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Is it sensible to attempt a self-drive tour to Yosemite from SF in a day? |
Travel Info I have looked for trips to Yosemite from San Francisco and have found several (including Motorcoach and Amtrak) but I am not convinced that we will get long enough in the park. We have a hire car for the entire duration of our stay so I am now thinking of driving there instead. How long will the drive take approximately, Streets & Trips suggests around 3.5 hours each way, about right? The Grand Tour offerred here sounds great... http://www.yosemitepark.com/activities_g... We could set off from our SF hotel at say 5:00am and join the above tour. Any one know what time this tour would finish and what time we could head back to SF. Does this sound like a sensible plan? Travel Tips I haven鈥檛 been on the Yosemite Grand Tour but I鈥檓 a frequent visitor to the park. Judging by the distances and driving times and the length of the valley floor tour I would estimate that the tour will end somewhere around 6:00 PM. You should allow at least four hours for the drive from San Francisco to Yosemite Valley and you still have to find parking and jump on the shuttle to get to Yosemite Lodge for the start of the tour. To be safe I suggest you allow at least 4.5 hours to be sure you can get to Yosemite Lodge in time for the tour. If you haven鈥檛 been to Yosemite Valley before you may need a little extra time to get oriented. The drive back to San Francisco will take approximate 4 hours. You plan is doable but very ambitious. You鈥檒l have to leave San Francisco at about 4:00 AM and you鈥檒l probably return about 10:00 PM. I highly recommend you spend a couple of nights there if possible. Reservations in Yosemite Valley are very difficult to get on short notice. However, you may be able to get a room in El Portal. The Yosemite View Lodge is located right at the park boundary and Cedar Lodge is located about 5 miles further out. I鈥檝e stayed at both in the past and they are more than adequate for a visit to Yosemite. If you don鈥檛 have the time to spend at least a night in or near Yosemite you might want to scale back your plans. You can do the 10:00 AM Glacier Point tour in the morning and the valley floor tour in the afternoon. You won鈥檛 have to leave San Francisco so early and you鈥檒l get back by 8:00 or 9:00 in the evening. You鈥檒l have to save Wawona and the Mariposa Grove for your next trip to Yosemite I hope everything works out for you. Others There are so many things to see in Yosemite. It does take about 3 and a half to 4 hours to get there from San Francisco....depending on traffic around San Francisco. If you can, I'd try to stay in the park or just outside the park so you could enjoy Yosemite a little more. It really is an awesome place. I think it would be crazy to attempt to see Yosemite in a day and then drive back. It's 3.5 hours to the western gate of the park and then another hour into the valley where the tour starts. Considering the time consumed on the journey to get there, the costs and the short time left to stay there its just not worth it. Your bet bet would be to spend the night in the park or in Groveland or El Portal and then drive back the next day I totally agree that it would be better to spend the night, but if you don't already have reservations for anything inside the park, you'd be out of luck. Perhaps you might drive from SF to a town near Yosemite and spend the night. But again, reservations for summer season will be tricky. Good luck, whatever you do. It's a spectacular park. I guess you could do it but why not make it at least a weekend trip? Drive there Friday, check in & simply take in the wonder. On Saturday, do that Grand Tour (which will give you a good overview) but return to your cabin/hotel that evening. Then head home the following afternoon. If you try to do it all in one day, what you'll remember is all the driving & how tired you were by the time you got home. Give Yosemite a chance to show you its magic. Here's a link to a cabin trip in Yosemite...it's for 6 days but it'll show you all can do there. http://www.tripwiser.com/trip_planner-ca... Have fun! If you drive from SF at 5:00AM you should arrive in the park in about 4 hours or 9:00AM with a 15 minute stop along the way. Leave the park about 5:00 pm and you will be back by 9:00 pm -unless you stop for dinner. It is all doable but you will be tired but it is well worth it. |
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