6 Best Ways to Get from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park
Want to go to Yosemite National Park? San Francisco is the best jumping off point for your trip. Located just 170+ miles apart, there are six awesome ways to travel from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park in California.
Let’s dive into those options and the pros and cons of each to determine what fits best into your trip.
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Drive from San Francisco to Yosemite
The fastest way to get to Yosemite from San Francisco is to drive yourself! It typically takes about 4-5 hours to drive from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park. Even if you’re just visiting the area, you can simply rent a car from the San Francisco International Airport to make the 170+ mile drive.
It’s always recommended to use your GPS to map to Yosemite as it will take into consideration the current traffic conditions. However, for basic directions, you’ll follow I-580 east to I-205 east to Highway 120 east (Manteca) or Highway 140 east (Merced).
Typically, driving to Yosemite from San Fran, you will either end up entering the park via the Big Oak Flat Entrance – if you take Highway 120, or the Arch Rock Entrance – if you take Highway 140. These entrances tend to be amongst the more popular ones due to them being closest to “the city”.
Before setting off, stay up to date on Yosemite’s current road conditions to avoid unwanted surprises.
Book a Private Transfer to Yosemite
Don’t have a car but still want to find the fastest way to get to Yosemite from San Fran? Book a private car to transfer you from San Francisco to Yosemite! It will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you there with an expert guide leading the way.
Not only will you not have to worry about getting a rental car, which can be difficult to park in San Fran, but you also won’t have to worry about park passes as they’ll take care of it for you! (Park reservations sell out quickly in the summer!)
If you’re planning a Yosemite day trip from SF, hiring a driver makes this so much easier. You can sit back and relax on the way to and from the park allowing you to maximize your energy and time in the park.
Do a Tour from San Francisco to Yosemite
Another awesome way to visit Yosemite National Park from San Francisco is to take a tour. There are many tour options available so you can find one that fits your needs. From one day to multiple days, offering easy sightseeing to strenuous hiking and camping tours, there really is something for everyone.
In addition to not having to figure out your own transportation, you’ll also be able to rely on their expertise in the park making it an easy way to visit the park. In fact, if you only have one day to spend in Yosemite, a day trip from San Fran is one of the best ways to visit Yosemite.
It will be a long day, but you can sit back and relax and let someone else do the driving and navigating. Not to mention in the summer, you won’t have to worry about finding reservations and in the winter they’ll monitor the road conditions!
Let’s take a look at the Yosemite tours from San Francisco.
Day Trip to Yosemite from San Francisco
Want to see the highlights of Yosemite in one day? Select a Yosemite day trip from San Francisco. You’ll have the opportunity to find Giant Sequoias in Tuolumne Grove, see the Valley and Half Dome from Tunnel View, learn all about the park, and stop in gold rush towns in Sierra Nevada. It’s a full day of fun and the best day trip from San Francisco to Yosemite!
Two Days in Yosemite from San Francisco
Spend a little more time exploring the park by staying overnight! This two day trip from San Francisco to Yosemite gives you more time to take in the stunning views and then hike, swim, or bike in the park. It includes visits to some of the most scenic parts of the park, Yosemite Falls and the Giant Sequoia groves, as well as overnight accommodations.
Three Day Tour to Yosemite from San Francisco
Head out to Yosemite for a three day camping trip! This will allow you to get off the beaten path in one of America’s favorite national parks! Tents and cooking gear are included, you just have to be ready to spend three days exploring Yosemite!
Fly from San Francisco to Yosemite
While it will only take 4 hours to drive there, you can consider flying to Yosemite! Ultimately, there are 3 airports to check when flying to Yosemite from San Francisco: Fresno Yosemite International Airport, Merced Regional Airport, and Mariposa Airport.
Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) is about two hours south of Yosemite National Park and the largest airport close to Yosemite. From Fresno, you can then rent a car or take the YARTS bus (Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System) into the South Entrance.
Merced Regional Airport (MCE) is the closest airport to Yosemite National Park but finding direct flights from San Francisco or Oakland can be challenging. Should you fly into Merced, you can also catch the YARTS bus here or rent a car to continue on to Yosemite. This way you’ll enter through the Arch Rock Entrance.
Mariposa-Yosemite Airport (RMY) is a tiny, public airport. This makes flying into it generally limited to pilots and small private planes or air taxis. However, if you can land here, you will be conveniently located less than an hour from Yosemite National Park.
Take the Train from San Francisco to Yosemite
While no train goes directly from San Fran to Yosemite, taking Amtrak to Yosemite is a viable option – you’ll just have to transfer to a bus for the last leg of the trip. This journey can be done in about 6 hours all on one ticket that covers the train and bus. You’ll have beautiful views and access to wifi on the Amtrak bus and train along the way!
To leverage the train, take the Amtrak Thruway bus from downtown San Francisco over to the Emeryville train station. From there, simply board the San Joaquins Amtrak train and head to the Merced or Fresno train station.
You’ll reach the Merced train station first, from here, you can catch the YARTS bus, which will take you into Yosemite via the Arch Rock Entrance. Alternatively, you can get off the train further south in Fresno and take the YARTS bus into the South Entrance of Yosemite.
Bonus: YARTS bus fares give you access to Yosemite National Park without paying the Yosemite entrance fee!
Hop on the Bus from San Francisco to Yosemite
Another viable transport option, if you have the patience, is to take the bus from San Francisco. Greyhound runs busses from San Francisco to Merced, just like on the train.
Then you’d need to transfer to the YARTS system to continue on to Yosemite via the Arch Rock Entrance. Remember, one of the perks of taking the YARTS bus into the park is that you don’t have to pay the Yosemite entrance fee!
Tips for Visiting Yosemite from San Francisco
There are so many nuances to making trips to National Parks these days. Fortunately, there are equally many online resources to help you find the details you need!
Here are just a few things to keep in mind as you travel from San Fran to Yosemite NP.
How Much Time You Need in Yosemite
Ideally, you’d plan to spend at least 2 – 3 days in the park – more if you’re an avid hiker! This will give you time to explore the highlights of the park, like Yosemite Valley, the Giant Sequoias, and Glacier Point, while stopping at many of the amazing overlooks throughout the park.
Can you do a day trip to Yosemite National Park?
With about 4 hours of transit each way, taking a day trip to Yosemite from San Fran spends a lot of valuable time on transportation. You’ll want to plan to stay overnight near Yosemite – particularly if you’re driving yourself to the park.
If you must do a day trip from San Fran to Yosemite, take a tour. This way you can see the highlights of Yosemite and make the drive without being too tired on the road.
The Yosemite Entrance Fee
The cost to enter Yosemite is $35 per car. It is also covered by the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass, which is $80 for the yearly pass. This will be paid at the entrance on your way in, if you are self-driving.
There are a few ways to avoid paying this entrance fee, including taking the YARTS bus, which includes the entrance fee into their fares, and certain tours, which will also include the entrance fee into the tour cost.
Take the Yosemite Valley Shuttle System in the Park
No matter how you plan to make the journey to Yosemite National Park from San Francisco, you’ll be able to get around inside the park with their free shuttle service. It offers stops throughout the park and makes it easy and affordable to get around.
This is a huge perk for those coming to Yosemite on public transportation or even taking a group tour as you’ll be able to navigate the park on your own.
Make Yosemite Reservations in Advance for Summer
In the summer, make sure to book reservations for peak entrance times. If your visit falls between May 20 – September 30, 2022 and you plan on driving into the park between 6am – 5pm, book reservations in advance. You can do this by going online to Recreation.gov 7 days before your arrival date when they release reservations at 8am PT.
If you are unable to get a reservation, there are a few ways to get in without it. These include:
- Having a camping, lodging, or vacation rental reservation in the park
- Holding a wilderness or Half Dome permit
- Entering using the YARTS buses or an authorized tour
Check Road Conditions in Yosemite in Winter
In the winter, check the current road conditions in the park before you set out to ensure the entrances and roads are open. Snow and ice can quickly close down some of the scenic roads to and through the park.
Plan Your Trip to Yosemite National Park
For many people headed to Yosemite, San Francisco is the ideal jumping off point. You’ll find multiple choices of transportation to make your way to the national park allowing you to customize your trip from beginning to end.
As you get your plans in motion, here are some additional resources to help you out.
Planning a road trip to Yosemite National Park? Here are some helpful road trip resources to make your trip more comfortable.
- How to Plan a Road Trip: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Road Trip Packing List for Expert Travelers: 60 Road Trip Essentials + More Tips!
- 80+ Good Road Trip Snacks: The Key to Any Successful Road Trip!
Looking to hike in the park? Be prepared with What to Pack for a Day Hike: The Essential Hiking Packing List.
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