4 Best Day Trips to Yosemite from San Francisco

During a trip to San Francisco, one of the most beautiful places you can visit and one that will leave you with unforgettable memories is Yosemite National Park, home to giant sequoia trees.

Located in California's Sierra Nevada, east of San Francisco, it's a must-see on the west coast of the United States. Given its vast size (3,027 km²!), I recommend discovering it on an organised tour. Let me tell you about the best ones!

California has some spectacular natural landscapes that will leave you speechless, but among them Yosemite, the most famous national park in the United States, stands out. It is located about 300 kilometres from San Francisco, so a trip to the city is an excellent opportunity to take a day trip to a place like this and enjoy a day outdoors.

In my opinion, the best way to explore Yosemite is by joining an organised tour from San Francisco. On this tour to Yosemite and Sequoia National Park, you will be picked up at your hotel and taken to discover the rugged beauty of the Sierra Nevada, passing through historic Gold Rush towns and, most importantly, the great natural wonders.

Accompanied by a guide, you will see such iconic sites as:

• The granite cliffs of Half Dome and El Capitan
• The giant sequoia forest
• Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Falls
• The Merced River
• The Glacier Point and Tunnel View viewpoints

After the tour of Yosemite, you will have free time to rent a bike and explore Yosemite Valley, visit the Ansel Adams Gallery or have a picnic lunch by the Merced River, among other activities, before returning to San Francisco.

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• Duration: Approximately 15 hours
• Price: From €180
• Recommended if... you want to see the park's most iconic sights and giant redwoods in a single day from San Francisco, with a guide and free time included.

If you are passionate about ecotourism and are looking for a personalised experience during your visit to Yosemite, then I recommend a small group tour of the National Park for no more than 15 people, where you will have a guide at your disposal to accompany you throughout the tour, showing you the most iconic sites in Yosemite and answering any questions you may have about the park.

Like the previous excursion, this is also a day trip to Yosemite from San Francisco to see some of California's most amazing natural gems.

Before returning to San Francisco on this excursion, you will also have free time to explore the area on your own, do some hiking, have lunch or even visit the town of Yosemite.

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• Duration: Approximately 14 hours
• Price: From €194
• Recommended if... you prefer a more personalised experience in a small group, with greater contact with nature and individualised attention from the guide.

For travellers who want to immerse themselves in the beauty of California's landscapes and make the most of their visit to the most famous national park in the United States, there is nothing better than a two-day trip to Yosemite, which allows you to learn about its history and explore every corner in more detail than you would on a one-day tour.

This activity feels like a road trip through the historic Gold Rush towns to the Sierra Nevada mountains. When you arrive in Yosemite, not only will you have the opportunity to take a guided tour, but you will also have free time to enjoy other activities within the National Park such as hiking, biking, cooling off in the Merced River, or going on a photo tour through the forests and cliffs.

The possibilities are endless! The great thing about this excursion is that you won't have to rush back to San Francisco, but can spend the night in a hotel in the heart of Yosemite Valley and continue your visit the next day right where you left off. It's the most complete option to make the most of your stay.

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• Duration: Approximately
• Price: From €520
• Recommended if... you're looking for the most complete 2-day option, with a night in the park, free time to explore at your own pace and the peace of mind of not having to return on the same day.

For nature lovers, this 3-day tour to Yosemite from San Francisco is the perfect opportunity to experience an authentic adventure in one of the most spectacular national parks in the United States. Travelling in a small group and accompanied by an expert guide, you will enjoy a complete tour of Yosemite with camp accommodation, full board and all the amenities to make you feel like a true explorer.

During the experience, you'll discover breathtaking landscapes such as the giant sequoias of Tuolumne Grove, the impressive Yosemite Falls, the iconic Yosemite Valley and the picturesque Captain Meadow. You'll walk through lush forests, cool off in natural lakes and have time for photography or simply relaxing in the heart of nature.

What's more, you'll share the adventure with other travellers as you camp under the stars in Yosemite Village, enjoying the fresh air of the Sierra Nevada and the magic of an unforgettable experience in the heart of the park.

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• Duration: Approximately
• Price: From €667
• Recommended if... you are a true nature lover and want to experience a 3-day adventure camping under the stars in the heart of the park.

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Day trips to Yosemite from San Francisco cost around £140 and include transport to the Sierra Nevada in California where the National Park is located, entrance to the park and a guided tour. These are very comprehensive options and you'll have a great time.

However, the best way to enjoy Yosemite is by staying overnight. It's amazing to see how the landscape changes from day to night! An incredible experience and highly recommended.

For travellers who can spend more time in this area of California, I recommend a two-day trip to Yosemite, which costs around £260. These types of tours also include transport to the National Park, entrance fees, a guided tour and hotel accommodation, but you will have much more time to get to know Yosemite in depth and enjoy it to the fullest by doing all kinds of activities in the heart of nature.

What will I see in Yosemite?

The city of San Francisco is located about 300 kilometres from Yosemite National Park. By road, it takes around 4 hours to get there, but the journey doesn't seem very long as driving through the historic towns of California's Gold Country towards the Sierra Nevada mountains is a fantastic experience and along the way you'll see beautiful landscapes that will remain etched in your memory.

In addition, the buses normally used for organised trips to Yosemite National Park are usually equipped with all the amenities to make the journey more pleasant. The vehicles have comfortable seats, air conditioning, and some have toilets and Wi-Fi.

• The best time to visit Yosemite is in spring and autumn, when the colours of nature are at their most vibrant. However, this National Park is so popular in the United States that it receives visitors all year round, even though the weather is very changeable. For example, during the winter months, temperatures can be very low, and there may be snow and ice in the park. It is therefore advisable to wear warm clothing and rubber-soled shoes on the excursion to avoid slipping on some of the trails.
• During the summer, the days are longer and sunnier, but it is also hotter. It is therefore advisable to bring a backpack with plenty of water, sunglasses, a hat and some sunscreen.
• Without a doubt, the essential item you will need to bring to the park is your mobile phone or a good camera to photograph the breathtaking landscapes of California's Sierra Nevada.

If you want to visit Yosemite on your own, you can get there by public transport. You will need to take a Greyhound bus to Merced, the town closest to Yosemite, and from there take another bus to the National Park with YARTS, a company that specialises in this service. Then, to get around inside the park, there are several free shuttles.

However, the option I recommend most is to take an organised tour to Yosemite, as this way you won't have to worry about finding transport and buying tickets, or making transfers to get from one place to another with the consequent waiting times. You'll save time because you'll be picked up at your hotel and taken directly to Yosemite National Park.