Yosemite in a Day Tour from San Francisco

See the redwoods, Bridalveil and Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, Half Dome and more on an epic day trip!

Travel Flexibly 5 / 5 See All 9 Reviews · 14.00h · San Francisco, United States

Looking for the best way to visit Yosemite National Park while you’re in San Francisco? Sure, it’s a long drive, but with comfortable small group transportation, hotel pick-up, a perfectly-planned itinerary, and an engaging local guide, this full-day tour makes it feel like a breeze! Get ready to see 1,000-foot waterfalls, 4,000-foot peaks, and 3,000-year-old trees all in one glorious day. Marvel at El Capitan and the Half Dome as you take in the stunning Californian nature at its very best!

  • Small group Yosemite tour from San Francisco
  • Hotel pick-up and comfortable transportation
  • See the 3,000-year-old Sequoia trees
  • Bridalveil Falls and Yosemite Falls
  • Amazing views of Half Dome and El Capitan
  • Free Time for lunch, hiking, or relaxation
  • Explore the park's scenic trails
  • The very best of Californian nature!

Your day begins the easy way with early hotel pick-up at most San Francisco hotels, and soon you'll be driving east across the Bay Bridge in your comfortable minivan. With your friendly guide sharing pictures and videos to keep you entertained, you'll travel through San Joaquin Valley and California gold country, and soon you'll reach one of North America's most impressive national parks.

First, you'll experience the magnitude of the giant redwoods up close, then visit a spectacular viewpoint before visiting Bridalveil Falls, El Capitan, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and more. Then you'll enjoy free time for lunch, hiking, and relaxation before beginning your journey back to San Francisco.

Yosemite from San Francsico Tour Description

Your 14-hour small group day trip includes:

  • Morning pick-up from most central San Francisco hotels

  • Comfortable round-trip transportation by modern minivan

  • Admission to Yosemite National Park

  • Stroll through giant redwood forests

  • See El Capitan, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and more

  • Free time for lunch, hiking, and relaxation (lunch not included)

  • Fun, knowledgeable local guide

  • Maximum group size of 13

Please be aware that the exact itinerary is subject to change due to weather conditions or other factors, but your expert guide will ensure you make the best possible use of your time in Yosemite.

Hotel Pick-up and the Journey to Yosemite

It's an early start this morning, but not to worry because pick-up at your San Francisco hotel is included. Your friendly guide will welcome you aboard and you'll drive east across the San Francisco Bay Bridge with views of San Francisco, Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Head through the Central Valley (San Joaquin Valley) of California, the largest food-growing region in the United States, and see past almond, walnut, cherry, and other fruit and nut orchards. Soon you'll be approaching the Sierra Nevada foothills and California’s gold country, where you'll drive through the historic gold country town of Groveland before reaching the mountains and Yosemite National Park.

Along the way, your guide will keep you entertained with amazing photos, videos, and stories about the incredible places you'll see today. There will also be a rest break along the way to buy snacks and use the bathrooms.

Please contact us after booking with your hotel name for pick-up. We'll reach out with an alternative meeting point if your hotel isn't covered.

See 3,000-Year-Old Redwoods Up Close

Once in the park, you'll spend some time walking among the biggest living things on land, the giant redwood trees also known as Sequoias. Yosemite’s massive redwoods always amaze and astound—the largest tree is over 40 feet in diameter at its base, almost 300-feet tall, and lives to well over 3,000 years.

The Ultimate View of Yosemite

After your hike to the trees, you'll continue on to Yosemite Valley and drive to Tunnel View Vista Point, where you will experience one of the most spectacular views of Yosemite Valley. Get your camera ready for a truly magical view that includes Bridalveil Falls, El Capitan, and Half Dome.

Bridalveil Falls and El Capitan

After taking in the magnificent views from afar, you'll hop back into the minivan for the scenic drive to Bridalveil Falls and El Capitan. El Capitan is the largest exposed piece of granite in the world, rising 4,000 feet above the valley floor. There, we may even spot some of the climbers as they ascend the sheer granite wall.

In a park with so many waterfalls, Bridalveil Falls stands out as one of the most spectacular. It plunges 620 feet (188 meters) down the cliff face creating a thunderous sound and gentle mist all around it.

Half Dome and Yosemite Falls

Next, it’s on to see Half Dome—a true Yosemite icon. This massive granite dome is a definitive feature of the park, and attracts hikers and climbers from across the world. Nearby, you'll also visit one of the tallest waterfalls in North America, Yosemite Falls with its 1,000-foot (300 meter) drop.

Free Time for Lunch, Hiking, or Relaxation

After all that exploring, it must be time for lunch! You'll make a stop at the Yosemite Lodge where you can buy yourself something hearty to eat, and you'll also have plenty of free time to explore on your own. During your free time, you might hike along stunning trails, relax at the base of Yosemite Falls, or visit charming Yosemite Village.

Return to San Francisco

After you've enjoyed your free time in Yosemite, it's time to get back on the road. Get comfortable and enjoy the views as you start your journey back to San Francisco, with another quick stop in the Central Valley for snacks and restrooms along the way. You'll be dropped back at your hotel in the evening, in time to get some dinner in the city or kick back and order room service!

What you get with this tour
Morning pick-up from most central San Francisco hotels
Comfortable round-trip transportation by modern minivan
Admission to Yosemite National Park
Stroll through giant redwood forests
See El Capitan, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and more
Free time for lunch, hiking, and relaxation (lunch not included)
Fun, knowledgeable local guide
Maximum group size of 13
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See what people are saying

9 total reviews

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5.0/5 (based on 9 reviews)
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Wonderful guide and an amazing day
14 January 2024
J
Reviewed by
Julie Maday

Knowing we were going to be taking off for a 14 hour day with 8 hours in a shuttle felt daunting. That we saw the weather forecast .. rain and snow much of the day. Well as Minnesotan's we felt we couldn't bail on not so great weather so we started our day. The first portion was wet and cold and too overcast to see much but Phil, our amazing guide, hung on and got creative with our schedule so that we were still in the valley when the clouds finally broke. After so much frustration and cold we finally saw Yosemite in all her glory. Man was that all worth it! Thank you Phil for an absolutely wonderful and crazy day!!

26 October 2023
L
Reviewed by
Lucina Schiaffarino

Yosemite Day trip
17 July 2023
B
Reviewed by
bill lockhart

This was a great day and we saw so much! Thank you for making this so easy for us to see such a beautiful and amazing national park. Would 100% do again and again.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What to bring?

Some comfortable shoes, a bottle of water, and sunscreen or rain jackets depending on the weather forecast.

What to bring?

Some comfortable shoes, a bottle of water, and sunscreen or rain jackets depending on the weather forecast.

Is this tour suitable for kids?

Sure, kids are more than welcome to join the tour!

Is lunch included?

No, lunch is not included but you'll have free time to by food at Yosemite lodge.

Are National Park fees included?

Yes, all fees are included.

Is this tour run by The Tour Guy?

No, it's run by one of our trusted and vetted partners in San Francisco. They're a specialist local tour company who we know uphold our high standards.

How long is the drive to Yosemite?

From San Francisco, the drive is typically around 4 hours.

Are there bathrooms on the bus?

No, you'll travel by comfortable minivan with restroom breaks along the way.

Start From: $224.00

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