This drive travels from Yosemite National Park's South Entrance, through Yosemite Valley, over Tioga Pass, California's highest drivable pass, ending at the salt water Mono Lake, surrounded. Unfortunately, we got there kind of late that all we had time for was to see the lower falls. Can I take a tour into the Park or a tour while I'm in the Park? San Francisco to Yosemite Road Trip Distance: 180-200 miles depending on the city Time: ~4 hours Directions: San Francisco to Yosemite Valley via HWY 120 Oakland to Yosemite Valley via HWY 120 San Jose to Yosemite Valley via HWY 120 more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Discover live outdoor music during the summer at the historic Groveland Hotel patio and daily wine tastings at the historic Hotel Charlotte, both downtown. To enter via Arch Rock Entrance, you will take I-580 east to I-205 east to Highway 140 east into the park. Hi again Leslie just ask on your thread. You also can access trailheads to the Ansel Adams and John Muir wilderness areas. I dont do well with being close to edges of really high places of any kind. What are good activities for families with children? This year I am driving family from San Francisco to Yosemite Valley Lodge, and then from YVL to Santa Monica and have a few questions about making the drives less terrifying! You can check on current chain requirements for the following roads outside of Yosemite: Highway 41, Highway 120, Highway 140, Highway 88, and US 50. Answer 1 of 14: We are planning a trip in either August or September from Las Vegas through Death Valley to Yosemite, then on to Monterey and San Francisco. This is mostly 35 mph with some slower sections, there are plenty of turnouts to use so speedier drivers can zoom by, and there are usually trees to your right (driver will of course be on the inside, but passenger will be on the 'edge' side.) It is also advisable to drive before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. because it is the best time to drive through the Park, specifically during the busy summer months. I agree with Roadrunners route. We are planning a trip in either August or September from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? This scenic route skirts around the Northern edge of Mariposa County and passes through the lovely towns of Buck Meadows andGroveland. Death Valley is 225 miles and 4-hour and 15 minutes away (depending on where in Death Valley you are). Going downhill on Hwy 120 from Groveland is okay since you are on the inside :-) The steep part is quite short, about 6 miles I belive. Driving from the Bay Area? 3 Is the drive from San Francisco to Yosemite pretty? If the air is clear, this is almost as impressive as the view from Glacier Point. Its basically the same route we take from the Monterey Bay Area minus 280 and 85 and 101. I came to post the same but youre already covered. With that in mind what is best way to get to it from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? more, Yosemite National Park Destination Experts. The 4-hour drive from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park is one of the most scenic in the country, with winding mountain roads that are lined with ancient redwoods. If youre looking for a place to stay, the Wawona Hotel is located on the right side of the road. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-113527132', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Yosemite, I found myself taking SR 140 more and more. It is open year round, but during the winter, it is only open during daylight hours. Welcome to the California Outdoors! This historic Yosemite route follows the old railway tracks. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Re: Driving From San Francisco to Yosemite Is it safe? If you dont have time for a tour, check out the South Tufa area where a 1-mile, self-guided nature trail leads you past tufa formations (towers formed by fresh water springs containing calcium that bubble up through the lake water) along the lake. The journey is impassible during the winter due to snow, as you will be arriving into the park at over 9000 feet elevation. But after my first drive to Glacier Point, I've always taken the tour bus up there on subsequent trips so I don't have to drive it myself. There is another entrance to the park atTioga Pass, which is located on the eastern end of Highway 120. 4 What is the best month to visit Yosemite National Park? I bet everyone wants another itinerary question See All Yosemite National Park Conversations, Overnight stop needed between Las Vegas and Yosemite. The mileage listed above is the one-way complete distance to finish at Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley, but it's certainly possible to do a shorter out-and-back hike. My opinion is that the best route is Hwy 140 to the Arch Rock Entrance. You can get the major sites How should I book my stay inside Yosemite? Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Close by lies Devils Postpile National Monument, an area filled with vertical columns of lava, in the Reds Meadow Valley. Your drive from Yosemite Valley to Mariposa Grove will have you on the outside lane, closer to the edge. :) How much of a chicken. Leaving via 140 is nice too. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-113548034', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');San Francisco if staying in Foresta? This is a very scenic route to Yosemite and probably gives you the most impressive way to enter the park. It is very dramatic this year. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in New Zealand. I was nervous myself driving west to east. Get a free Yosemite National Park trip planner with inspiring itineraries and essential information. *Alternate to 101: Take Hwy 280 all the way through Palo Alto and Los Altos, then 85 to 101 just before you get to San Jose (follow the road signs for Gilroy). ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-113529200', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');San Francisco (I'm picking up hire car in Fisherman's Wharf)? Trip Reports: What have other travelers done in Yosemite? Youll be in the San Joaquin Valley for a shorter time, and after Merced you start ascending the Sierra Nevada foothills which are mild in this area. With that in mind what is best way to get to it from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? She had to stop and wait for me several times because I drove so slow. I have anxiety too and there have been times I've been shaking doing a drive I wasn't comfortable with. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-113528449', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Yosemite Valley has no gas and expensive groceries. Sorry to hijack this thread but what is the best way to enter driving from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? However, with a current California license, you can fish in most area lakes. Dont believe everything Google tells you. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Due to this, you can enjoy the regions beauty in and around Yosemite National Park from the comfort of your vehicle. We were planning on driving 120 but if 140 is better I would like to know. Learn all about Fishing, Camping, Hiking and more right here.Founded by Nick, a bay area resident and dedicated outdoorsmen. on your way to Yosemite. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Thank you PacificNWFamily, ALTippet and Frisco_Roadrunner really, really helpful and I definitely think 140 is the way to go. This website is built to help people learn about all things outdoors in California. Which airport is best for a Yosemite vacation? This historic Yosemite route follows the old railway tracks. The RV Park at Black Oak Casino Resort. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. How should I book my stay inside Yosemite? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-55236805', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Las Vegas through Death Valley to Yosemite, then on to Monterey and San Francisco. I would have loved to see more like the Sequoias. All you have to do is drive, listen and soak in the scenery. It also supplies hydroelectric power. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-113526477', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Yosemite before (from SF, then out towards Death Valley) and remember some of the driving in to be quite hair-raising, with sheer drops/a lack of barriers, tight turns, sharp inclines etc (it was back in 2014 so think I came in via Old Priest Grade Road). The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. *Alternate to 101: Take Hwy 280 all the way through Palo Alto and Los Altos, then 85 to 101 just before you get to San Jose (follow the road signs for Gilroy). Your most direct route to Yosemite is through the Big Oak Flat Entrance or the Arch Rock Entrance, which is located southeast of Big Oak Flat. Access it via 120 and by Evergreen Road. more, Yosemite National Park Destination Experts. Instead, take Hwy 101 through (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Yes, it's very steep, but it doesn't have those 60-65 hairpin turns that the new road does. Alternatively, you may use, Yosemite National Park Hotels and Places to Stay. Well I posted another video finally haha this time I promise I'll be posting more! 28 Steam Engine Train is quite the attraction. Highway 140 will also take you through Midpines Summit and the mining towns of Sherlock, Whitlock and Colorado. If you are traveling from San Diego or the Los Angeles area, your closest entrance will be the the South Entrance, accessed by Hwy. Theres also Tenaya at Yosemite, a gorgeous 350-room resort with a variety of lodging options from cabins and cottages to lodge rooms. You can also call 800/427-7623 for road conditions throughout California (these links and phone number do not provide information about roads within Yosemite). Over the last 20 years of visiting (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? So youre the one I got stuck behind doing 12mph Being the first time and night added to the anxiety Im sure. Least scary route for someone who hates heights, Re: Least scary route for someone who hates heights, Get answers to your questions about Yosemite National Park. Least scary route in and out of Yosemite Valley. That said, it's a good thing you didn't try to drive to Glacier Point. Is the drive from San Francisco to Yosemite pretty? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-113526595', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Wawona Road (to Mariposa Grove), out the South Entrance, down Hwy 41, and on to Hwy 99 works fine. With that in mind what is best way to get to it from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? 2 Where should I stop between San Francisco and Yosemite? Reno is about 140 miles and about a 3-hour drive away from this entrance. While you are there, I recommend that you hike at least to the bridge below Vernal Fall. (Photo by, supplies 2.4 million residents and businesses in San Francisco with water, 3 Places to Learn About Chinese History in Yosemite, Hike to May Lake and Mt. 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