You can get from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park in around 3 to 3 hours and 30 minutes, and the two most conventional routes cover 165 and 200 miles, respectively. In 1986, the Tunnel View became a National Historic Place. http://www.weather.com has weather info. Many companies also offer Napa Valley tours from San Francisco, some with side trips to Muir Woods or other places. Day 4: Big Sur. Even today, there are still cultural ceremonies held there. Visit before July if you want to see the waterfalls in their full glory from the snowmelt. On this road trip, youll trace the snowflakes route backwards. }); 4-Day Los Angeles to Universal Studio Hollywood, Seaworld . Yosemite has deep snowfall in the winter with many roads closed for the season while summer sees blue skies and lots of tourists. The cheapest way to get from San Francisco to Yosemite is by a series of buses and a train. This morning youll drive south to Yosemite National Park. This region between San Francisco and Sacremento is internationally famous for its wines, which are considered among the best in the world. Highways 120 West, 140, 41 and 120 East/Tioga Road. When its running, you can reach the lower falls from a fairly easy loop trail. Hello! And fall has lovely color and is quieter, but no waterfalls. What they loved, what they liked and Security Statement | Private Policy | User Agreement. All passengers above age of 16 who want to join the tour need to be fully vaccinated with vaccination record card proven. Hike up to Nevada Falls to get a sense of the wonderful hiking that you can experience here. Maybe I will actually break down and become *a fan* of TA one of these days! Depending on what time your flight arrives you could get out and explore, so why not head to the harbour for a bowl of . Hot Tip: Do you need a rental car for your San Francisco to Yosemite road trip? Or course, you could also skip the ferry and travel from San Francisco to Vallejo along the BART Train or along another bus route, depending on where in the Bay Area you're coming from. Once home to Al Scarface Capone and other notorious criminals, Alcatraz Island is a National Park Service site located 1.25 miles offshore. Discover the top eight things to do in these quaint towns from boating to Gold Rush-era experiences. 1 night San Francisco; 2 nights Napa Valley; 2 nights Lake Tahoe; 3 nights Yosemite Day 1: Arrival in San Francisco. There are various options to reach Napa Valley from San Francisco. Go, Admission (Optional): Adult $40; Child (Under 21 yrs, without Wine Tasting) $40|Duration: Approx. WHat if i opted to pay all the the Admission fee amounting to $135 and the $100 (cable cars, etc..) and the Tour guide fee of $9/day total of $27that is a grand total $262 so in addition to the $338 tour , i have to add the $262, totalling to $600. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Before saying goodbye to Napa, you can stop by numerous restaurants to have dinner. There is travel time involved as well. California Wine Country: The Complete Guide, How to Travel From San Francisco to Lake Tahoe By Train, Bus, Car, and Plane, How to Travel from Sacramento to San Francisco by Train, Bus, Car, and Plane, How to Travel From San Francisco to Yosemite by Train, Bus, Car, and Plane, The 9 Best Day Trips From Napa and Sonoma, How to Travel From San Francisco to Las Vegas by Bus, Car, and Plane, Getting Around the San Francisco Bay Area: A Public Transit Guide, How to Travel From San Diego to San Francisco by Train, Bus, Car, and Plane, How to Travel From San Francisco to New York by Plane, Train, Car, or Bus, How to Travel From Cancun to Cozumel by Bus, Car, Ferry, and Plane. ThisCalifornia state parkshares the ancient customs of the Sierra Miwok people. Buses to Napa Valley from San Francisco. Note: This question will be posted on a public forum. Napa proper tends to be extremely crowded in peak season, and that . Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, California is one of the western United States' most famous and popular tourist spots. 7 nights from 3,499 per person. Convenient SF hotel pickup and drop off. You can explore Emerald Bay, a beautiful section of the southern shore before having lunch at a beach bar and taking the cable car up the mountain for stunning views over the lake. 5:30 p.m. WB I-80 closed due . Day 1: San Francisco to Wine Country. Tucked along Hwy. The boutique vineyards and the premium wines combine with the dramatic views of the valley to form a truly idyllic setting just on the doorstep of San Francisco. After that, they will witness the sign for Highway 37, which is for Exit 33. You can also stop by Oakville Wine Merchant and get some wine per glass. Joshua - secluded in the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Napa Valley is renowned for quality wine and excellent food and is always worth a stop. Go early to get a parking spot or take the shuttle, which runs four times per day. This is where they will have reached Napa Valley's southern edge. Northern California Adventure. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-43240801', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Yosemite - Monterey/Carmel. Accommodations planning: 2 nights in San Francisco, 2 nights in Monterey, 2 nights in . 12-15 People. trip. var obj = document.getElementById("2527080060dates_range_end"); Stanford University is recognized as one of the world's leading research and teaching institutions. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-46694122', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Yosemite off the list. maybe next time! . Break for Modesto If you are lovin those views, you may want to consider coming back to Tioga Pass as an entryway to our scenicHighway 395 drivedown the Eastern Sierras. 13h 14m . Going to Napa Valley from San Francisco can be enjoyable from the trip to the destination if you do a little research, book your schedules, study the routes and traffic situations and plan your time. When you make it to Yosemite, be sure to visit the Hetch Hetchy area, where less than 1% of park visitors ever venture. This itinerary includes three stops intended to show you a few interesting things along the way that you otherwise may have missed. This winery also requires reservations, so make sure you book ahead of time. If you want to visit some wineries along the way, stick to the ones along Highway 29 and contact the winery directly to ask where the nearest bus stop is. Read their Top Questions and any relevant threads (just 'lurk' on other threads; don't add your questions.) Napa Valley is more or less due north of San Francisco, but you can't just start driving north from the middle of town and get there. Betsy has been writing about California for nearly more than two decades as TripSavvy's expert on the state. A trip through wine country will take you through the valley's many quaint towns like Napa, Yountville, and Calistoga, any of which would make a lovely place to stay. The well-preserved downtown core has a county history museum, tons of cute antique and apparel shops and the Iron Door Saloon, which is the oldest operating saloon in California. Shed your weary, nerve-shaken bones and let the mountains guide you on your Yosemite road trip. 5 Things that Are Greatand 1 That Isnt, 12 National Parks Near San Francisco (Under 3 Hours of Drive-time), The Best Time to Visit Big Sur: Season by Season Guide. It is considered one of the top scientific schools in the world. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-43239963', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Yosemite. We will mark (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Explore the Mission District with its colourful murals and famous burritos before renting a bike and cycling over the Golden Gate Bridge for iconic views back over the city. Get an early start, because its over four hours of straight up drive time with lots of cool stops along the way. 13 From San Francisco: Napa & Sonoma Valley Full-Day Wine Trip. 14 San Francisco: Muir Woods Redwoods and Wine Country Tour. If you are craving more wine in the afternoon, you can go straight to the Round Pond Estate Winery along Rutherford. Why not spend your day here kayaking on the water? Travelers can choose from stopping at the Yosemite Valley Lodge or the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. The 45-acre estate including the acclaimed Juslyn Vineyards is for sale for $35 million. We do enjoy wine so would definately like to take advantage of Napa. A few San Francisco tour companies offer a personalized way to get to Napa Valley from San Francisco, taking small groups on adventures planned just for them. (* Last name will not be published). Its best tobook aheadfor the train. # of Tastings: Up to 3 stops and wine tastings included in the price. Yosemite National Park is enormous so with two days to explore youre never going to see all of it, which means you need to plan wisely. 13 Gems in Mariposa Countys Gold Rush Towns This is where they will find a sign on 101 on the highway that will tell them to take the route for both Napa and Sonoma. Its understandable if you want to drive straight there from San Francisco so that you can start exploring without delay. From there, you can ride the shuttle to many attractions and trailheads in the park. South Bay - the tech capital! Meet awesome people! Bus fare for a one-way trip to Calistoga is as low as $3. AirBorrn Aviation / Yosemite Airways offers affordable scenic flights with views of El Capitan, Half Dome and more. They also have French food, and the ambiance gives you that warm, rustic Italian vibe. Enjoy a multi-day tour of the stunning attractions in Yosemite that includes accommodation in our cozy tent cabins! Overview. San Francisco Known as 'the city' by the locals, San Francisco is a diverse and captivating metropolis with an artistic heart and diversity running through its veins. This option will take one on Highway 101 North across the Golden Gate Bridge. If you want to do this drive in the winter, then check out our Yosemite winter guide. You have 3 full days and about 2 half days. Public transport like trains or buses have no routes for Napa Valley, and your only affordable option is to book a guided tour. Same as other wineries, a visit to this place requires reservations, and they close at 5 PM. Take the ferry from Vallejo Ferry Terminal to San Francisco Ferry Building Gate E. Take the bus from San Francisco to Merced. Get answers to your questions about California, FAQ: What you need to know about California Before you Visit, FAQ: What you Need to Know Before you drive here, FAQ: California Itineraries and Trip Reports, Driving from SF to LA or vice Versa -- Please read this, FAQ: How to drive the Coastal Highway in Southern California. If you can still hold your alcohol for one more tasting before returning to San Francisco, you can make a quick stop in Napa to visit Darioush. The distance on the drive to Yosemite from San Francisco is about 170 miles and 3.5 hours driving time if you take the I-80 E out of the city. It all comes down to preference, but it is recommended that you start all the way north so that going back to San Francisco will be a shorter trip. youll turn into the park and drive through to the western edge where youll check into your hotel for three nights. 2 Hours, Opening Hours: Closed on 1/1/18, 2/23, 2/24, 4/26-4/28, 5/11-5/13, 6/14-6/17, 9/1, 9/8, 9/15, 9/18-9/23, 10/6, 10/25-10/28, 11/10, 11/22, 12/25, Admission (Optional): Adult $39; Child (6-12 yrs) $25; Senior (Over 65 yrs) $36, Admission (Optional): Adult $42; Child (5-11 yrs) $28|Opening Hours: Closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day|Duration: Approx. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a4e44061edd6cc9e94ca29cff754da9d" );document.getElementById("bdd8f95227").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); We are a participant in the various affiliate programs including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. What makes a vacation memorable is not only the destination but also the trip along the way. From San Franciscos shores, decide whether to visit Yosemite by rail or car. Coastal breezes keep the city cool and huge fog drifts can sweep over the Golden Gate Bridge during the summer meaning winter is usually more reliable with clear days and moderate temperatures. United Airlines. Make sure you take the cable car down to visit the sea-lions at Pier 39 on Fishermans Wharf before jumping on a boat over to Alcatraz Island where you can learn about the prisons history. The drive to Yosemite from San Francisco is only about 3 hours and 20 minutes. Dont be in a hurry to drive back from Yosemite to San Francisco, because there are some cool stops to make along the route home. If you are craving Italian food, you can visit Bistro Don Giovanni. Excellent tour, the best way to know Napa valley. $25 $20 $15 $10 $5 M A M J J A S O N D J F. If you are trying to decide when to travel from Napa to San Francisco by train so you can score the best possible deal, your best bet would be to plan your trip for February. If you can snag a camp spot or lodge reservation inside Yosemite Valley, go for it. From the Golden Gate Bridge, you have two options. It was the only port of entry for taxable goods in California. You can do that on the east or west side of the body of water, but many prefer the western route because it's more scenic, even if it does take a little longer: The easiest way to get from San Francisco to Napa using public transportation is to take the San Francisco Bay Ferry from the San Francisco Ferry Building or Fisherman's Wharf Pier 41 to Vallejo. (Updated Jan. 2015). Historic Sonoma Plaza lunch break. Yosemite Valley Loop Trail: 11 miles (full loop), 7 miles (half-loop). Whatever you end up doing, we know youll love your time in Lake Tahoe. The Napa Valley shouldn't be missed if you're in the area, although since it is filled with vineyards and if you're planning on tasting wine, we'd suggest spending the night (or . A Tale of Two Lodges, Evergreen and Rush Creek 4-Day San Francisco/Las Vegas to Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, Horseshoe Bend and Grand Canyon East Rim/South Rim Tour (Airport Pickup) $498.00 $483.06. The grandiosely-named Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, California is a huge, ornate outdoor structure that is part of the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Depending on what time your flight arrives you could get out and explore, so why not head to the harbour for a bowl of clam chowder as the sun goes down the perfect start to a Californian adventure! Today youll say goodbye to Yosemite National Park and drive back to San Francisco Airport where youll drop off your rental car in time to catch your onward flight. Pick several places and dive deep. From Vallejo, connect to the Napa Valley VINE bus system Route 10, which can take you all the way to Calistoga . It was also a thriving gold town during the mid 1800s. Similar Tours. Any other places we should try to visit? Day 7: Yosemite National Park. Hopefully your return flight is late in the day!. TOUR DESCRIPTION. Eight days in San Francisco, Yosemite NP, Napa Valley and Carmel/Big Sur. In addition to being the tallest waterfall in North America, the Yosemite Falls are the seventh-tallest in the world. The direct drive from Napa to Yosemite National Park is 213 mi (343 km), and should have a drive time of 4 hrs 34 mins in normal traffic.. 17 San Francisco: Aquarium of the Bay General Admission Ticket. In total, this route takes about two hours. Dr Knight realized that this stretch of the Stanislaus river made for a favorable crossing serving gold rush towns like Columbia and Sonora. Nile House, Nile Street, Brighton, BN1 1HW, United Kingdom, Exc. If 7 days is 6 nights you might even think about cutting it down to two areas. If you like how this itinerary adds the Sonora Gold Country, then do the itinerary in reverse and stay in Sonora or the cute town of Twain Harte a bit further east. It covers an area of 35 square kilometers. It hits up some lovely backroads and tackles both the northern and southern areas of Yosemite. The trail to the grove is a 3 mile round trip with 520 feet of elevation gain. Enter your target tour date range and email address below. Read what other travelers think about this tour. This will just add about 15 minutes from your total travel time, so you can adjust your itinerary accordingly, but the breathtaking vistas are worth it. Alcatraz & San Francisco Combo Tour. Napa Valley is one of the world's top wine-growing regions and rivals the traditional regions of France and Italy. Well You may want to chose what you want to do and see in that short a time. This San Francisco to Yosemite road trip itinerary will take you from the Bay Area to the park in one day, stops included. Northern Yosemite is the higher elevation portion of the park and there are yet more stunning hikes and views in this part of the park. They operated a ferry until 1852, and then they built the bridge, which is the longest covered bridge west of the Mississippi. From San Francisco to Yosemite by Bus Yosemite Valley. Multi-Day Yosemite Tours - Tent Cabin Stay. There are ten day hikes, swimming, scenic viewpoints and three National Park sponsored tours. Continue north through wine country stopping in Healdsburg for wine tasting and a meal. This is oneCalifornias most scenic drivesand our guide will help you find additional stops along the way from San Francisco to Yosemite which feature Californias Native American culture, gold rush history, cool hikes and culinary tourism. While there's no way to get from San Francisco to the Napa Valley by train, you could sign up for a tour on the Napa Valley Wine Train, which will take you from Napa to Helena and back in a day and includes winery stops and meals enjoyed on-board. Read More: If you are keen on mining history, check out this article onCalifornia ghost towns. The National Weather Service says San Francisco's low of 39 degrees on Friday is a new record low for this day. A park ranger vehicle sits near the Big Oak Flat entrance into Yosemite National Park along Hwy 120, on Thursday, February 23, 2023. The relatively low elevation of Hetch Hetchy means that it offers a long hiking season. The fastest way to get from SF to Yosemite is out I580 through Tracy, connecting with Highway 120 in Manteca. Re: San Francisco - Napa Valley - Yosemite? If anyone's temperature is unusual will be terminate for participating the tour. Notable Stops: Jamestown (Gold Rush Town) Suggested Gas Stop: Oakdale (Shell, Quik Stop, 76) Highway 120 is the most straightforward way to get to Yosemite from San Francisco, and it will take about 3 hours and 45 minutes to get there. Coming northwest out of Yosemite puts you smack into California gold rush country. Expert guides. There is mobile service on the valley floor, but it may be spotty elsewhere in the park, like on Tioga Pass. Day 5: Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea. Please see " Departures and Returns" for more info. Find more about her work at www.auninditabhatia.com. $(function() { We reserve the right to edit or reject questions that include inappropriate content, profanity, references to other retailers, pricing, or personal information. Yosemite has three giant sequoia groves within the park boundaries. . San Francisco, Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur, Sequoia NP, Yosemite NP Lake Tahoe & Napa Valley Explore the best of California on this Northern Cali Loop . Pick Your Perfect Yosemite Activities Climb, Raft, Bike, Ski, Hike You can take a bus from Napa to Yosemite Valley via El Cerrito Del Norte BART Station, El Cerrito Del Norte, Hayward, Hayward, Merced Bus Stop, and Merced Transpo in around 9h 19m. Stay at Evergreen Lodge just a mile from the parks Hetch Hetchy Entrance or Rush Creek Lodge less than a mile from the Big Oak Flat Entrance. Knowledgeable, friendly, attentive to individuals, and focused on making the experience . Park your car in a Yosemite gateway town and take the YARTS bus into Yosemite Valley. We arrive at SFO at 2pm on Wednesday, May 8 and leave SFO at 2pm on Sunday, May 12. Jess Lander joined the food and wine team at The San Francisco Chronicle as wine reporter in 2022. Trade Wheels for Rails Take the Amtrak San Joaquins Train Yosemite Falls is one of the largest waterfalls in North America. Based in Napa Valley, Jess has extensively covered California wine country for numerous national . Guests should meet our tour guide in front of the Information Center at Terminal 2 for transfer to the hotel. Today wineries of Napa Valley rival the Old World wine regions in France and Italy. www.outdoorsy.com. $(function() { A trip to Napa Valley is a breath of fresh air from the busy streets of San Francisco, and luckily, it's not a far distance to cover. * Please note the Tour Map is subject to change. Moderate.