street. 450 ft
- At the stop sign, turn right onto Bullion Street. 0.1 mi
- Turn left onto 10th Street. 0.1 mi
- At the stop sign, turn left onto Old Highway North. 1.0 mi
- At the stop sign, turn left onto Central Yosemite Highway. 0.6 mi
- Turn right onto Smith Road and return to the DMV. 0.6 mi
Stage 2: Stop signs and junctions
With almost no traffic lights nearby, this loop focuses on stop signs and junctions, along Central Yosemite Hwy and Golden Chain Hwy.
- Length
- 3 mi
- Approx. time
- 9 min
- Turns
- 11
- 1 all-way stop
- 7 stop signs
- 0.9 miles of residential streets
- Junctions A and B and C and D below, among the busiest for crashes
Open in Google Maps
Send it to your phoneScan to open this route in Google Maps, or open it here.
Google Maps can pick slightly different streets between our stops, so check it against the map here. It works best in the Google Maps app.
Turn-by-turn directions (13 steps)
- Leave the DMV and head southwest on Smith Road. 150 ft
- At the stop sign, turn left onto Golden Chain Highway. 0.5 mi
- At the stop sign, turn right onto Central Yosemite Highway. 0.8 mi
- Turn left onto 5th Street. 300 ft
- At the stop sign, turn left onto Bullion Street. 0.3 mi
- At the all-way stop, turn right onto 8th Street. 0.1 mi
- At the stop sign, continue onto Old Highway North. 0.1 mi
- Turn left onto 10th Street. 0.1 mi
- At the stop sign, turn right onto Bullion Street. 300 ft
- Turn left onto 11th Street. 450 ft
- At the stop sign, turn right onto Central Yosemite Highway. 0.3 mi
- At the stop sign, turn left onto Golden Chain Highway. 0.5 mi
- Turn right onto Smith Road and return to the DMV. 150 ft
Stage 3: Test-ready loop
Everything together over about 7 miles, including Golden Chain Hwy and Central Yosemite Hwy.
- Length
- 6.8 mi
- Approx. time
- 18 min
- Turns
- 13
- 1 all-way stop
- 9 stop signs
- 2.6 miles of residential streets
- Junctions A and B and C and D and E below, among the busiest for crashes
Open in Google Maps
Send it to your phoneScan to open this route in Google Maps, or open it here.
Google Maps can pick slightly different streets between our stops, so check it against the map here. It works best in the Google Maps app.
Turn-by-turn directions (14 steps)
- Leave the DMV and head southwest on Smith Road. 150 ft
- At the stop sign, turn left onto Golden Chain Highway. 0.5 mi
- At the stop sign, turn right onto Central Yosemite Highway. 0.9 mi
- Turn left onto Miller Road. 1.1 mi
- At the stop sign, turn left onto Old Highway. 100 ft
- At the stop sign, turn left onto Golden Chain Highway. 1.2 mi
- At the stop sign, turn right onto Central Yosemite Highway. 0.2 mi
- Turn right onto 7th Street. 300 ft
- At the stop sign, turn left onto Bullion Street. 0.1 mi
- At the all-way stop, turn right onto 8th Street. 0.1 mi
- At the stop sign, continue onto Old Highway North. 1.2 mi
- At the stop sign, turn left onto Central Yosemite Highway. 0.8 mi
- At the stop sign, turn right onto Golden Chain Highway. 0.5 mi
- Turn right onto Smith Road and return to the DMV. 150 ft
Where the Mariposa DMV drive test can go
Every drive test starts and finishes at the office, so the closer a road is, the more likely you are to drive it. The shading shows how long each road takes to reach from the DMV.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Within a 6-minute drive
- 0sets of traffic lights
- 2all-way stops
- 3schools
Main roads in the area: Central Yosemite Hwy, Golden Chain Hwy and Old Hwy.
Drive times are our estimates from speed limits, with time added for lights and stops. They aren't DMV figures.
Leaving and returning to Mariposa DMV
The parking lot and the first junction are the only parts of the route you can be sure of. The office is on Highway 49-North.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
P
In the parking lot
The test sheet scores how you drive through the lot, so watch for people and cars, keep it slow, and take extra care reversing out of your space.
1
Southwest to Golden Chain Hwy
150 ft along Smith Rd to Golden Chain Highway.
2
East to Central Yosemite Hwy
0.6 mi along Smith Rd to Central Yosemite Highway.
The roads around Mariposa DMV
What you'll be dealing with near the office, counted from map data within 2 miles.
None
Sets of traffic lights
Junctions here are controlled by stop signs, so give way carefully.
2
All-way stops
Stop fully behind the limit line, then go in the order you arrived.
3
Schools
The limit near a school drops to 25 mph when children are around.
None
Railroad crossings
None within 2 miles of the office.
None
Roundabouts
None within 2 miles of the office.
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, downloaded 2026-10-07. Counts cover public roads within 2 miles of the office.
Where to practice each part of the California drive test
The DMV's drive test score sheet (form DL 32) marks you on parking lot driving, backing, intersections, turns, lane changes, and business and residential driving. Here's where to practice near Mariposa DMV.
- Every loop
Parking lot driving
The DMV lot itself, at the start and end of every test - Stage 2
Left turn without lights
From Central Yosemite Hwy onto 5th St, giving way to oncoming traffic - Stage 1
Residential streets
Old Hwy North and the streets around it
Score sheet sections from California DMV form DL 32. Places from OpenStreetMap.
What causes crashes on Mariposa's roads
Recorded causes of the 203 crashes on local roads within 2 miles of the office from 2021 to 2025, leaving out freeways. Unsafe reversing or pulling out and unsafe turn or lane change top the list.
Share of the 180 crashes where a cause was recorded. Other causes made up the remaining 6%. About 15% of these crashes happened after dark. Source: California Crash Reporting System, California Highway Patrol, via data.ca.gov.
Mariposa junctions worth practicing
The junctions within 2 miles of the office with the most crashes from 2021 to 2025. Each one is marked on the practice routes map.
Central Yosemite Hwy and 11th St
6 crashes from 2021 to 2025
Many were sideswipes. Check your mirror and blind spot before changing lanes, and pick your lane early.
Central Yosemite Hwy and 12th St
6 crashes from 2021 to 2025
Most were rear-end crashes. Leave a bigger gap than you think you need, and brake early and smoothly when the lights change.
Central Yosemite Hwy and Golden Chain Hwy
6 crashes from 2021 to 2025
Most were rear-end crashes. Leave a bigger gap than you think you need, and brake early and smoothly when the lights change.
Golden Chain Hwy and 3rd St
6 crashes from 2021 to 2025
Many were sideswipes. Check your mirror and blind spot before changing lanes, and pick your lane early.
Crashes located within about 100 feet of each junction. Source: California Crash Reporting System, California Highway Patrol, via data.ca.gov.
Booked your Mariposa road test?
See routes from real Mariposa tests
Once you're confident on these loops, the Driving Test Routes app has 6 routes recorded from real tests at Mariposa DMV, with turn-by-turn voice directions on your phone.
On a computer?Scan with your phone's camera to get the app.
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Mariposa driving test questions
Where does the Mariposa DMV driving test go?
The DMV doesn't publish its test routes. Every test starts and finishes in the office parking lot, and the roads closest to the office are the ones you're most likely to drive, such as Central Yosemite Hwy, Golden Chain Hwy, Old Hwy. Routes recorded from real Mariposa tests are in the Driving Test Routes app.
Are these the real Mariposa test routes?
No. Our practice routes are loops we planned from Mariposa's street data to cover the skills on the test. They're for practice, not a copy of the DMV's routes.
What do you need to pass the California drive test?
The DMV's score sheet (form DL 32) says you pass with no more than 15 errors on the driving maneuvers and no critical driving errors. Before you set off, you also need no more than 3 errors on the parking brake, arm signals, wipers, defroster, emergency flashers and headlights.
What makes Mariposa's roads tricky for learners?
Within 2 miles of the office, there are almost no traffic lights, so you'll judge gaps at stop signs.
Which junctions near Mariposa DMV have the most crashes?
Central Yosemite Hwy and 6th St (7), Central Yosemite Hwy and 11th St (6), Central Yosemite Hwy and 12th St (6), counting crashes from 2021 to 2025.
How do I book a drive test at Mariposa DMV?
Book online through the California DMV appointments page, choosing Mariposa as your office. Book on the DMV website.
Mariposa DMV office information
Opening hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours can change on holidays. Check the DMV's Mariposa page before you go.
Nearby offices
- Merced DMV31.5 mi
- Madera DMV38.1 mi
- Sonora DMV39.9 mi
Services at Mariposa DMV
- Behind-the-wheel drive tests
- Written knowledge tests
- Driver's license and ID applications
- Replacement documents
- Vehicle registration and renewals
- Title transfers
- License plates
- Disabled parking placards
- Driver and vehicle records