Add on Alcatraz at checkout. Rome Allison Green is a travel blogger, writer, and podcasterwho grew up in the Bay Area of California.
Getting from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park requires a little bit of planning, but it has a big pay off. Duration: 15 hours (including travel time), Tickets: $189/Adults | $175/Children *Discounts in winter months, Keep driving on I-580 and merge onto I-205, Continue on I-205 and merge onto I-5 for a short while, Drive past Manteca on Hwy 120 and merge onto Hwy 99, After driving past Merced, merge onto Hwy 140, Take Hwy 140 all the way to Yosemite National Park, Take Hwy 120 all the way to Yosemite National Park. However, when you consider the time it takes to actually commute to the airport, check a bag, go through security, and travel by ground on the other side, flying is about as time-consuming as driving the entire distance. This departs from downtown San Francisco to the Emeryville train station. Its better if you have two drivers so you can switch off driving responsibilities if one of yip get tired, but its also manageable to do it yourself if you need to. At the end of the second day, youll be dropped off to meet your train back to San Francisco. The entire journey is about six hours but is stress-free because the service coordinates everything for you and even includes the Yosemite National Park entrance fee.
beach north san francisco italy admin published january italian culture twodaysinsanfrancisco Driving into the park during winterwhere the Sierra Nevada range beginscan be treacherous. 17 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in California, 21 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Los Angeles, 23 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in San Francisco, 1. This route is ideal if you are staying at the Tenaya Lodge, which is accessible by taking Highway 140 to the southern entrance of Yosemite National Park. Prague Climbers scaling the impossibly vertical El Capitan. This guided tour stops at Gold Rush towns on the way to Yosemite and then covers the highlights of Yosemite National Park, including a hike through Tuolumne Grove and a photo-op at Tunnel View with Half Dome in the background. The best time to travel to Yosemite is during May and September, when most things in the park are open (not all things: Tioga Pass sometimes isn't clear enough to open until July and closes in November), but summer crowds aren't at their peak. Camping equipment and fees for tents are included,except for sleeping bags. If you prefer to sleep in while on vacation, something were all guilty of, you can easily book ahotel. If you cant drive, or would prefer not to, but you want to spend more than one day in Yosemite, a shuttle bus is a fantastic option. Budget provides rental cars from a location in downtown San Francisco. Los Angeles Plus, youll have about 3-4 hours in Yosemite Valley to explore at your own pace, enjoying a picnic and seeing the valley floor sights such as the Yosemite Valley Chapel or the Ansel Adams Gallery. But you can takeeither anAmtraktrain or a Greyhoundbus to the town of Merced. Your best bet is to fill your tank at gas stations outside of the city and before you get too close to the park. The Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Day Trip allows you to get the most out of your limited time in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The trip starts out on Highway I-580 east to I-205 east and then continues on Highway 120 east until reaching Yosemite National Park. You can also enjoy the scenic drive to Yosemite from the comfort and privacy of a rental car. Book your semi-independent small group tour of the Yosemite Valley from San Francisco here! Learning about Yosemite's incredible landscape before you go only adds to the sense of amazement when seeing the iconic sites in person. Half Dome and El Capitan are the two world-recognized granite walls that make up that iconic Yosemite scene. Ideally, this would be a guided tour, which eliminates fatigue from the 3+ hour drive youd need to make to reach the Big Oak Flat park entrance at the northernmost edge of the park (and the 4+ hours to reach the valley floor). We always suggest spending at least two days in Yosemite, if you can swing it. New York City On this tour, youll get the chance to see El Capitan, Half Dome, Bridalveil Falls, and Sentinel Dome, Inspiration Point, and so many more wonderful sites. It returns daily from Yosemite Valley to San Francisco at 3 PM. It's always a good idea to check the CalTrans website (or national park alerts) for current road conditions, seeing as many roads in the area are closed during winter. Learn More. canyon kings national sequoia park tour parks
This multi-day Yosemite tour begins from the Amtrak Transbay Terminal in the SOMA neighborhood. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. The YARTS bus, which stops at the airport, can also take you all the way to Yosemite Valley if you don't mind a three-hour bus journey. Sometimes, the best option is the easiest one. See our post on Yosemite bus tours from San Francisco to find out about other tour options. Several tour companies offer day trips from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park. A guided tour from San Francisco to Yosemite isnt the cheapest, but it is definitely the most efficient and the least stressful. You may want to consider a stop in Mariposa, an old mining town with a classic old-fashioned main street and several interesting shops to see. P.S. If you prefer to leave the driving to someone else yet want to explore Yosemite at your own pace, the Yosemite One Way or Round Trip from San Francisco transfer service is the right choice. SEQUOIA HIKE |Thissmall group sequoia hike-focused tour of Yosemiteis a great option for those who want to prioritize seeing the beautiful sequoia groves of this majestic USA national park. Berlin June through August, you can expect major crowds on the trails and in the campsites, not to mention traffic coming into the park. Private guided hikes of Yosemitewill help you get better acquainted with the area so you can go back and explore your favorite parts on your own. The entire journey takes six and a half hours, not including bus wait times. The road enters the park via Arch Rock. Philadelphia Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System offers public transport to and from locations such as Groveland, Mariposa, and Merced. If you are only visiting Yosemite on a day trip, I really recommend going with a guided tour. The best way to get to Yosemite really depends on your personal preferences.
The cheapest way to get from San Francisco to Yosemite is by a series of buses and a train. Briefly, youll merge onto I-5 North; shortly thereafter, youll merge onto CA-120, which will take you all the way to the Yosemite area. This tour operates every day between April and October, and Thursday - Sunday in the winter months. cliff 1900 1980 victorian francisco note san card historical unique See below where we explain YARTS. Paris We've updated our Privacy Policy, which will go in to effect on September 1, 2022. Cross Roads Tours & Limos helps arrange your San Francisco to Yosemite train and reserves your overnight lodging. However, this is the slowest option. The Greyhound bus journey takes over nine hours and includes several stops plus a transfer in Merced. For the most enjoyable experience of Yosemite, we suggest getting there in one of two ways: 1) renting a car or 2) catching a Yosemite bus tour from San Francisco. This is a great place to stop and stretch your legs either before or after a trip to Yosemite National Park. Planning Your Visit to Yosemite: To ensure a fabulous visit to Yosemite National Park, read up about Yosemite's top attractions such as Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and El Capitan.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Youll disembark in Fresno, where you will be shuttled to sleeping accommodations.
document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); California Crossroads is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. If you don't already have a BART ticket or Clipper card, use one of the station's vending machines to purchase a ticket (the fare is about $11 round-trip from San Francisco to Richmond). Jillian Dara is a freelance journalist and fact-checker. Sometimes, you can snag a cheap return flight to Merced from Oakland International Airport, but the drive from Merced to Yosemite Valley is two hours long (on top of the 45-minute flight). In the summer, gasoline is available at Tuolumne Meadows on Tioga Road, too. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. If you like, you can purchase food and beverages inside the park. If you take the scenic route, Merced or Mariposa are good places to stop for gas. Book your Yosemite shuttle bus from San Francisco here! This bus tour is a great way to visit Yosemite for the first time as it takes all of the stress out of figuring it out as it includes all the parks major attractions. Even in a single day, this will give you enough time in Yosemite to get a taste of it barely. It includes stops at Tuolumne Grove to see the giant sequoias with your own eyes, El Capitan, Half Dome, Bridalveil Fall, Tunnel View, and some time in Yosemite Valley, including a lunch break. The fastest way to get to Yosemite from San Francisco is to fly. Extranomical Tours runs several bus tours to Yosemite, including a highly rated one-day tour from San Francisco. From start to finish, you should allow at least six hours for the journey, or more depending on the timing of connections. One thing to consider when planning your Yosemite trip is whether or not you want to do a Yosemite day trip, a weekend in Yosemite, or plan a longer trip where you will do several hikes in different parts of the park (such as Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows). The train is very peaceful, with beautiful scenery and WiFi along the way to enjoy. Weather-permitting, you will be able to take a one-mile Giant Sequoia Walk. lodging groveland stay exoviajes NOTE: City Sightseeing also offers day trips to the Muir Woods, Sausalito, Sonoma Valley, and other locations.
San Francisco The fastest route from San Francisco to Yosemite is via Highway 120. Once at Yosemite, you have 5- 6 hours of free time to explore the park. This is one of the most well-known bus tour companies in the world and they offer an excellent day trip to Yosemite National Park. Whats the Most Scenic Route to Yosemite National Park? If you are renting a car in San Francisco, there are several options. Many hiking trails, roads, viewpoints, and campgrounds are closed for the season and there aren't many people around. The two routes we suggest below are a scenic route via Highway 140 or a faster route viaHighway 120. Book The #1 San Francisco Combo Alcatraz Tour, 5 Unique Ways to Enjoy San Francisco at Night. SMALL GROUP TOUR |Thissmall group guidedday tourof Yosemite includes pickup and drop-off (from either San Francisco or the Dublin BART station if youre located elsewhere in the Bay Area). Top 4 Ways to get from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park: The Yosemite and Giant Sequoias 1-Day Tour from San Francisco is an inspiring 1-day tour to Yosemite National Park and its Giant Sequoias from San Francisco. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. If you want to enjoy the best views on your way to Yosemite National Park, this is the best option. Taking a rented vehicle means you can break up the drive however you like! Depending on how long you are planning to stay in Yosemite National Park, you may want to get a really early start if you drive your own car into Yosemite. Purchase an Amtrak train ticket to Merced, unless you have already purchased a ticket online. Maybe you want to visit other Northern California destinations like Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, or maybe you want to see other Sierra Nevada national parks (Sequoia NP, Kings Canyon NP) along the way perhaps you even want to make your way down to Southern California and Los Angeles and see some of the SoCal national parks as well! dont forget to check out our popular San Francisco tours while you are in town! During lunch, youll have free time to explore on your own before driving back from Yosemite to San Francisco. First, youll take the Amtrak Thruway bus. Youll spend two nights at your campsite and will have Yosemite guided hikes and free time during your stay. Tours typically include round-trip bus service between San Francisco and Yosemite, park entrance fee, and a live guide and/or audio guide. Washington DC. Be cautious, no matter how you arrive, for how winter road closures within and around Yosemite National Park might affect your travels. Britt is a San Francisco Bay Area native, and has spent 25 years in this magical city. However, if you have a large group, a guided tour may be expensive for your entire party. You will have a live guide providing commentary in English. From Merced, you transfer to the YARTS system to get to Yosemite.
2. The BART train ride from San Francisco to Richmond takes about 35 minutes. Highway 140as opposed to the most direct route, 120is by far the most scenic drive into the park and the best way to go if youre visiting for the first time. The El Capitan Shuttle (operating from mid-June until early October) goes to the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center, El Capitan, and the Four Mile trailhead. Besides private bus tour companiessuch as Gray Line and Viatorthat offer day trips to the park from San Francisco, there's no single bus that runs the route directly. These Yosemite tours begin in the heart of San Francisco, near Union Square and Fishermans Wharf. Yosemite is about 170 miles away from San Francisco and about a 4-hour drive. An inspiring one-day tour to Yosemite National Park and its Giant Sequoias from San Francisco. The UNESCO-listed Yosemite National Park is a place of awe-inspiring natural wonders: a majestic glacier-sculpted valley blanketed in flowering meadows and festooned with rushing waterfalls that plunge from granite cliffs. These cookies do not store any personal information. Best Bay Area Tours is our top pick for anyone looking to do a one-day bus tour from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park. Once at the park, you will have a few hours on your own to explore. Below we go into detail about two companies, City Sightseeing and Extranomical Tours. Youll get to see Tuolumne Grove, Tunnel View, Half Dome, the Yosemite Valleyfloor (where you can take a break to hop in the Merced River if the weather allows! Depending on how you choose to get there, travel time will take an average of 3 - 4 hours. Youll can stop at either Merced or Fresno. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This website uses cookies to improve your browsingexperience and analyze the use of the website. YOSEMITE VALLEY|Thissmall group tour focuses on Yosemite Valleywith ample free time to explore Yosemite Valley at your own pace. Boston If you arrive in Merced, you will want to take the Blue line. Yosemite National Park can inspire you to find your new, favorite hangout spot..photo @brianwun #bestbayareatours #yosemitevalley #glacierpoint #halfdome #natgeotravelpic #wildernesssociety #hike #exploretheworld #yosemiteconservancy #peoplewhodofunstuff #menofoutdoors #yosemitenation #naturelovers #ourwild #gopro_epic #goprophotography #goprohero4 #seetheearth #wander #vertigoclub #goprorealm #goprouniverse, A post shared by Best Bay Area Tours (@bestbayareatours) on May 8, 2017 at 10:07pm PDT. Here are 4 ways to get to Yosemite from San Francisco that involve a car rental or transportation and tour by a local operator. Then, youll go from Emeryville through the scenic San Joaquin Valley for several hours. Use this link to Google Maps for directions from your exact point of departure in San Francisco. Ticket prices typically range from about $140-$150 for a full-day outing and services are usually limited during the winter. Driving from San Francisco to Yosemite also has the benefit of you having your own personal car for transit within the park, which allows you to visit all the far-flung areas of the park and get out of the clusterf*** that can be the Yosemite Valleyfloor. Tickets: $189.99/Adults | $164.99/Children. However, in doing that, you skip the opportunity to see the giant sequoias, so keep that trade-off in mind. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The tour includes hotel pick up at hotels in Downtown San Francisco and the Fishermans Wharf area. Sign up to receive our monthly newsletter filled with San Francisco travel tips and occasional discounts on tours and rentals. Merced County Transit's public bus will pick you up from the Roger K. Fall Transit Center and drop you off at Merced Transpo bus stop (a one-hour ride), where you can get the final Yosemite Area Regional Transportation (YARTS) bus two hours and 45 minutes to Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. Defined by its towering granite cliffs, giant sequoia groves, and plunging waterfalls, Yosemite National Park is a natural oasis just 155 miles (249 kilometers) east of San Francisco. However, I only recommend this if you have 3 or more days in Yosemite as the travel time required for this type of trip is definitely longer than other ways of reaching Yosemite National Park from SF. With several rental car services, youll also have the option to reserve a car rental that you can drop off near Yosemite. Its open most of the time and passes through the towns of Mariposa and Fish Camp.
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Youll be able to visit Inspiration Point, Bridal Veil Falls, Yosemite Falls, and other notable spots. Here the Stanislaus River Parks in the Knights Ferry Recreation Area beckon outdoor lovers, hikers, kayaking enthusiasts, and white water rafting thrill seekers. Betsy has been writing about California for nearly more than two decades as TripSavvy's expert on the state. See our post on things to do at Yosemite National Park to plan your free time. There, youll connect to a YARTS bus. As fun as that one day tour is, we definitely think travelers should consider this 3-day camping trip as a unique way of seeing Yosemite. You will have a few hours of free time inside the park for you to explore. Yosemite National Park is approximately 167 miles east of San Francisco. Getting from San Francisco to Yosemite by train requires the willingness to go on a public transportation adventure involving multiple legs of travel: a BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) train ride, then an Amtrak train trip, and finally a bus ride. From there, you can walk to the Iron Horse Parkway bus stop and catch the SmaRT BART Commuter bus to Roger K. Fall Transit Center ($2) two hours away. The San Francisco to Yosemite shuttle bus departs once a day, leaving from San Francisco at 5:40 AM. That way, youll arrive at the northern gate (Big Oak Flat Entrance) at 7 AM or 8 AM, and you will have missed any traffic. We promise you will leave San Francisco with many stories, laughs and legendary photos to share with your friends. We recommend five of the best ways to get from San Francisco to Yosemite, along with the considerations you should keep in mind with each option. Every year, the 1,200-square-mile park attracts millions of visitors who come here to go camping, hiking, climbing, or just to admire the scenery. It's also easy to travel from San Francisco to Yosemite by car, and it's feasible to get there by train or bus. Winter in Yosemite National Park, while beautiful, is a different experience entirely. The next morning youll join a small shuttle bus to explore parts of Yosemite normally closed off to bigger tour buses.
Getting from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park requires a little bit of planning, but it has a big pay off. Duration: 15 hours (including travel time), Tickets: $189/Adults | $175/Children *Discounts in winter months, Keep driving on I-580 and merge onto I-205, Continue on I-205 and merge onto I-5 for a short while, Drive past Manteca on Hwy 120 and merge onto Hwy 99, After driving past Merced, merge onto Hwy 140, Take Hwy 140 all the way to Yosemite National Park, Take Hwy 120 all the way to Yosemite National Park. However, when you consider the time it takes to actually commute to the airport, check a bag, go through security, and travel by ground on the other side, flying is about as time-consuming as driving the entire distance. This departs from downtown San Francisco to the Emeryville train station. Its better if you have two drivers so you can switch off driving responsibilities if one of yip get tired, but its also manageable to do it yourself if you need to. At the end of the second day, youll be dropped off to meet your train back to San Francisco. The entire journey is about six hours but is stress-free because the service coordinates everything for you and even includes the Yosemite National Park entrance fee.
beach north san francisco italy admin published january italian culture twodaysinsanfrancisco Driving into the park during winterwhere the Sierra Nevada range beginscan be treacherous. 17 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in California, 21 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Los Angeles, 23 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in San Francisco, 1. This route is ideal if you are staying at the Tenaya Lodge, which is accessible by taking Highway 140 to the southern entrance of Yosemite National Park. Prague Climbers scaling the impossibly vertical El Capitan. This guided tour stops at Gold Rush towns on the way to Yosemite and then covers the highlights of Yosemite National Park, including a hike through Tuolumne Grove and a photo-op at Tunnel View with Half Dome in the background. The best time to travel to Yosemite is during May and September, when most things in the park are open (not all things: Tioga Pass sometimes isn't clear enough to open until July and closes in November), but summer crowds aren't at their peak. Camping equipment and fees for tents are included,except for sleeping bags. If you prefer to sleep in while on vacation, something were all guilty of, you can easily book ahotel. If you cant drive, or would prefer not to, but you want to spend more than one day in Yosemite, a shuttle bus is a fantastic option. Budget provides rental cars from a location in downtown San Francisco. Los Angeles Plus, youll have about 3-4 hours in Yosemite Valley to explore at your own pace, enjoying a picnic and seeing the valley floor sights such as the Yosemite Valley Chapel or the Ansel Adams Gallery. But you can takeeither anAmtraktrain or a Greyhoundbus to the town of Merced. Your best bet is to fill your tank at gas stations outside of the city and before you get too close to the park. The Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Day Trip allows you to get the most out of your limited time in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The trip starts out on Highway I-580 east to I-205 east and then continues on Highway 120 east until reaching Yosemite National Park. You can also enjoy the scenic drive to Yosemite from the comfort and privacy of a rental car. Book your semi-independent small group tour of the Yosemite Valley from San Francisco here! Learning about Yosemite's incredible landscape before you go only adds to the sense of amazement when seeing the iconic sites in person. Half Dome and El Capitan are the two world-recognized granite walls that make up that iconic Yosemite scene. Ideally, this would be a guided tour, which eliminates fatigue from the 3+ hour drive youd need to make to reach the Big Oak Flat park entrance at the northernmost edge of the park (and the 4+ hours to reach the valley floor). We always suggest spending at least two days in Yosemite, if you can swing it. New York City On this tour, youll get the chance to see El Capitan, Half Dome, Bridalveil Falls, and Sentinel Dome, Inspiration Point, and so many more wonderful sites. It returns daily from Yosemite Valley to San Francisco at 3 PM. It's always a good idea to check the CalTrans website (or national park alerts) for current road conditions, seeing as many roads in the area are closed during winter. Learn More. canyon kings national sequoia park tour parks
This multi-day Yosemite tour begins from the Amtrak Transbay Terminal in the SOMA neighborhood. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. The YARTS bus, which stops at the airport, can also take you all the way to Yosemite Valley if you don't mind a three-hour bus journey. Sometimes, the best option is the easiest one. See our post on Yosemite bus tours from San Francisco to find out about other tour options. Several tour companies offer day trips from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park. A guided tour from San Francisco to Yosemite isnt the cheapest, but it is definitely the most efficient and the least stressful. You may want to consider a stop in Mariposa, an old mining town with a classic old-fashioned main street and several interesting shops to see. P.S. If you prefer to leave the driving to someone else yet want to explore Yosemite at your own pace, the Yosemite One Way or Round Trip from San Francisco transfer service is the right choice. SEQUOIA HIKE |Thissmall group sequoia hike-focused tour of Yosemiteis a great option for those who want to prioritize seeing the beautiful sequoia groves of this majestic USA national park. Berlin June through August, you can expect major crowds on the trails and in the campsites, not to mention traffic coming into the park. Private guided hikes of Yosemitewill help you get better acquainted with the area so you can go back and explore your favorite parts on your own. The entire journey takes six and a half hours, not including bus wait times. The road enters the park via Arch Rock. Philadelphia Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System offers public transport to and from locations such as Groveland, Mariposa, and Merced. If you are only visiting Yosemite on a day trip, I really recommend going with a guided tour. The best way to get to Yosemite really depends on your personal preferences. The cheapest way to get from San Francisco to Yosemite is by a series of buses and a train. Briefly, youll merge onto I-5 North; shortly thereafter, youll merge onto CA-120, which will take you all the way to the Yosemite area. This tour operates every day between April and October, and Thursday - Sunday in the winter months. cliff 1900 1980 victorian francisco note san card historical unique See below where we explain YARTS. Paris We've updated our Privacy Policy, which will go in to effect on September 1, 2022. Cross Roads Tours & Limos helps arrange your San Francisco to Yosemite train and reserves your overnight lodging. However, this is the slowest option. The Greyhound bus journey takes over nine hours and includes several stops plus a transfer in Merced. For the most enjoyable experience of Yosemite, we suggest getting there in one of two ways: 1) renting a car or 2) catching a Yosemite bus tour from San Francisco. This is a great place to stop and stretch your legs either before or after a trip to Yosemite National Park. Planning Your Visit to Yosemite: To ensure a fabulous visit to Yosemite National Park, read up about Yosemite's top attractions such as Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and El Capitan.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Youll disembark in Fresno, where you will be shuttled to sleeping accommodations.
document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); California Crossroads is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. If you don't already have a BART ticket or Clipper card, use one of the station's vending machines to purchase a ticket (the fare is about $11 round-trip from San Francisco to Richmond). Jillian Dara is a freelance journalist and fact-checker. Sometimes, you can snag a cheap return flight to Merced from Oakland International Airport, but the drive from Merced to Yosemite Valley is two hours long (on top of the 45-minute flight). In the summer, gasoline is available at Tuolumne Meadows on Tioga Road, too. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. If you like, you can purchase food and beverages inside the park. If you take the scenic route, Merced or Mariposa are good places to stop for gas. Book your Yosemite shuttle bus from San Francisco here! This bus tour is a great way to visit Yosemite for the first time as it takes all of the stress out of figuring it out as it includes all the parks major attractions. Even in a single day, this will give you enough time in Yosemite to get a taste of it barely. It includes stops at Tuolumne Grove to see the giant sequoias with your own eyes, El Capitan, Half Dome, Bridalveil Fall, Tunnel View, and some time in Yosemite Valley, including a lunch break. The fastest way to get to Yosemite from San Francisco is to fly. Extranomical Tours runs several bus tours to Yosemite, including a highly rated one-day tour from San Francisco. From start to finish, you should allow at least six hours for the journey, or more depending on the timing of connections. One thing to consider when planning your Yosemite trip is whether or not you want to do a Yosemite day trip, a weekend in Yosemite, or plan a longer trip where you will do several hikes in different parts of the park (such as Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows). The train is very peaceful, with beautiful scenery and WiFi along the way to enjoy. Weather-permitting, you will be able to take a one-mile Giant Sequoia Walk. lodging groveland stay exoviajes NOTE: City Sightseeing also offers day trips to the Muir Woods, Sausalito, Sonoma Valley, and other locations. San Francisco The fastest route from San Francisco to Yosemite is via Highway 120. Once at Yosemite, you have 5- 6 hours of free time to explore the park. This is one of the most well-known bus tour companies in the world and they offer an excellent day trip to Yosemite National Park. Whats the Most Scenic Route to Yosemite National Park? If you are renting a car in San Francisco, there are several options. Many hiking trails, roads, viewpoints, and campgrounds are closed for the season and there aren't many people around. The two routes we suggest below are a scenic route via Highway 140 or a faster route viaHighway 120. Book The #1 San Francisco Combo Alcatraz Tour, 5 Unique Ways to Enjoy San Francisco at Night. SMALL GROUP TOUR |Thissmall group guidedday tourof Yosemite includes pickup and drop-off (from either San Francisco or the Dublin BART station if youre located elsewhere in the Bay Area). Top 4 Ways to get from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park: The Yosemite and Giant Sequoias 1-Day Tour from San Francisco is an inspiring 1-day tour to Yosemite National Park and its Giant Sequoias from San Francisco. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. If you want to enjoy the best views on your way to Yosemite National Park, this is the best option. Taking a rented vehicle means you can break up the drive however you like! Depending on how long you are planning to stay in Yosemite National Park, you may want to get a really early start if you drive your own car into Yosemite. Purchase an Amtrak train ticket to Merced, unless you have already purchased a ticket online. Maybe you want to visit other Northern California destinations like Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, or maybe you want to see other Sierra Nevada national parks (Sequoia NP, Kings Canyon NP) along the way perhaps you even want to make your way down to Southern California and Los Angeles and see some of the SoCal national parks as well! dont forget to check out our popular San Francisco tours while you are in town! During lunch, youll have free time to explore on your own before driving back from Yosemite to San Francisco. First, youll take the Amtrak Thruway bus. Youll spend two nights at your campsite and will have Yosemite guided hikes and free time during your stay. Tours typically include round-trip bus service between San Francisco and Yosemite, park entrance fee, and a live guide and/or audio guide. Washington DC. Be cautious, no matter how you arrive, for how winter road closures within and around Yosemite National Park might affect your travels. Britt is a San Francisco Bay Area native, and has spent 25 years in this magical city. However, if you have a large group, a guided tour may be expensive for your entire party. You will have a live guide providing commentary in English. From Merced, you transfer to the YARTS system to get to Yosemite.
2. The BART train ride from San Francisco to Richmond takes about 35 minutes. Highway 140as opposed to the most direct route, 120is by far the most scenic drive into the park and the best way to go if youre visiting for the first time. The El Capitan Shuttle (operating from mid-June until early October) goes to the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center, El Capitan, and the Four Mile trailhead. Besides private bus tour companiessuch as Gray Line and Viatorthat offer day trips to the park from San Francisco, there's no single bus that runs the route directly. These Yosemite tours begin in the heart of San Francisco, near Union Square and Fishermans Wharf. Yosemite is about 170 miles away from San Francisco and about a 4-hour drive. An inspiring one-day tour to Yosemite National Park and its Giant Sequoias from San Francisco. The UNESCO-listed Yosemite National Park is a place of awe-inspiring natural wonders: a majestic glacier-sculpted valley blanketed in flowering meadows and festooned with rushing waterfalls that plunge from granite cliffs. These cookies do not store any personal information. Best Bay Area Tours is our top pick for anyone looking to do a one-day bus tour from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park. Once at the park, you will have a few hours on your own to explore. Below we go into detail about two companies, City Sightseeing and Extranomical Tours. Youll get to see Tuolumne Grove, Tunnel View, Half Dome, the Yosemite Valleyfloor (where you can take a break to hop in the Merced River if the weather allows! Depending on how you choose to get there, travel time will take an average of 3 - 4 hours. Youll can stop at either Merced or Fresno. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This website uses cookies to improve your browsingexperience and analyze the use of the website. YOSEMITE VALLEY|Thissmall group tour focuses on Yosemite Valleywith ample free time to explore Yosemite Valley at your own pace. Boston If you arrive in Merced, you will want to take the Blue line. Yosemite National Park can inspire you to find your new, favorite hangout spot..photo @brianwun #bestbayareatours #yosemitevalley #glacierpoint #halfdome #natgeotravelpic #wildernesssociety #hike #exploretheworld #yosemiteconservancy #peoplewhodofunstuff #menofoutdoors #yosemitenation #naturelovers #ourwild #gopro_epic #goprophotography #goprohero4 #seetheearth #wander #vertigoclub #goprorealm #goprouniverse, A post shared by Best Bay Area Tours (@bestbayareatours) on May 8, 2017 at 10:07pm PDT. Here are 4 ways to get to Yosemite from San Francisco that involve a car rental or transportation and tour by a local operator. Then, youll go from Emeryville through the scenic San Joaquin Valley for several hours. Use this link to Google Maps for directions from your exact point of departure in San Francisco. Ticket prices typically range from about $140-$150 for a full-day outing and services are usually limited during the winter. Driving from San Francisco to Yosemite also has the benefit of you having your own personal car for transit within the park, which allows you to visit all the far-flung areas of the park and get out of the clusterf*** that can be the Yosemite Valleyfloor. Tickets: $189.99/Adults | $164.99/Children. However, in doing that, you skip the opportunity to see the giant sequoias, so keep that trade-off in mind. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The tour includes hotel pick up at hotels in Downtown San Francisco and the Fishermans Wharf area. Sign up to receive our monthly newsletter filled with San Francisco travel tips and occasional discounts on tours and rentals. Merced County Transit's public bus will pick you up from the Roger K. Fall Transit Center and drop you off at Merced Transpo bus stop (a one-hour ride), where you can get the final Yosemite Area Regional Transportation (YARTS) bus two hours and 45 minutes to Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. Defined by its towering granite cliffs, giant sequoia groves, and plunging waterfalls, Yosemite National Park is a natural oasis just 155 miles (249 kilometers) east of San Francisco. However, I only recommend this if you have 3 or more days in Yosemite as the travel time required for this type of trip is definitely longer than other ways of reaching Yosemite National Park from SF. With several rental car services, youll also have the option to reserve a car rental that you can drop off near Yosemite. Its open most of the time and passes through the towns of Mariposa and Fish Camp. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website.
Youll be able to visit Inspiration Point, Bridal Veil Falls, Yosemite Falls, and other notable spots. Here the Stanislaus River Parks in the Knights Ferry Recreation Area beckon outdoor lovers, hikers, kayaking enthusiasts, and white water rafting thrill seekers. Betsy has been writing about California for nearly more than two decades as TripSavvy's expert on the state. See our post on things to do at Yosemite National Park to plan your free time. There, youll connect to a YARTS bus. As fun as that one day tour is, we definitely think travelers should consider this 3-day camping trip as a unique way of seeing Yosemite. You will have a few hours of free time inside the park for you to explore. Yosemite National Park is approximately 167 miles east of San Francisco. Getting from San Francisco to Yosemite by train requires the willingness to go on a public transportation adventure involving multiple legs of travel: a BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) train ride, then an Amtrak train trip, and finally a bus ride. From there, you can walk to the Iron Horse Parkway bus stop and catch the SmaRT BART Commuter bus to Roger K. Fall Transit Center ($2) two hours away. The San Francisco to Yosemite shuttle bus departs once a day, leaving from San Francisco at 5:40 AM. That way, youll arrive at the northern gate (Big Oak Flat Entrance) at 7 AM or 8 AM, and you will have missed any traffic. We promise you will leave San Francisco with many stories, laughs and legendary photos to share with your friends. We recommend five of the best ways to get from San Francisco to Yosemite, along with the considerations you should keep in mind with each option. Every year, the 1,200-square-mile park attracts millions of visitors who come here to go camping, hiking, climbing, or just to admire the scenery. It's also easy to travel from San Francisco to Yosemite by car, and it's feasible to get there by train or bus. Winter in Yosemite National Park, while beautiful, is a different experience entirely. The next morning youll join a small shuttle bus to explore parts of Yosemite normally closed off to bigger tour buses.