For out-of-town visitors, the process can be painstakingly complicated, so you're really better off booking a guided tour or renting a car and driving. However, if you think that you have already had your fill of wine for the day, you can go to Oakville for your next stop and drop by the Oakville Grocery. The Sunny Side of the Bay Excellent tour, the best way to know Napa valley. Include specific info about your trip. Its amazing architecture has made it popular for weddings and photography. It is considered one of the top scientific schools in the world. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Yosemite National Park has nearly 1,200 square miles of towering granite, alpine lakes and ancient sequoia trees. South Bay - the tech capital! Even today, there are still cultural ceremonies held there. Betsy has been writing about California for nearly more than two decades as TripSavvy's expert on the state. Get a free Yosemite National Park trip planner with inspiring itineraries and essential information. FAQ: Yanks drive on the wrong side of the road. Nowadays, B&Bs seem to be mostly listed on TripAdvisor under B&Bs -- not so much under Specialty Lodging any longer. 15 San Francisco: Golden Gate Bridge and Lombard GoCar Tour. Or check out Destination Delivery: Have an RV delivered directly to a campground or parking site to camp in style without having to get behind the wheel. (And the next one on this list about visiting the Giant Redwoods too). International flights (per person, based on 2 sharing), Explore the eclectic neighbourhoods of San Francisco, Taste your way through the vineyards of Napa Valley, Admire the views over Lake Tahoe and Emerald Bay, Hike your way through the lush mountains in Yosemite National Park. Thoughts on a few great places to consider? Learn before you go by checking out our article on. 3 Day Yosemite Camping Adventure From San Francisco. To see Napa from a different perspective, try a horseback riding tour or hop aboard a hot air balloon. If you can still hold your alcohol for one more tasting before returning to San Francisco, you can make a quick stop in Napa to visit Darioush. 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 lovely Italian-style vineyard is located up in the hills just west of Sonora. San Francisco International Film Festival: April 13 - 23 ; Earth Day San Francisco: April 22 ; Art Market San Francisco: April 20 - 23 ; Bay Area National Dance Week: April 21 - 30 ; Napa Valley. Expert guides. If so, do some price comparison shopping atRentalcars.com. Hopefully your return flight is late in the day! People can enjoy the iconic and breathtaking views as they cross the historic bridge. There is also an alternative wine trail called theYosemite Sierra trail. From local artisan producers and farmers to Western culture, The bridge at Wapama Falls in Yosemites Hetch Hetchy Valley, Photo by Kim Carroll Photography courtesy of Everygreen Lodge, Alcatraz Island is a National Park Service site, down-to-earth wine, beer, ice cream and caffeine tasting scene, this town is a great place to spend some time on the way to the park, www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/oakdale/oklca/hoteldetail, listen to an entertaining guide in your car, plus ten more things to do in this charming historic county, Stay in a Modern Airstream at AutoCamp Yosemite. We will alert you when your requested tour becomes available! The leading independent voice for aviation news and insight. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. By car, journey through towns like Livermore where youll find a laidback wine region, with grapes nourished by that snowflake. The previous record was 40 degrees on Feb. 24 in 1891. Alcatraz & Muir Woods Tour Package . Top 4 Ways to get from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park: San Francisco To Yosemite Road Trip. There are various options to reach Napa Valley from San Francisco. Distance: 176 mi / 283 km Time: 4 hours If you are traveling with kids, or you are simply a train nerd, the Sugar Pine Railroad is a fun stop to make on the way from SF to Yosemite. Theyre growing more than almonds and peaches in the Central Valley (although if you do this drive in the spring, be sure to stop for thelovely almond blossoms). The relatively low elevation of Hetch Hetchy means that it offers a long hiking season. The region houses one of the most important reservoirs storing and serving drinking water to northern California. Specialties: Incredible Adventures is an outdoor travel company that specializes in sightseeing and adventure tours from San Francisco to Yosemite, Napa & Sonoma Wine Country, Silicon Valley, Tahoe and Whitewater Rafting! Re: San Francisco - Napa Valley - Yosemite? Day 4: Big Sur. Youll probably approach from the east driving past the bizarre Mono Lake, a soda lake full of strange salt formations. What is best way to fit Yosemite into San Francisco to Las Vegas drive (i am planning to complete the 7 day trip on this site to get from SF to LV including Bridgeport and Death Valley but not sure best way to include Yosemite into the trip). Reply Subscribe . Based in Napa Valley, Jess has extensively covered California wine country for numerous national . October 13-16, 2022 . Moving north through San Rafael, travelers will reach Highway 37 by heading east. Dont leave Yosemite without visiting theMariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. Another option is to enjoy a bit of the coast north of San Francisco rather than going south, or maybe just making a day trip to Napa from San Francisco. Now that you've set your multi-destination itinerary, I suggest you go to the city/destination forum page. The place is constructed to be like Persepolis, and French wine is the inspiration for their spirits. If you want to visit some wineries along the way, stick to the ones along Highway 29 and contact the winery directly to ask where the nearest bus stop is. Any and all suggestions are appreciated. Spring is also an excellent time of year to visit neighboring wine country and sip some vino. All passengers above age of 16 who want to join the tour need to be fully vaccinated with vaccination record card proven. Alcatraz & San Francisco Combo Tour. There are a ton of hiking trails that start in or near Tuolumne Meadows. Hi. This San Francisco to Yosemite road trip itinerary will take you from the Bay Area to the park in one day, stops included. Enjoy a day in San Francisco. Its just a matter of picking your distance. Besides enjoying the valley's wine, gastronomy, and hospitality, there are a number of attractions that may be interesting if you're looking for something else to do. The National Weather Service says San Francisco's low of 39 degrees on Friday is a new record low for this day. There are lodging suggestions for these towns in the article. Happy trails! There is mobile service on the valley floor, but it may be spotty elsewhere in the park, like on Tioga Pass. To do a trip to Yosemite -- wow that is 8 plus hours of driving and too little time to actually see the amazing valley. It is the home of Vista Point, the Marine Mammal Center, and beautiful views of San Francisco Bay. See the Most Controversial Spot in Yosemite near the Hetch Hetchy Entrance ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-43239749', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');San Francisco in November. On the return trip, you can take the faster route, Highway 101, and pass through Sonoma County, one of the best wine regions in the United States. On arrival in San Francisco you will make your own way into the city and check into your hotel for one night. Thanks for all of the input! Where to see Superbloom Sunday (March 5th) near Los Angeles? This is where they will have reached Napa Valley's southern edge. That, in itself is stretching SF very thin, but if you really want to see the Napa Valley, then so be it. Public transportation is a slow way to get to Napa and is not designed for tourists who want to see the sights and visit some wineries. * Please note the Tour Map is subject to change. . Aunindita Bhatia is a professional content writer based in India. It covers an area of 35 square kilometers. 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. Let's Chat. Take advantage of the shuttle buses to get around the valley floor. SF to Yosemite via Highway 120 E. Travel Time: 3 hours and 45 minutes. If you can snag a camp spot or lodge reservation inside Yosemite Valley, go for it. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. The Napa Valley shouldn't be missed if you're in the area, although since it is filled with vineyards and if you're planning on tasting wine, we'd suggest spending the night (or . It began operation way back in 1881, so Oakville Grocery is known to be the oldest Californian grocery store in operation. Best 2-Day Eco-Friendly Yosemite Vacation Itinerary Read their Top Questions and any relevant threads (just 'lurk' on other threads; don't add your questions.) This guide is organized around four major sections of the drive: SF to Yosemites southern reaches, Yosemite Valley, Northern Yosemite and the return from Yosemite to San Francisco. Theres a gorgeous, historic lodge to stay in nearby and you can hike around the reservoir and discover its history. V. Sattui is a family-owned winery, and its wines are only sold on-site, so it is not available anywhere else. Depending on what time your flight arrives you could get out and explore, so why not head to the harbour for a bowl of clam chowder as the sun goes down the perfect start to a Californian adventure! Or course, you could also skip the ferry and travel from San Francisco to Vallejo along the BART Train or along another bus route, depending on where in the Bay Area you're coming from. If you are lovin those views, you may want to consider coming back to Tioga Pass as an entryway to our scenicHighway 395 drivedown the Eastern Sierras. In addition, there is a food truck stationed by the garden where you can have lunch, but note that they only serve small bites. Buses to Napa Valley from San Francisco. WHat if i opted to pay all the the Admission fee amounting to $135 and the $100 (cable cars, etc..) and the Tour guide fee of $9/day total of $27that is a grand total $262 so in addition to the $338 tour , i have to add the $262, totalling to $600. south of San Francisco, around Santa Barbara, and lots more. 2-5 Days. You may have to stay outside the park. Prices are subject to change without prior notice. RELATED: The 10 Best Napa Wineries For First-Timers To Visit. You'll experience exquisite vineyards, enchanting forests and gigantic redwoods . You climb through pine forest into the craggy granite tippy top of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. We've been offering travelers a safe, eco-friendly, reliable way to connect with nature since 1993. Park your car in a Yosemite gateway town and take the YARTS bus into Yosemite Valley. It was one of the countrys most infamous federal prisons. The easiest way to get from San Francisco to Napa using public transportation is to take the San Francisco Bay Ferry from the San Francisco Ferry Building or Fisherman's Wharf Pier 41 to Vallejo. Highways 120 West, 140, 41 and 120 East/Tioga Road. Are there any suggestions for an itinerary? SF-(ta && ta.queueForLoad ? From either location, you can avoid summer traffic hassle in Yosemite valley by catching theYarts busright from town. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. Tucked along Hwy. In addition to being the tallest waterfall in North America, the Yosemite Falls are the seventh-tallest in the world. Yosemite in a Day Tour From San Francisco. Look at lodging reviews; B&Bs are usually under Specialty Lodging. The grandiosely-named Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, California is a huge, ornate outdoor structure that is part of the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. --, I would suggest not having a car for SF but renting it for the day to go to Napa Valley. Enjoy this relaxing stop on Hwy 120 on the way to Yosemite National Park with modern, clean rooms and amenities such as complimentary breakfast, high speed internet and an outdoor pool. 01244 435 806. The road trip map below recommends a more circuitous routing that only adds about two extra hours of drive time. 13 Gems in Mariposa Countys Gold Rush Towns The tour includes El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls in Yosemite Valley, Tunnel View, and Glacier Point. Yosemites natural wonders make it a very popular park, for both Californians and visitors. If you want to maximize your road trip to Napa Valley, the best route would be via the Golden Gate Bridge to the Marin Headlands. From San Franciscos shores, decide whether to visit Yosemite by rail or car. Is lodging in the valley really that bad? Napa Valley is a little . She has written for Thethings, Babygaga, Thetravel, and Therichest. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. The South Bay consists of Silicon Valley cities like Santa Clara, San . Monthly average prices. Park hotels already sold out in July -Next best alternative? That surpassed a record of 36 inches for Feb. 28, set in 1969, spokesperson Scott Gediman confirmed to the San Francisco . If you are from out of the areas, check out this advice for finding theclosest airport to Yosemite. 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. On this trip, you'll head into the wilderness of Yosemite National Park before a vino-tasting tour through the finest fine wine country in the US. Day 9: Napa Valley/ Sonoma OR Muir Woods. . Eight days in San Francisco, Yosemite NP, Napa Valley and Carmel/Big Sur. The park isnt large and you can make a quick cultural stop by visiting the traditional round house. Wine taste in Napa & Sonoma with an excursion in the giant sequoias of Muir Woods, San Francisco's stunning Coastal Redwood Forest. We reserve the right to edit or reject questions that include inappropriate content, profanity, references to other retailers, pricing, or personal information. 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. Visit Yosemite National Park, Napa Valley, Cable Car, Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf & more! Maybe I will actually break down and become *a fan* of TA one of these days! Napa Valley has plenty of luxurious resorts, spas, and top-rated restaurants. You will receive a confirmation email (e-ticket) after your order is processed. 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. The kids will love the tour and tasting afterwards. Our San Francisco and Yosemite Vacation package includes five nights accommodations and multiple guided group tours. The Yosemite 1-day private tour is limited to the Yosemite Valley sights and attractions, which represent only 1% of the Yosemite National Park . After exiting the Oakland side of the Bay Bridge, travelers will head north. you have 7 days to see 4 places and you want to add more? On your Yosemite adventure,listen to an entertaining guide in your car. Learn More. The road into the Valley meanders along the Merced River. The fastest way to get from SF to Yosemite is out I580 through Tracy, connecting with Highway 120 in Manteca. As you make your way towards the coast, consider that little snowflake and its incredible journey. . There is travel time involved as well. Three Sonoma and Napa valley tastings. Best Alcatraz Tours combined with San Francisco, Napa, Silicon Valley & Redwoods. This article was expanded with more information about Napa Valley and suggestions to make more of a day trip of visiting Napa Valley. Your first stop is at Muir Woods National Monument, aka the Forest Moon of Endor, for a hike among the redwoods. Distance: 195 mi / 314 km Time:4-5 hours Take I-580 east to I-205 east to Highway 120 east (Manteca) or Highway 140 east (Merced) into Yosemite National Park. # of Tastings: Up to 3 stops and wine tastings included in the price. Jess Lander joined the food and wine team at The San Francisco Chronicle as wine reporter in 2022. For you to maximize your day, leave early and work back your travel itinerary so that you can enjoy some quick stops along the way. It sits over the Stanislaus river and there are some nice hiking trails on the north side and tons of picnic tables on the south side. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-46693958', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Napa valley, I think that would be fine. Downtown Napa is 50 miles from San Francisco, but Napa Valley stretches beyond just the city of Napa. Day 2 : San Francisco - Napa. 5 Famous Viewpoints Close to the Road in Yosemite Experience the best of Yosemite whiletraveling sustainablyby eating locally grown food, staying at eco-friendly lodges and hiking on gorgeous trails. It's not exactly cheap and, surprisingly, wine is not included unless you opt for a special package, but it is a luxury experience and the only way to see Napa by rail. Napa Valley is renowned for quality wine and excellent food and is always worth a stop. I will admit that this Travel Forum is good. If you want to do this drive in the winter, then check out our Yosemite winter guide. Tuolumnes Top 8 on the Edge of Yosemite There are many picnic spots, beaches and swimming holes dotting the river. The Mariposa grove is the largest in the park and is conveniently located just 10 miles from Fish Camp. Napa Valley symbolizes California's wine country and is considered one of the world's premier wine regions. If you want to grab a bite, you can go to Ariscault Bakery and get their popular Chocolate Almond Croissant. 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. In addition to touring the castle interior, visitors can taste a wide selection of fine Napa Valley wine which is made on premises and not sold elsewhere. Heres how it works. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-43239963', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Yosemite. After Yosemite, wind your way back through beautiful farmlands and orchards, stopping in Modesto where youll find a sea of lovely white blossoms in the spring, thanks to the citys groves of almond trees. Joshua - secluded in the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? $(function() { Santa Cruz is situated on the northern edge of Monterey Bay, about 32 mi (51 km) south of San Jose and 75 mi (120 km) south of San Francisco. It has been speculated that it is the most photographed bridge in the world; it's certainly one of the most picturesque. Prices as travel date approaches. Enjoy shopping and dining along the way in addition to taking in the vistas. The road trip map below recommends a more circuitous routing that only adds about two extra hours of drive time. I would also recommend that if visiting the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? With the diverse natural landscapes in the region, you could easily spend 3-4 days (or a lifetime) exploring the trails, rock climbs, and attractions. That being said, the most convenient way to travel to wine country is by renting or driving your vehicle. From $277.00. You can also stop by Oakville Wine Merchant and get some wine per glass. Public transport like trains or buses have no routes for Napa Valley, and your only affordable option is to book a guided tour. These services are mostly used by workday commuters and the number of trips they make per day is fewer on weekends, especially on Sundays. Goes to Mirror Lake and then continues along a flat-ish loop back into the valley. Once home to Al Scarface Capone and other notorious criminals, Alcatraz Island is a National Park Service site located 1.25 miles offshore. Stop #2: Point Reyes National Seashore. They operated a ferry until 1852, and then they built the bridge, which is the longest covered bridge west of the Mississippi. Typically one needs 2-3 days in SF and at least 2 in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? }); An A+ company rated by BBB; Chat with us! From the San Francisco Airport to Yosemite National Park is about 200 miles. With a day to enjoy Napa Valley, you need to get stuck right into the wonderful food and wine of the region. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. It was the only port of entry for taxable goods in California. If you like how this itinerary adds the Sonora Gold Country, then do the itinerary in reverse and stay in Sonora or the cute town of Twain Harte a bit further east. Best Budget Tour: Napa & Sonoma Valley Wine Tour from San Francisco. This article was updated to detail the process and several options for driving from San Francisco to Napa Valley, either across the Golden Gate Bridge or across the Bay Bridge. This winery also requires reservations, so make sure you book ahead of time. Any other places we should try to visit? We offer two to five-day experiences! With the drive being as short as it is (at least, in California terms, where we don't call a drive long until . It was also a thriving gold town during the mid 1800s.