The cheapest way to get from San Francisco to Yosemite is by a series of buses and a train. From the Golden City, wind your way through unpretentious wine country, orchards and historic towns on this San Francisco to Yosemite road trip. Original Poster . Jess Lander joined the food and wine team at The San Francisco Chronicle as wine reporter in 2022. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Until Highway 121 dead ends, travelers shall turn left to drive towards the Napa wineries on the highway. There are lodging suggestions for these towns in the article. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. Here's what to know about each of the two options. 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. Alternatively, look into shuttle companies that service Napa Valley from San Francisco Airport (SFO) like Evans Transportation or California Wine Tours. Napa's Cakebread Cellars is betting on Carneros 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. The relatively low elevation of Hetch Hetchy means that it offers a long hiking season. Napa Valley is roughly considered to be the area from American Canyon to Calistoga at the northernmost point, with the city of Napa located near the southern part of the valley. 1 of 2. 12-15 People. Why not spend your day here kayaking on the water? If you're in the mood for a little rest and relaxation, Napa Valley is also home to many of the best spas in California and it's here where you can get an authentic Calistoga mud bath. If you can snag a camp spot or lodge reservation inside Yosemite Valley, go for it. Look at lodging reviews; B&Bs are usually under Specialty Lodging. However, this is the slowest option. http://www.weather.com has weather info. Airlines. If you're going on a road trip from Napa to Yosemite National Park, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way with San Francisco, San Jose, the Mill Valley, Palo . Look for Cathedral Beach, Housekeeping Camp, Swinging Beach, Devils Elbow and Sentinel Beach. Yosemite National Park is stunning covered in snow If anyone has syndrome of COVID-19 will be informed people who are get in touch with and also The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. AirBorrn Aviation / Yosemite Airways offers affordable scenic flights with views of El Capitan, Half Dome and more. Check out some impressive numbers of Napa Valley: More than 400 wineries; Home to more than 150 restaurants; More Michelin stars per capita than any other wine region in the world FUN FACT: For all its (worthy) success, only 4% of California's wine comes from Napa Valley. From San Francisco to Yosemite by Bus Yosemite Valley. Tucked along Hwy. But youll want to book these lodgings way in advance. Next, they should continue their drive over a second bridge on Interstate 80 and through Vallejo. Do this road trip in a rental RV to stay close to nature. A Tale of Two Lodges, Evergreen and Rush Creek You may have to stay outside the park. Here are four fun stops to make along the route: Historic Sonora is named after the miners from Sonora Mexico who settled the city in 1848. Tour bus will be fully sanitize after each day of service. The 1-hour ride travels through logging country in a restored historic train. San Francisco Tours | Visit Alcatraz | Yosemite Tours | Redwoods | Napa 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. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-46693821', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');rent a car and at least see the city and Napa Valley. Yosemite & Napa Valley. Is lodging in the valley really that bad? From either location, you can avoid summer traffic hassle in Yosemite valley by catching theYarts busright from town. We are extremely excited for our first visit to the valley! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-43240801', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Yosemite - Monterey/Carmel. You can usually find more choice and less expensive room inventory just outside of the valley. See complete details at the, Free upgrade to bus first 3 rows seating, subject to availability, All domestic ground transportation via air-conditioned vehicle. Vernal & Nevada Falls trail: 4-10 miles. Today Napa Valley has over 400 wineries (particularly prized for Cabernet Sauvignon). For the trip itself, driving from San Francisco to Napa Valley takes about 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on the traffic, and add a bit more if you are going to take the scenic route along the way. . 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. 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. Five stars: The wines and vineyards were excellent--a wonderful introduction to Napa and Sonoma wine country--but Greg, our driver and tour guide, made the tour exceptional. 16 San Francisco Bay Sunset Cruise by Luxury Catamaran. 5. Beautiful weather and waterfront views await visitors as well! Getting from San Francisco to Yosemite [by Bus, Tour, Train, Car & more] You can drive yourself up to Glacier Point, which is a lovely, popular overlook in the park.. Towering granite rocks, mighty waterfalls and placid valleys give Yosemite all the aspects of a "land of the gods". You climb through pine forest into the craggy granite tippy top of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Security Statement | Private Policy | User Agreement. With only 7 days & 6 nights, I think that the best use of time for your choices is SF (3 nights, get car when you leave) - Napa / Sonoma (2 nights) - Carmel / Monterey (1 night.) From there, you can ride the shuttle to many attractions and trailheads in the park. Are there any suggestions for an itinerary? The cheapest way to get from Napa Valley Wine Train to Yosemite National Park costs only $42, and the quickest way takes just 4 hours. In Oakdale, explore Gold Rush history and a delicious culinary scene before continuing to towns like Pinecrest, where you can paddle on a peaceful, snowmelt-fed lake or Tuolumne where youll find apple orchards producing cider. After that, they will witness the sign for Highway 37, which is for Exit 33. A popular loop is SF - (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Amtrak. Visit San Francisco and camp in Yosemite National Park. Napa & Sonoma Valley Wine Tour from San Francisco at a Glance: Departure Point: 478 Post St. or 2805 Leavenworth St. Departure Time: 8:40 AM - 9:00 AM. But consider taking a beat and doing the San Francisco to Yosemite road trip at a slower pace. By car, journey through towns like Livermore where youll find a laidback wine region, with grapes nourished by that snowflake. Read their Top Questions and any relevant threads (just 'lurk' on other threads; don't add your questions.) To reach Napa, you need to get around the north end of the Bay. If you're driving, it takes between four and seven hours, depending on the route you choose and the traffic intensity. Thanks for your input! 120 on the way to Yosemite, Oakdale holds its heritage close. 7 nights from 3,499 per person. The city is also home to many public parks, gardens, and hiking trails. In 1846 the U.S. flag was raised over the Customs House, and California became part of the United States after the ensuing Mexican-American War. I recently published an extended guide to planning Redwoods road trips that includes this itinerary in greater detail. More than 15-feet of snow has already fallen at the park, and 40 inches of snow fell on the valley floor - elevation 4,000 feet - on Tuesday alone, surpassing the old record of 36 inches for . This trip is a great way to experience California at its best! Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park, Cruise to Alcatraz Island, the infamous prison in San Francisco Bay. What they loved, what they liked and Now that you've set your multi-destination itinerary, I suggest you go to the city/destination forum page. south of San Francisco, around Santa Barbara, and lots more. The park isnt large and you can make a quick cultural stop by visiting the traditional round house. Live Bay Area weather updates: Massive trees fall onto homes in Santa The tour includes El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls in Yosemite Valley, Tunnel View, and Glacier Point. Vacation Packages: San Francisco - Napa Valley - Yosemite National Park - Monterey (Self Drive), USA Vacations, Build Custom Vacation Packages with Airfare, best vacation deals, online bookings. A fabulous place to be explored in its own right, it's also a base to the Californian wine region Napa, and an epic drive from Yosemite National Park and the Big Sur. Springtime temperatures hover around a pleasant 70 . The 34-acre property features a main home, guest house and studio all centered around a generous-sized pool and elevated terraces. It covers an area of 35 square kilometers. Mandatory Fee (pay the fee in cash to the tour guide) is $100 per passenger, for optional activity you can choose to join or not. If so, do some price comparison shopping atRentalcars.com. From local artisan producers and farmers to Western culture, this town is a great place to spend some time on the way to the park. . Spend the afternoon uncovering the rest of the city - why not browse City Lights Bookstore for a glimpse into Beat Poetry history before strolling into Chinatown for some dumplings. Napa to Yosemite Valley - 6 ways to travel via train, night - Rome2rio The road trip map below recommends a more circuitous routing that only adds about two extra hours of drive time. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. $(obj).not(".hasDatepicker").datepick({onSelect: function(dateText, inst) {$(this).blur();} , minDate: new Date(), showTrigger: false, constrainWidth: false}); It began operation way back in 1881, so Oakville Grocery is known to be the oldest Californian grocery store in operation. Enjoy shopping and dining along the way in addition to taking in the vistas. Which means one spot is getting one night which isn't much time when you consider what time you might arrive and the time you have to leave the next day. San Jose is the central city in the Silicon Valley region of California's Bay Area, which is world-famous for its technological innovations and successful startups. Affiliated to the Alameda County, Berkeley is home to UC Berkeley, which is the world's most famous institutions of higher learning. . Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox. Downtown Napa is 50 miles from San Francisco, but Napa Valley stretches beyond just the city of Napa. Arrive in Napa Valley and enjoy an included wine tasting, before having lunch at Napa's Oxbow Public Market. Signing up for a guided tour is usually the lowest-priced way to tour Napa Valley, but you may be stuck in a crowd of 30 people or more and won't have any choices about where you go or when you stop. On your second day, youll have time to venture further away from the crowds wander through the Tuolumne Meadows, hike a section of the Clouds Rest Trail, take a swim in Tenaya Lake or drive north to Hetch Hetchy Valley. Its also a great spot to do some fishing or hiking although a lot of visitors end up relaxing on the tiny beaches that hug the shoreline. 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. Discover a down-to-earth wine, beer, ice cream and caffeine tasting scene and sun you can count on, 45 minutes from San Franciscos Fishermans Wharf. 5:30 p.m. WB I-80 closed due . The status of Napa Valley as a premier wine-tasting destination is fairly new. Ten minutes on Highway 37, they will head north on Highway 121. Yosemite is one of the wonders of Nature.