San Francisco To Yosemite Road Trip: 9 Best Stops (2024) (2024)

Yosemite National Park is a natural wonder and a popular tourist destination, and because of this many visitors love taking their own road trips to Yosemite. We live in California and enjoy our road trips to Yosemite.

If you’re looking for a day trip from the Bay Area, the San Francisco to Yosemite road trip is one of the best things to do!

How To Get There

By car, it takes around 190 miles (less or more depending on where you’re staying in San Francisco). It’ll take around 4 hours without breaks to get there. For directions, take Hwy 120 as that’s the shortest route from San Francisco to Yosemite.

If you are driving from Oakland or San Jose, you can also take Highway 120 as well. If you’re traveling from another city in or outside California, there are also other great road trips to take.

If you need to rent a car, check prices on DiscoverCars.com. You’ll find cheap deals there!

If you’re flying, the nearest airport to Yosemite is Fresno/Yosemite International Airport, which is more than a 2-hour drive so you would need to get a rental car or you can take public transit. You can take a bus with YARTS.

The closest major airport to Yosemite National Park is Oakland International Airport. Look for cheap flights on Expedia!

San Francisco to Yosemite Road Trip Itinerary

Why take this route? This is the shortest route from the Bay Area to Yosemite. It takes you through small historic towns including gold rush history, murals, museums, and other historical attractions.

1. San Francisco

Start your road trip to Yosemite with a city that draws millions of visitors annually! San Francisco is one of those rare cities that lives up to the hype.

This popular tourist destination is filled with interesting sites, historic gems, and architectural marvels, and it draws a devoted crowd that flocks to restaurants, museums, theaters, and shops year-round.

And, of course, San Francisco is home to the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, a must-see landmark that visitors flock to from around the world.

San Francisco also has some of the world’s most iconic landmarks, sights, and monuments.

Whether it’s the Golden Gate bridge, the Transamerica Pyramid, Alcatraz, or Fisherman’s Wharf, visiting San Francisco means immersing yourself in the city’s rich history.

2. Oakland

Oakland is a beautiful city, but many visitors miss out on some of its best attractions.

Founded in 1969, the Oakland Museum of California is one of the largest cultural institutions in California’s East Bay.

It hosts more than 150,000 visitors a year, and its collection of more than 1.8 million objects includes art, natural history, and cultural history.

Visit the Oakland Zoo, home to more than 850 animals, including endangered species. Also check out Lake Merritt, a 155-acre lake that’s the centerpiece of Oakland’s Lakeshore District, an up-and-coming neighborhood that’s home to many restaurants and shops.

The lake itself is a popular spot for volleyball, swimming, jogging, and boating. From music festivals to sporting events, there is something in Oakland for everyone including road trippers!

Need a car to go to Yosemite? Find the best car rental deals here and here’s all you need to know about renting a car in Oakland.

3. Manteca

Manteca is the first town you’ll see on HWY 120. Manteca is known for its rich Central Valley soil and strong agricultural and cultural history.

To learn more about its history, visit the Manteca Historical Society, an all-age museum that holds photographs, exhibits, and artifacts.

To help promote its history, Manteca’s community brought in mural artists to depict its past, present, and future. Take an auto tour and muse around Manteca’s 32 murals.

Definitely check out the mural “Sierra’s Crown Mural” located on 226 East Yosemite Avenue; a nice start to your road trip to Yosemite.

4. Escalon

Escalon is also a town that’s rich in agriculture. It’s known as “stepping stones” in Spanish. At Escalon, make sure to visit Main Street Park where you will see the Santa Fe caboose from the 1800s. Kids can play in and around the caboose.

Walk for a few minutes to check out the Escalon Historical Museum and Escalon’s first fire bell from the 1900s. Right above the fire bell is a beautiful mural that shows you Escalon was known for: agriculture, railroad transportation, and dairy.

5. Oakdale

Known as the “Cowboy Capital of the World,” Oakdale is the place to stop by if you want to know more about cowboys.

When you enter the town, you’ll see the Oakdale mural painted on a side of Hobbies Arts & Crafts. It shows you a cowboy on a horse with surrounding cattle and blooming flowers.

Check out the Oakdale Cowboy Museum that’s packed full of Western history and exhibits including rodeo traditions.

Built in 1869, the Oakdale Museum & History Center is also a great place for more of Oakdale’s history. Plus it’s Oakdale’s oldest building!

Find the best car rental deals here!

6. Knights Ferry

Walk across a 19th-century covered bridge at Knights Ferry. With a length of 330 feet, it’s the longest covered bridge west of the Mississippi River and is listed as a National Historic Landmark. Founded in 1848, Knights Ferry was a gold rush town turned into an industrial town.

An old piece of California history, the Historic Tulloch Mill Ruins show you the mill’s old machinery with information along the way. It’s now a perfect outdoor destination with activities to do such as hiking, picnicking, kayaking, and rafting.

Before you continue on your road trip to Yosemite, grab some sandwiches and salads at the Knights Ferry General Store, Saloon & Grill.

7. Chinese Camp

Now a ghost town, Chinese Camp was once the site of the Tong War. This town was founded in 1849 as “Camp Washington” and Europeans traveled to this site to find gold in the river. In 1850, Chinese people moved to this town making up half of its population and naming the town Chinese Camp.

When you drive by the town now, you will see old 1800s buildings that are abandoned. There’s also a Wells Fargo building here where miners deposited their gold.

There’s also a cute convenience store, The Chinese Camp Store And Tavern where you can get groceries, snacks, fishing supplies, and more. While you’re there, check out the fossils and other historical artifacts. We’ve got a really nice garden and clean restrooms too!

8. Lake Don Pedro

Lake Don Pedro is a reservoir with a 160-mile shoreline. You can do water sports, camp, fish, swim and boat here. Drive further 30 minutes more to the Moccasin Fish Hatchery to feed some fish.

Need a car to go to Yosemite? Find the best car rental deals here!

9. Groveland

Your road trip to Yosemite is nearing an end as you enter Groveland, the Northern Gateway to Yosemite. Many Yosemite visitors stay at Groveland for its historic lodging and dining options. Iron Door Saloon is an old-fashioned tavern with live entertainment, food, and drinks.

Book your Yosemite stay at Rush Creek Lodge at Yosemite and enjoy their 2 spa tubs, spa services and outdoor pool.

It’s got an old saloon décor with its ceiling covered in old dollar bills. Walk a few minutes to the old Groveland Jail that dates back to the 1800s-1900s. Drive further from the town to stop at the Rim of the World Vista point for expansive views of the Stanislaus National Forest.

There are three Yosemite attractions on the way before you enter Yosemite Valley, the heart of the park:

• Hetch Hetchy – a reservoir with stunning views and hiking trails

– and two sequoia groves:

• Merced Grove
• Tuolumne Grove

Alternative & Safer Route: San Francisco to Yosemite Road Trip

Why take this route? This route is an alternative route from San Francisco to Yosemite.

This route is safer with fewer steep curves compared to HWY 120. This route is also the best route if you plan to stay in Mariposa or El Portal during your Yosemite trip.

You’ll take CA-140 E to get to Yosemite from San Francisco. It can take longer than the Hwy 120 route to about 4-5 hours.

But if it’s your first time driving to Yosemite or if you’re nervous about the drive, we recommend taking this route. Here are the towns you’ll come across on CA-140:

Modesto

An hour further into the road trip to Yosemite, you’ll come across Modesto. a small town with tons of fun things to do.

Modesto is a charming mix of urban and suburban life with tree-lined streets, charming old brick homes, newer subdivisions, and a bustling downtown. Visit downtown Modesto for its great dining options.

Two museums to check out: the McHenry Mansion and the Great Valley Museum. Free to the public, the McHenry Mansion will give you all you need to know about Modesto’s history. It was built in the 1880s and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Great Valley Museum is a science museum with over 200 plants and animal specimens. Or check out some of Modesto’s free concerts, festivals, or shows before continuing on your road trip.

Find the best car rental deals here!

Turlock

Another small town on the way, Turlock is known for its rich agricultural history. Turlock Historical Society Museum provides local history about Turlock through 25 exhibits and it’s free.

The town’s also got 24 parks, other cultural institutions, and shopping centers including Turlock Shopping Center and Monte Vista Crossing.

Turlock is also known for the Pageo Lavender Farm, a farm that grows two types of lavender: Loddon Blue and Grosso. Stop by at Pageo Lavender Farm’s gift shop for handcrafted lavender lotions, bath salts, soaps, gift boxes, and more.

Plus, if you pre-order, you can also get $20 lunches – all with a pinch of lavender in its meals. Lavender blooms in June so if you’re driving to Yosemite in the summer, add this to your road trip list!

Merced

Another agricultural town, Merced has local attractions including museums, parks, and lakes. The Merced National Wildlife Refuge has 10,258 acres of grasslands and wetlands and is a great place for birdwatching.

Schedule a wine tasting at a 20-acre ranch, Vista Ranch to relax before heading back on the road.

Another relaxing option: Lake Yosemite. Lake Yosemite is a man-made freshwater lake. You can go boating, water skiing, jet skis and also picnic and barbeque at the lake.

Another attraction is the Merced Antique Mall, a store with over 7,500 feet of antique items including furniture and old records.

Before continuing on your road trip to Yosemite, visit the 1875 Merced County Courthouse. It’s now a museum filled with Merced’s history and artifacts.

Designed in the Italian Renaissance, this historic site is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Mariposa

Looking for some old-town charm? Reserve some time to explore Mariposa, one of the Gold Rush towns that was founded in 1849.

Historic towns like Mariposa always come with a rich history including details about the Gold Rush in the 1800s so check out its local museums: Mariposa Museum and History Center, California State Mining & Mineral Museum, Yosemite Climbing Museum.

Mariposa also has Yosemite adventures to do: Yosemite Ziplines and Adventure Ranch, Yosemite Close Up Tours, and Skydive Yosemite.

There are plenty of dining and lodging options in Mariposa that some Yosemite visitors choose to stay in this town during their Yosemite trip.

Go Yosemite glamping at this retro resort in Midpines: AutoCamp Yosemite

El Portal

El Portal, known as “the gateway” in Spanish makes perfect sense since this is where Yosemite’s Arch Rock Entrance is.

The drive from El Portal to Yosemite is gorgeous as you will be driving alongside the Merced River while being surrounded by its canyons. Stop at a turnout to take in the views.

Need lunch or groceries before entering Yosemite National Park? Stop at the El Portal Market for some sandwiches and drinks.

This is also the last gas stop on HWY 140 with the next nearest gas station being at Crane Flat in HWY 120 (about 20 miles away) so fuel up before entering the park.

And now your road trip to Yosemite ends but your views are just about to get better!

Need a car to go to Yosemite? Find the best car rental deals here!

Where To Stay In Yosemite

Where To Stay In Yosemite

Yosemite has a variety of accommodations: hotels, airbnbs, resorts, campgrounds and more. We recommend these 3 options in the park:

Budget-Friendly Option:Curry Village

Mid-Priced Option:Yosemite Valley Lodge

Lux Option:The Ahwahnee

What To Pack For San Francisco to Yosemite Road Trip

Packing for road trips can be tiresome; from figuring out what clothes to pack to what food to bring along the way. If you’re looking all the road trip essentials, check out these 51 items to bring along the way. The top things to take:

• Car Windshield Sun Shade
• Emergency Flashlight
• First Aid Kit
• Jumpstart Kit
• Portable Air Compressor
• Snow Chains
• Travel Size Hand Sanitizers
• Video Camera
• National Parks Pass

California can have some hot sunny days and the more you drive inland towards the east, the more hotter it will get. Get a small cooler before your road trip to make sure you stay hydrated and cool throughout the whole trip.

Best Yosemite Tours

Looking for the best tours in Yosemite? Check out these top-rated tours on Viator:

Frequently Asked Questions: San Francisco to Yosemite Road Trip

Have questions about how your Yosemite road trip? Here’s what you need to know before venturing from San Francisco:

How much is a road trip to Yosemite?

When it comes to the cost of a road trip to Yosemite, things to consider are the park’s entrance fees, gas, food, and possibly lodging if it’s a multi-day trip. On average, it cost us $100 per person daily.

If you’ve got the America the Beautiful—National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass, then the entrance fee for Yosemite would be free. And if you plan to visit at least 3 parks annually that have an entrance fee, then the pass is well worth it!

How many days do you need in Yosemite?

That depends on how many things you want to see in Yosemite. You can spend a day to a week and still have things to see on your next trip. Thinking about what to do and how many things to add to your itinerary? Check out the best viewpoints in Yosemite to guide your trip!

Do I need a reservation for Yosemite?

Make sure to check the National Park Service site for updates on reservations and restrictions. Currently, reservations are required during the summertime to reduce crowds and until the public health conditions in the US improve.

Can you drive your car into Yosemite?

Yes, you can drive your car into Yosemite but make sure the roads you are planning to drive on are open. Glacier Point Road and Tioga Pass Road are closed during winters but otherwise, you can drive through the whole park.

Find the best car rental deals here!

Is the drive to Yosemite scary?

The drive to Yosemite can be scary and dangerous. I’ve felt my stomach do backflips while the road curves.

The roads can be narrow, steep, and curvy making it dangerous to drive above the speed limit so make sure you’re driving within the limit while leaving ample space between vehicles.

Sometimes you’ll feel like you need to drive faster because the vehicle behind you is tailgating you and in that case, stop at a turnout and allow those faster vehicles to pass by.

Final Thoughts: San Francisco to Yosemite Road Trip

We love this route for its historic stops along the way before heading to Yosemite. While Yosemite is the final destination, there are so many cool attractions to see on the way. Happy driving!