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Home / Guides

Yosemite guides

Practical, up-to-date guides to seeing Yosemite from San Francisco: what a day trip really involves, the 2026 park fees, the giant sequoias, touring versus driving, the best season, and when two days beat one.

Yosemite Day Trip from San Francisco 2026: Is It Worth It?What the 14-hour day really looks like.Read the guide →Yosemite Entrance Fee 2026: $35 Pass & $100 Non-Resident FeeThe $35 pass and the new $100 non-resident fee.Read the guide →Yosemite Giant Sequoias 2026: Which Grove Can You See in a Day?Tuolumne Grove vs Mariposa Grove: what a day trip shows you.Read the guide →Yosemite Tour vs Driving 2026: Tour, Rental Car or Train?Guided tour, rental car or train and bus compared.Read the guide →Best Time to Visit Yosemite 2026: Waterfalls, Crowds & SnowWaterfalls, crowds, snow and smoke, month by month.Read the guide →Yosemite Day Trip or Overnight 2026: Is a Second Day Worth It?When a 2-day tour beats a day trip.Read the guide →

Tickets

Popular Yosemite day trips

Booked through Viator, with hotel pickup on most tours and free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

Yosemite Valley Full-Day Coach Tour Big coach ★ 4.114 hours967 reviewsFree cancellation

Yosemite Valley Full-Day Coach Tour
3 h free timeCoachTwo departures

The classic big-coach day from Fisherman's Wharf or Union Square: a narrated loop of the Valley, Tunnel View, then about three hours on your own. No hotel pickup and no sequoia stop.

What's included
  • Departure about 6:20 AM from Fisherman's Wharf or Union Square (no hotel pickup)
  • Driver-guide commentary on a full-size coach, up to 45 guests
  • Coffee and restroom stop in Oakdale or Turlock
  • Tunnel View, El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall and about 3 hours of free time
  • Park entry for US residents; non-residents 16+ pay $103 on the day; food not included
From$219per person Reserve
Yosemite Small-Group Day Trip with Sequoias Best rated ★ 4.914 hours4,160 reviewsFree cancellation

Yosemite Small-Group Day Trip with Sequoias
Hotel pickupMax 15Sequoias

A minibus day from your San Francisco hotel: Tunnel View, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls and a walk among the Tuolumne Grove sequoias. Fifteen guests at most, and the best rated of all.

What's included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off in central San Francisco (about 5:15 to 5:30 AM)
  • Driver-guide in a minibus, maximum 15 guests
  • Tunnel View, Bridalveil Fall, El Capitan, Half Dome views and Yosemite Falls
  • Tuolumne Grove giant sequoia hike (can be dropped in winter snow)
  • Park entry for US residents; non-residents 16+ pay the $100 park fee on the day; lunch not included
From$239per person Reserve
Yosemite Highlights Day Trip with Sequoia Walk Most time in the park ★ 4.415 hours3,617 reviewsFree cancellation

Yosemite Highlights Day Trip with Sequoia Walk
5 h in the parkWi-FiLive guide

About five hours inside the park, the most of any day trip, with a live guide, hotel pickup from 5:20 AM and a Tuolumne Grove sequoia walk from May to October.

What's included
  • Hotel pickup from about 5:20 AM at listed San Francisco hotels, or meet at the Hilton Union Square
  • About 5 hours inside Yosemite with a live English-speaking guide
  • Geo audio guide in 8 languages and Wi-Fi on board
  • Tuolumne Grove sequoia hike May to October (extra Valley time in snow)
  • Park entry for US residents; non-residents 16+ add $100; meals not included
From$224per person Reserve

Plan your date before you go

Hotel pickup, a group of 15 at most, Tunnel View, the Valley and a sequoia walk, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

Check dates for the small-group day trip with sequoias