San Francisco, California

Yosemite National Park Day Trip from San Francisco



Location: San Francisco, California

Duration: 13 hours 30 minutes

Get out of town! Exchange the big-city charms of San Francisco for the fresh air and natural beauty of Yosemite, California’s most famous national park. Choose to start your time in Yosemite with a reserved lunch at the renown Ahwahnee Dining Room or head straight to the park to begin your adventure. Take a walking tour of the park with your knowledgeable guide or strikeout on your own. You’ll have around four hours within Yosemite to explore the scenic wonders of Yosemite Valley.

Begin your journey with hotel pickup by luxury bus or van complete with posh amenities like hardwood style floors in the bus. After crossing the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge, you’ll travel through the Great Central Valley and into the Sierra foothills, where the Forty-Niners panned for gold.

Following the beautiful Merced River to the Sierra Nevada Mountains, you’ll enter Yosemite National Park. Glaciers cut through these mountains, forming the spectacular granite monuments you’ll see throughout the park. There are many sights and activities to keep you occupied. Visit the
Ansel Adams art gallery or rent a bike (own expense). Spend time at the
visitor’s center to learn more about this beautiful park or head to the
ranger’s station for engaging walks and talks. Watch basket-weaving and beading demonstrations in the Indian Village of Ahwahnee or take a stroll along the Merced River. You’ll have approximately four hours to spend in the park.

If you select the lunch option, you’ll enjoy a prearranged lunch at the famous Ahwahnee Dining Room before exploring the park. Lunch includes an Italian sandwich with potato salad and an ice cream dessert. After lunch, you’ll rejoin your guide for a hike to the base of Yosemite Falls or you may choose to adventure on your own. You’ll have approximately three hours to explore the park with or without your guide.

Highlights on your Yosemite National Park day trip include:

  • San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge
  • Sierra Nevada Range
  • El Capitan
  • Bridalveil Falls
  • Vernal Falls
  • Merced River
  • Yosemite Falls
  • Cathedral Spires
  • Half Dome

At 4 pm, reconvene and head back to San Francisco, driving through the Stanislaus National Forest, with a feeling of fulfillment having seen one of the worlds greatest wonders.

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