Yosemite National Park Day Trip from San Francisco
San Francisco, United States of America
Exchange the big-city charms of San Francisco for the fresh air and natural beauty of Yosemite, California's most famous national park. Choose to start your time in Yosemite with a reserved lunch at the renown Ahwahnee Dining Room or head straight to the park to begin your adventure. Take a walking tour of the park with your guide or take off on your own. You'll have around four hours within Yosemite to explore the scenic wonders of Yosemite Valley.
Begin your journey with hotel pickup by luxury bus or van complete with posh amenities like hardwood style floors in the bus. After crossing the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge, you'll travel through the Great Central Valley and into the Sierra foothills, where the Forty-Niners panned for gold.
Following the beautiful Merced River to the Sierra Nevada Mountains, you'll enter Yosemite National Park. Glaciers cut through these mountains, forming the spectacular granite monuments you'll see throughout the park. There are many sights and activities to keep you occupied. Visit the Ansel Adams art gallery or rent a bike (own expense). Spend time at the visitor's center to learn more about this beautiful park or head to the ranger's station for engaging walks and talks. Watch basket-weaving and beading demonstrations in the Indian Village of Ahwahnee or take a stroll along the Merced River. You'll have approximately four hours to spend in the park.
You'll join your guide for a hike to the base of Yosemite Falls or you may choose to adventure on your own.
Highlights on your Yosemite National Park day trip include:
San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge
Sierra Nevada Range
El Capitan
Bridalveil Falls
Vernal Falls
Merced River
Yosemite Falls
Cathedral Spires
Half Dome
At 4 pm, reconvene and head back to San Francisco, driving through the Stanislaus National Forest, with a feeling of fulfillment having seen one of the worlds greatest wonders.
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Antonio was the best tour guide, friendly, very knowledgeable, patient, made additional stops for us to take pictures, etc, etc. We will take any tour with a guide like Antonio. The trip was long, but he made it funny and confortable.
Review by: jso106, July 2018
Perfect day trip for me on my own while being part of an international tour group ~ getting in some time for relaxation, rejuvenation, and inspiration at our amazing Yosemite National Park. I packed my own food/drinks for the trip. We stopped half way to Yosemite for a break. Most went to Raley's for food/drink purchases. I went to CVS for motion sickness prevention ideas, bc it was going to get very windy through the mountains from there. The ginger gum worked great for me there and back! We stopped at the same location on the way back. On the tour at Yosemite, the driver took us around to many key spots for photo ops and gave us history and fun facts about each spot. After our tour on the bus, we had several hours on our own.
Review by: YEJEE J, July 2018
This was awesome, but a little bit hard due to far distance.
Review by: Linda J, June 2018
This day trip was wonderful! The coach/bus was comfortable and the driver was very friendly and informative. A great way to see Yosemite if you only have a day to spare.
Review by: Susan H, May 2018
I want to tell everyone that this excursions was one of the best I have ever done. Our tour guide Antonio was awesome. He went over and above to stop at places heading to and heading back from the tour that other guides may not have taken the time to do. You could tell how passionate he is about what he does. Antonio knew so much about the history of the Park and was able to answer all questions thrown at him. He was pleasant, helpful, informative and made everyone feel comfortable. I cannot say enough about him and this excursion. I would pay double to do it all over again that's how phenomenal our day was. DO NOT hesitate to do this excursion.
Review by: NATALY O, April 2018
It was good BUT too expensive for the few time that we spend there...We had to be running in the park, the guided tour was ON THE BUS the bus driver was explaining some things but never gave info about the free shuttle in the park which can give you tours IN THE PARK and we spent too much time at the gas station...
Review by: Andrew C, April 2018
What an experience. The highlight of our holiday. The views were incredible and will live with us forever. The whole day however was made so enjoyable by our guide and driver, Antonio. His knowledge shone through in everything he said and his own personal experience showed the passion he has.
Review by: Parameswaran B, April 2018
We were very happy with this tour! Our driver, Mr Chablis was very helpful, friendly and always smiling... we would recommend him to anyone!
Review by: Oliver M, March 2018
I was a bit weary of the long bus journey . As soon as we were all seated , our tour guide/driver Antonio introduced himself . A voice with such clarity and a great manner in which he described things as we drove along , I knew this was going to be a good tour . He explained the background of the places we passed , the people who live and work there ,the evolution of everything with a passing of time . The stops he made for stretching of legs / refreshments, and the scienic locations were just right . A big thank you Antonio, for finding my wife's necklace ! I think Antonio is so good at gauging people , what he thinks a mix of people would like and he plans everthing as he drives along.Even at the end of the day driving through downtown, with the rain coming down quite heavily he was always so positive ,as he dropped us at Union Square it stopped raining! Antonio is a top man- no question, you should be proud of him.
Review by: Thomas H, March 2018
Excellent, informative with breathtaking views from the bus and free time to explore on your own. Convenient hotel pick up and drop off. Food options could be better.
Review by: Margo B, March 2018
This trip was the highlight of our trip out to San Fransisco. Wonderful service from our hotel. Chabli, our bus drive, was kind and fun. Bus was comfortable and made the long day a pleasant experience. The recent snow was a bonus which made the park beautiful! I highly recommend it! Margo Bennett, North Carolina.
Review by: Diego L, March 2018
Very nice tour, the driver was very kind and he even stopped at Treasure Island on the way back to SF so that we could see the skyline at night. We had plenty of time in Yosemite, and I don't think you can see more in one day as we did. We had a good balance between guided visits and free time in the park. I totally recommend the tour!
Review by: Chris, March 2018
An excellent day's journey with a knowledgeable and helpful driver. Stopping off to let us take some amazing photos of Yosemite Falls and the surrounding area. A great day rounded off by stopping to take photos of SF from across the bay.
Review by: Nicole L, February 2018
Yosemite was extremely beautiful and worth the long drive. You will have very limited time there, but your driver will take you on some wonderful stops before you have free time. Sheblei was one of the most knowledgeable, funny and caring guides I’ve had on a trip. I hope many more people get to enjoy him. He was extremely patient, well organized and explained everything we were going to do. He took the time to take ppl to requested stops (at the end of the night) and made sure to drop them off at the safest locations. A very kind, attentive gentleman. Thank you Sheblei for taking us to see the beautiful night scape of San Francisco on the bay. Wonderful way to end the long day!
Review by: Katherine S, February 2018
It was a very early start but extremely worth it. I had a long journey ahead of me but I had the best tour guide I've experienced yet in Antonio, fab driving on Old Priest Road! He talked about all the interesting sites along the way and took us to the must see sites of Yosemite. He was courteous, knowledgeable and gave us perfect lengths of time for photos and breaks on the trip._br/_ This tour really is worth it if you are on a short trip to San Francisco, all the pictures and photos you see of Yosemite can never do it justice. It is a must see National Park! After Antonio showed us all the beautiful places on the tour we got to spend nearly 4 hours free time in the park which was great. I'm one for yoga/meditating so I found a quiet spot all to myself with Half Dome in the background after climbing to Lower Yosemite Falls. _br/_ We all met up for the bus journey back and Antonio made a few more photo opportunity stops. To say I've watched the sunset in Yosemite is beyond my wildest dreams and a complete privilege. If Yosemite is on your bucket list, I'd say go without a second thought! I will one day hopefully return and stay a few nights there.
Review by: Edith C, February 2018
This was the best tour I have taken by far. If you are in San Francisco I highly recommend this trip, it is worth every penny. Our tour guide Jorge was amazing. He took us to his favorite fishing spot at the park and the view of El Capitan was amazing. That's the picture next to the tree. Great exp
Review by: Fiona H, January 2018
Absolutely disgraceful experience, in so many regards it makes me think that the favorable ratings here are false! I took my parents who are from Australia and I was literally embarrassed by every aspect of the day.
Review by: Jiri T, January 2018
Great trip, with possibility to see all the most beutiful places. And almost 4 hours for own activity in the Yosemite valey.
Review by: Saisai Y, January 2018
I really like all the view there. But we drive there, the bus stopped for 1 hour to break. I wiish we could spend more time there..
Review by: Valerie Maria L, January 2018
The tour was very touristy. We had made a few stops and had only 10 to 20 minutes each time to take a nice photo at certain vantage points. The park was beautiful, but I wanted more free time to explore for myself.
Review by: Anne S, December 2017
Check in was easy and well organised. The bus was comfortable and the stops along the way we're well timed for comfort and photo opportunities. Yosemite was, as expected, an incredible place to visit and the weather, luckily for our group was cool and sunny and perfect for hiking. Our guide, Chabli, was the best guide I have ever had on an organised trip. He didn't talk too much but pointed out places of interest backed up with useful information. He was punctual, but graciously flexible when he needed to be. He had a great sense of humour and his ability to make everyone feel included created a lovely sense of unity among a group of strangers. A nice skill that contributed to an enjoyable and memorable day.
Review by: Dora G, December 2017
The tour guide was excellent. Knowledge of the region and driving skills. This was an amazing trip.
Review by: Peter P, December 2017
The view is breathtaking. 3.5 hours spent at National Park gave enough time to enjoy a small hiking and having lunch
Review by: ALBERTO M, December 2017
Yosemite is a very beautiful place, but this tour felt really rushed. Unfriendly driver, no guide only the driver acted as a guide every now and then. Greyline, the organizing company, a disaster. Rude staff, they lie to your face just to get you going. The day before we had this tour, we were stood up by this very same company. Nobody came to pick us up! Then they promised hotel return on our way back, yet their very rude driver said that was impossible because he wasn't going that way. So on our way back, around 10PM we were left in the city center to find our way back to our hotel, so we had to pay a cab. Totally unacceptable, after paying more than 140 per person for this ride to Yosemite. Because that's all that it was, a ride! Then you were left on your own for 4h to walk around the place. We are very disappointed.
Review by: Devi D, December 2017
Wonderful tour. Our driver is very nice. Just wish it would be an overnight trip. Highly recommended tour.
Review by: Federico A, November 2017
A nightmare._br/_ The driver didnt know anything about the Park apparently. She left us in a random location, saying the Park shuttle bus would pass by, but it wasn't the case!!!!! After she dropped us, she left, and we spent all our day getting lost and risking to get hit by passing cars, and then trying to locate the bus which we did after immense difficulties, before finally leaving, 2 hours behind schedule - and all this after having seen NOTHING of the Park. Many of the other tourists were elder people, and couldn't walk long distances. It was a disaster, by far the worst tour experience of my life.
Review by: Jonathan E, November 2017
Fantastic Experience, loved every minute of the day ,, the tour guide was first class
Review by: Katherine TH T, November 2017
The tour wasn't up to our expectations. Sorry, we are honest about it. The driver cum tour guide was not very interactive and the tour is more liken to be a self-guided/directed tour apart from being driven._br/_ We have taken other Viator tours before, last year in LA and others hence, we had no hesitation to choose Viator for the Yosemite National Park tour. For the price paid, it is far short of expectations, rather disappointed indeed.
Review by: Anupam C, November 2017
Chabli is one of best drivers to take you around National Park Day trip via Grey Line, I would strongly recommend him. Only complaint we had is wish we got one more hour to see the place otherwise it was an excellent trip !!
Review by: Monique H, November 2017
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Caroline U, November 2017
Antonio was our tour guide. He handled our tour very well. He has a good sense of humor.
Review by: Mallika A, October 2017
I had a great experience. Our tour guide was very helpful. I would recommend this trip to anyone who wants to visit Yosemite.
Review by: G-w, October 2017
Yosemite is beautiful. Definitely worth going to see when in San Fransico. However this tour is very long! We started at 7am and didn't get back to San Fransico until after 9pm spending 3 hours of that time in Yosemite but I suppose this can't be helped due to the travel distance.
Review by: jimbolada, October 2017
Long ride to get there, but totally worth it! Wish I could have stayed longer.
Review by: hang51bis, October 2017
Our trip to visit Yosemite national park was nice and safely. Our driver, a women was nice too.
Review by: Ian J, October 2017
This was not the tour we were expecting. It was a 7 hour bus ride to get there with little information from the 'guide' and then told that we can get on another shuttle bus to go around the park. We were given a map to photograph that would help us, then hurriedly dropped off. We could have made the journey time a little shorter by joining it at Union street instead of Fishermans Wharf, and then driving around hotels to pick up. Take a packed lunch as the stops were not great and the queues long. Driver told us half way through that she'd been up since 2 am and with the day lasting more than 12 hours didn't give me any confidence is that legal ? - she also had a severe knee injury! we did have a little over 3 hours to walk around Yosemite which was awesome. Good stop in the dark half way across the Bay bridge to see San Francisco lit up across the bay a good ending. Could have been better with some more advice and information during the day, which all my other trips had. On this trip I felt I had to make it up as I went along and with limited time, not is good
Review by: Joanne L, October 2017
Amazing Trip! Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and funny. What a great place to visit!
Review by: Paul F, October 2017
This is a good familiarization trip of Yosemite Valley. It's 14 hours of mostly bus riding with 3 hours in Yosemite Valley tourist central, where you're on your own but must be back at bus stop by an appointed time, or you'll have to find another way back to SF. The coach bus was comfortable, the driver/guide amusingly informative sometimes too much info, such as on Calif. agriculture, with half hour freeway toilet/restaurant fast food stops - both coming and going - near Merced, CA. You travel Rt 140 in/out of the park along the Merced River with a park photo op stop at Tunnel View point before descending back into the village. You then have time to pick maybe 2 or 3 things to do or see. Getting to El Capitan even by the free park shuttle eats up too much time tragically, the day I was there a massive rock slide down El Capitan killed one climber and seriously injured his wife emergency vehicles were everywhere and traffic, of course, ground to a halt. Around the village there are several enjoyable short hikes and some nice vantage points to view Half Dome and the Upper and Lower falls. Before you know it, it's time to head back. Having a professional driver maneuver through the hilly and mountain roads is a relief. I have no idea how bad traffic is during the high season and how much time this adds to your trip, but when I went in late September, the traffic was moderate and the flow was steady. The only other thing I should note is the SF Grey Line office on Post St. requires you call to confirm your booking. Good luck! You get prompts that steer you nowhere, and ultimately to voicemail where leaving a message is pointless they didn't return calls. Others on my trip had the same experience. HINT: when you call to confirm, keep recalling if directed to voicemail. If you hear a phone pick up, yell HELLO to get attention, otherwise you may get a hangup and busy signal. Come on, Grey Line. Is this really that hard to get right?
Review by: Hayley G, October 2017
Very long day but really enjoyed it, well worth the early start and the travel
Review by: James M, October 2017
This was a great trip. We went in December, and the weather was a big factor. We spent most of our time getting there and back from San Francisco, including the driver having to stop and put chains on the tires going into the park. Once there, it was a wonderful experience. We got to see some beautiful sites. I would love to come back and do it again in the spring
Review by: Badruddin B, September 2017
Needed a reschedule last minute. They allowed it very smoothly
Review by: Abhishek, September 2017
This is a must do tour if you are having time. It will require a whole day but the trip will be worth it. The one side journey is 4.5 hrs and there is a rest stop in middle. In the Yosemite Park, there were many places where the bus driver stopped for photo opportunities. The park is really good and the twin waterfall was a very good sight to see. There were a lot of open spaces where we could admire the natural beauty and click a lot of really nice photos. The bus driver was also very nice and very knowledgeable about the park. We really enjoyed this trip and would suggest this to anyone who has a day and wants to enjoy in a really nice way.
Review by: RSchulman127, September 2017
Park is far from San Francisco about 5 hours_br/_ Once you're there, it's great.
Review by: Jojoe85, September 2017
I would recommend this tour to anyone wanting to visit Yosemite. The coach driver Antonio was amazing!! His knowledge on every town we drive through really made the journey more interesting. He gave us plenty of time in the park and knew all the good photo stops. It's a long day but worth it.
Review by: Meredith S, September 2017
The landscape was amazing and certainly worth the long drive out there. The driver could probably learn less is more as his rambling commentary was not always appreciated.
Review by: Richard J, September 2017
So glad I went. I knew I would love the park and I did._br/_ The real surprise was this: Our bus driver was absolutely wonderful and exceeded my expectation by 3 standard deviations. Knowledgeable, entertaining and thoughtful. I enjoyed his peaceful banter without which the ride would have felt endless. I kept waiting to hear his thoughts on each topic.
Review by: James T, April 2017
This tour was fantastic. Our tour guide Antonio was great, very pleasant and funny. He had many interesting facts and fun tidbits to share with us and some surprises too. Yosemite was breathtaking, we were there in April so the waterfalls were flowing heavily after a rainy season. The park is so beautiful that words can't describe the sights you will see. It is a 14 hour trip, but well worth the time and it passed quickly, thanks to Antonio.
Review by: Alan H, April 2017
A really long day, but with scenery as stunning as you get, we thought it was worth it. Our driver Chabli was very friendly and helpful and got us to all the great picture spots. He did a great job pointing out things along the route to the park that were interesting, and delivered everyone safely. Would totally recommend this trip to others.
Review by: Maricin A, March 2017
We are so thankful to Alex and Grayline Bus for this wonderful ride to Yosemite National Park. Although we couldn't make it until Yosemite Valley because of the weather, we enjoyed all the views during the drive and all Alex's explanations were very helpful. Not only about the park, but all the ride from San Francisco, going through San Joaquin valley and so on... Also enjoyed the walk through the snowy trail until the Sequoia Trees and the sorroundings were so magnificent ! We guess that maybe next time we will go in Spring so we can visit all the other attractions of this park._br/_ Thanks for a great ride !
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