LA to SF via Yosemite - staying near the park..which entry?

Hi, we are planning a trip to California next May.

we are starting in LA, driving up the coast stopping at Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Carmel etc.

would liek to spend 3 night at Yosemite - thinking 1 or 2 near south entrance (Oakhurst/Fish Camp?) and 1 or 2 at El Portal...not sure if that%26#39;s the best way and what is the best rout from the coast. Can%26#39;t afford to stay in the park (and it%26#39;s all booked for our dates). on the way to SF we were thinking of driving through/staying at Sonora (Gold Country)....maybe Napa if we%26#39;ll have time before SF....

been reading lots on the forum but still a bit confused. please help! Thanks!

LA to SF via Yosemite - staying near the park..which entry?

If you%26#39;re cutting over from Monterey, you can either go in hwy 140 to El Portal or hwy 41 to Fish Camp. Either way will be hovering around 4 hours of driving (without stops). Try and stay in Fish Camp rather than Oakhurst, just because it will cut a half hour or so off of your driving towards the park.

Since you%26#39;re visiting at the end of May, what you could do is 1 night in Fish Camp on hwy 41, and spend that first half day you arrive in the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. On your second day in the area, drive up to Glacier Point (which will hopefully be open for you...fingers crossed), and continue on to the Valley for a quick exploration. Spend that night and one more night in El Portal which is closer to the Valley. Because the waterfalls will be going at full force around that time, I think you can easily spend another full day in the Valley bicycle riding, walking, hiking, tram touring or a combination of all of the above.

Then exit the park on hwy 120 to see Groveland, Sonora, or anything else along Gold Country. HotelCharlotte can give you excellent advice about that portion. You could also do a an hour or two in Hetch Hetchy, another part of the part that will be on your way out on hwy 120. The waterfalls will be running there as well.

Have fun whatever you decide to do!

LA to SF via Yosemite - staying near the park..which entry?

Thank you so much for the advice!

i think we are going to go with 1 night at Narrow Gauge Inn

and 2 nights at Cedar Lodge at El Portal.

We booked out flights for the end of May...Can%26#39;t to explore Yosemite- especially the falls! not familiar with Hetch Hetchy - will look into it! Thanks!

clear up black spot