Eden Fite

Are you planning a San Francisco to Yosemite road trip and looking for some fun stops along the way?

If so, this easy San Francisco to Yosemite National Park itinerary will help you add a little adventure to the relatively short drive.

Let’s get started.

San Francisco to Yosemite Road Trip

This San Francisco to Yosemite road trip itinerary will take you from the Bay Area to the park in one day, stops included.

The drive to Yosemite from San Francisco is only about 3 hours and 20 minutes. This itinerary includes three stops intended to show you a few interesting things along the way that you otherwise may have missed.

However, for those short on time or just anxious to get to Yosemite, you can easily make this drive without stops.

Stop 1: San Francisco

You’re lucky to be starting in San Francisco, which is one heck of a fun city. If this is your first visit to the city, I recommend spending a few days here before moving on to Yosemite.

However, no matter how much time you spend exploring San Francisco, there will always be more to see.

I used to live just south of San Francisco so I’ve spent a lot of time in this city. Here are a few of the things I like to do in San Francisco over the course of a day:

• Get brunch and mimosas at one of the city’s popular breakfast spots.
• Spend the early afternoon in Golden Gate Park or at the Academy of Sciences.
• In the late afternoon I’ll do a little shopping near Powell and Market Streets.
• After shopping I’ll hop on the cable car to head down to Fisherman’s Wharf.
• From Fisherman’s Wharf I’ll make my way over to the Buena Vista for Irish Coffees.
• After a few too many Irish Coffees I’ll head up to North Beach and enjoy the sunset from Coit Tower.
• After sunset, I’ll make my way over to the Mission to have dinner and drinks at one of the neighborhood’s many trendy restaurants.
• At night, I’ll try to catch a show somewhere, either live music or a movie.

This is just one example of a day I would have in the city, but there’s so much to see and do in San Francisco.

You may also wish to consider a drive over the Golden Gate Bridge, walking along Haight Street for thrift shopping, or biking along the Embarcadero.

Stop 2: Oakland

Yes, I am including Oakland in this itinerary even though it’s just over the bridge. Why you ask? Because it’s technically on the the way between SF and Yosemite, and also because I think Oakland is often overlooked but has a lot to offer.

If you’re up early, head across the bridge to get brunch at The Gastropig in downtown Oakland. They have a pork centric menu but also plenty of vegetarian options as well. You can also get beer, mimosas, and ciders.

After breakfast, make the short 10 minute drive over to Jack London Square. Here you can enjoy a walk along the waterfront. If you have a little extra time, consider renting a kayak or canoe to take out on the water.

• Next Stop: Oakdale
• Drive Time: 90 minutes

Stop 3: Oakdale

You’ll come across Oakdale about 90 minutes east of downtown Oakland where the 120 and 108 highways intersect.

Oakdale goes by the self-proclaimed title of Cowboy Capital of the World due to its history as an Old West town.

One of the main attractions in Oakdale is the city’s Cowboy Musuem where you can see exhibits about the region’s Old West heritage. If you’re into Old West history, The Cowboy Musuem is worth a quick stop.

Oakdale also sits along the Stanislaus River, so its a popular spot for river rafting and kayaking. Sunshine Rafting or River Journey can help with your rafting or kayaking adventure. Both companies offer trips for about $35 to $40 depending on the day and size of your group.

If you plan to stay in town until dinner and want to try something a little different, consider making a reservation for the Sierra Dinner Train.

You’ll get to enjoy a round trip ride on the historic River Fox Train while enjoying dinner and drinks. There are also special event nights for the holidays, beer nights, and murder mystery nights.

• Next Stop: Groveland
• Driving Time: 55 minutes

Stop 4: Groveland

Located about 55 minutes east of Oakdale you’ll find Groveland. The town of Groveland is famous for its Iron Door Saloon, reportedly California’s oldest saloon.

According to the saloon’s website, the Iron Door Saloon was built sometime before 1852. Since that time it has operated as both a saloon and at times, a brothel. It is reported the saloon also operated illegally during Prohibition.

Today, the Iron Door Saloon is a popular stop for travelers on the way to Yosemite. They serve draft beer, cocktails, and mimosas and are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You’ll find breakfast burritos, burgers, wings, and appetizers on the menu.

The Iron Door Saloon also has live music on some nights of the week.

Besides the Iron Door Saloon, the only other activity I would recommend in Groveland would be to go swimming in the Rainbow Pool.

The Rainbow Pool is a natural swimming hole in Stanislaus National Forest located about 17 minutes east of Groveland along Highway 120.

• Next Stop: Yosemite National Park
• Driving Time: 30 minutes

Stop 5: Yosemite National Park

You’ve made it!

Yosemite has been my favorite of the national parks since my first visit back in 1999. Since that time, I’ve returned multiple times and recommend it as a destination to anyone traveling to northern California.

If you’ve been to Yosemite before, then you already know what I’m talking about. If this is your first visit, I just know you’re going to love it.

No matter how many days you have to enjoy and explore Yosemite, it will be totally worth the drive, I promise.

Some of my favorite things to do in Yosemite are to visit the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, enjoy sunrise at Tunnel View, sit and watch Yosemite Falls, hike out to Mirror Lake, or take the park road up to Glacier Point in the late afternoon.

If hiking isn’t your thing, you can see a lot of this park on a Yosemite Road Trip within the park itself. In fact, I think you actually get to see even more of the park if you use your car to get around from place to place.

If you’re visiting during the summer months, be sure to take a drive along the Tioga Pass. Not many people do this and its absolutely stunning.

For those that don’t feel like driving around the park, you can also take one of the tram tours offered in the park.

I’ve personally taken the Valley Floor tour which I definitely recommend. They also offer a Glacier Point tour as well, and probably a few others.

No matter what you decide to do while in Yosemite, this is one of the most beautiful road trips you’ll ever take, so just enjoy it.

Other popular stops close to Yosemite

If you plan to continue your road trip, here are the driving times to popular nearby attractions.

• Lake Tahoe – 5 hours
• Big Sur – 4 hours 10 minutes
• Sequoia National Park – 2 hours 45 minutes
• Death Valley National Park – 6 hours
• Joshua Tree National Park – 6 hours 20 minutes
• Grand Canyon National Park – 11 hours
• Zion National Park – 10 hours

I hope you’ve enjoyed this San Francisco to Yosemite Road Trip itinerary and that you’ve found it useful in planning a trip of your own. If you would like to support this blog please consider sharing this post. Thanks for reading.

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links on this page may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to supporting this site.

Looking to tackle a Yosemite from San Diego road trip? Perfect, I’ve got you covered.

I’ve been living in Southern California for about 15 years and have been to Yosemite many times. In fact, it’s my favorite destination in the state. If you’ve never been, you’re in for quite the surprise.

If you’re going to be driving to Yosemite from San Diego, you’ll want to break that drive up a bit to make things more interesting. You’re in luck though, because there’s tons of cool stuff to see along the way.

Let me show you what I mean.

San Diego to Yosemite Road Trip

Before we get to my itinerary, I just want to explain how I’m writing this post.

If you’re going to be driving from San Diego to Yosemite, then back again, it would be a lot more fun if you took a different route on the way back.

So I’m just going to assume you’re down for a good time, and I’m going to assemble this itinerary exactly how I would do it.

If you’re short on time or a particular stop doesn’t interest you, no problem. Just skip what you don’t like. This is your road trip, make it your own.

How long is the drive from San Diego to Yosemite?

The drive from San Diego to Yosemite is 7 hours. This is if you make the drive straight without stopping along the way.

However, if you’re already down for the adventure of a Yosemite National Park visit, you might as well make a fun road trip out of it.

I recommend completing this San Diego to Yosemite road trip in anywhere from four to seven days, depending on how long you plan to spend in the park.

Stop 1: San Diego

So we’re starting off this Yosemite from San Diego road trip in none other than, sunny San Diego.

Having lived in Los Angeles for the past 15 years, I’ve grown to love frequent weekend trips down to San Diego.

If this will be your first time in San Diego, I recommend exploring any and all of the following destinations:

• The Gaslamp
• Old Town
• Barrio Logan
• Balboa Park
• Coronado
• La Jolla

I could go on listing a hundred other things, but I think that list is a good start. My personal favorite is Old Town. I love to walk around the park in the evening and stop by the Whaley House and El Campo Santo Cemetery (they are both haunted!).

Then afterwards I like to go to dinner at Casa de Reyes. They have live music and an outdoor patio. It’s a really fun spot to be on the weekends.

Stop 2: Los Angeles

As I mentioned above, I’ve lived in Los Angeles for 15 years. I’ll be the first to admit, LA is a love it or hate it kind of town.

If you’ve never been to Los Angeles before, I recommend sticking to the classics. Here are my suggestions on what is worth seeing:

• Santa Monica Pier
• Venice
• Sunset Strip (for cocktails)
• The Griffith Observatory
• Downtown Arts District

Those are my personal favorite spots in LA. If you’ve got just one night in Los Angeles, I would stay near the beaches and explore that side of town first.

Step 3: Sequoia National Park

If you’ve never been before, Sequoia National Park makes a perfect side trip on your way to Yosemite.

Sequoia’s biggest attraction is its General Sherman Tree, which is reported to be the largest living single stem tree on Earth. The General Sherman Tree is estimated to be over 52,000 cubic feet by volume and between 2,300 to 2,700 years old.

Getting a picture with the tree is a popular idea, so there’s usually a line for pictures. During my visit in 2017, the line was only about a 10 to 15 minute wait.

Besides the big tree, Sequoia is also a popular park for hiking. You’ll find hundreds of miles of trails around the park.

Sequoia is also right next to Kings Canyon National Park, so you can actually explore both parts simultaneously.

More information on the Sequoia hiking trails can be found on the park’s website.

Stop 4: Yosemite National Park

Like I said in the beginning, if you’ve never been to Yosemite before, you’re in for a beautiful surprise.

Yosemite is home to some of the most stunning landscape in the United States. You’ll get to see massive rock formations, waterfalls, and tons of wildlife.

As you enter the park, be sure to make a quick stop at the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias before heading towards Yosemite Valley. This is where you’ll see all the giant trees. They’re quite impressive to see in person and worth the extra stop.

After you’ve seen all the big trees you can handle, hop back into the car and head towards the Tunnel View Lookout. This is a perfect place to get photos so take your time and enjoy the view.

Once you find yourself into Yosemite Valley, get checked into your lodging before heading back out to explore the park. (Information on Yosemite hotels and lodging is located at the bottom of this post.)

Once you’re ready to get back to exploring, here are my favorite things to do in Yosemite:

• Swimming or tubing in the Merced River
• Taking a valley tour to Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite Falls, and El Capitan
• Hiking the Mist Trail
• Hiking out to Mirror Lake
• Catching a Tunnel View sunrise
• Stargazing on a clear night
• Take Glacier Point Road up to Glacier Point

If you’re the kind of person who likes to do it all in one trip, you can see the majority of these places by completing my Yosemite Road Trip Itinerary. That post also features some extra tips for visiting the park.

No matter what you decide to do during your visit to Yosemite, I hope you enjoy this park as much as I do. I also hope you’ll decide to come back again one day to see some more. I promise, it never gets old.

Stop 5: San Francisco

Having lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for about five years during my college years, this town will always have a special place in my heart. In fact, if I could afford it, I’d probably live here.

But, if you’re just stopping by, you’ve got plenty of options. If you’re planning to spend the night in the city, then I recommend picking a fun neighborhood to stay in and explore, like the Mission or North Beach.

If you’re just stopping by for the day, pick one place you’ve never seen before (Golden Gate Bridge, Haigh-Ashbury, Golden Gate Park, etc.), then find a fun spot for lunch nearby.

There’s plenty of great food in San Francisco, so it won’t be hard to find.

Stop 6: Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is best known for its hippie vibe and famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. I have yet to experience the boardwalk but hear its a fun place.

Santa Cruz is also a popular college town, so its got plenty of spots to keep you entertained in the evenings. Head to the city’s downtown area for record shops, thrift stores, local concert venues, and bars.

Stop 7: Monterey

Monterey is a beautiful beach side town known for its Cannery Row, Old Fisherman’s Wharf and the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium.

If you have an hour or two to spare, you really should go inside the aquarium. It’s one of the best in the world. Plus, they have penguins. Lots of penguins.

Besides the aquarium and beaches, Monterey is also home to tons of great restaurants and wineries. If you like upscale Italian, I recommend Mezzaluna Pasteria and Mozzarella Bar.

Stop 8: Big Sur

In my opinion, Big Sur is home to the most beautiful stretch of coastline on the planet. It’s gorgeous.

As you’re driving south on the Pacific Coast Highway, you’ll see dozens of turnouts on the side of the road. Take advantage of these and admire the views.

Some of the biggest attractions in Big Sur are Julia Pfieffer Burns State Park and Bixby Creek Bridge (pictured above). If you don’t have time for the park, at least stop for a photo and to admire the view at the Bixby Bridge.

9. San Simeon

San Simeon is home to the Elephant Seal Lookout and is an easy and fun stop on your Yosemite from San Diego road trip.

This is one of my own favorite stops since I’m such an animal lover.

There is a huge parking lot so you’ll have plenty of space for parking. Once you park your car walk over to the lookout (to the left when facing the ocean).

If you walk all the way to the end of the boardwalk, you’ll usually find a dozen or so Elephant Seals laying around in the sand.

Actually, you’ll usually hear them before you see them. Elephant Seals are loud.

If you stick around for a while, you might even get to see them fighting. This is a common and natural behavior of Elephant Seals, and it’s pretty cool to watch. This occurs mostly from November to January during mating season (go figure!).

10. Solvang

I recommend Solvang as the last stop on your San Diego to Yosemite National Park road trip because it’s quirky, and a bit more interesting than having you stop at yet another beach.

Solvang is a Danish inpired town with Danish style architecture, shops, and restaurants.

Solvang makes an excellent late afternoon stop. I recommend walking around in the city center to check out the local shops and candy stores.

If you’re hungry, pop into one of the local Danish restaurants. For a quick, yet delicious option, I recommend Copenhagen Sausage Garden.

Solvang is also a popular location for wineries and tasting rooms. After lunch, head to one of the local winery tasting rooms and sample a flight. If you like what you find, pick up a bottle to bring back with you to San Diego.

Where to stay on your San Diego to Yosemite Road Trip

I’m including my personal recommendations for hotels in each destination as you make your way to Yosemite from San Diego.

These hotel recommendations are based on price, quality, and location. I try to book the nicest hotel I can find that’s as close to the action as I can afford.

Here’s my list:

Hotel in San Diego

• Hotel Indigo: This is a cute pet-friendly hotel located in the Gaslamp Quarter. You’ll be in the center of the city and walking distance to great bars and restaurants.

Hotel in Los Angeles

• The Standard: This is a quirky hotel located on the Sunset Strip. This hotel is a total scene in and of itself, and you’ll be walking distance to all the best bars and restaurants.

Hotel near Sequoia/Fresno

If you’re going to visit Sequoia before Yosemite, I recommend driving back to Fresno for the night.

This way in the morning you can stock up on supplies and snacks before making the drive to the park’s south entrance.

• SpringHill Suites by Marriott: This hotel is right off the 41, which is the highway you’ll take up to Yosemite. It’s nice enough and you can collect Marriott points if you’re into that sort of thing like I am.

Hotels in Yosemite

I’ll be honest, lodging in Yosemite is very expensive.

If you’re not rich, stay at the Yosemite Valley Lodge for about $250 per night. If you’re rich, stay at the Ahwahnee for about $500 per night.

I stay at the Yosemite Valley Lodge. It’s much nicer than you’d think, though still kind of expensive.

Hotels in San Francisco

If Yosemite wasn’t expensive enough for you, then you’re really going to love the hotel prices of San Francisco. While ridiculously expensive, there are still deals to be had.

For San Francisco, I recommend doing a hotel search in the San Francisco nighborhood you want to spend the most time in. Then pick the nicest hotel with the best deal.

Travel Tip: Since you’re doing a road trip and you will have a car on you, beware of the VERY HIGH prices San Francisco hotels charge for overnight parking. I’ve seen prices as high as $85 a night just for parking.

To save money, park in a local lot outside of the hotel instead. It’s worth the short walk, trust me.

Hotel in Santa Cruz

• Hyatt Place Santa Cruz: This hotel is affordable, located in the city center, and just a 15 minute walk to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

Hotels in Big Sur

The hotels and lodging options in Big Sur are a bit more rustic. But I recommend either Big Sur River Inn (the affordable option) or Ventana Big Sur (the not so affordable option).

Hotel in Solvang

In Solvang, I would look for a cute, yet affordable option near the city center. Since I typically visit Solvang just as a day trip I have not stayed overnight there. But if I were planning on staying overnight, I would likely stay at the Wine Valley Inn.

I hope you enjoyed this San Diego to Yosemite road trip and that I’ve inspired you to plan a trip of your own. If you’d like to support this blog please consider sharing this post. Thanks so much for reading.

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Disclosure: Please note that some of the links on this page may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to supporting this site.