Yosemite from San Francisco
The best Yosemite day tours
Day trips with a giant sequoia hike, small-group tours and a 2-day trip with a night near the park: here is how to see Yosemite from San Francisco, with honest advice on the 14- to 15-hour day, pickup at dawn, and which park fees the tour leaves to you.
See our 6 picks
The best Yosemite day tour from San Francisco for most people is the small-group trip with a giant sequoia hike and hotel pickup. Expect a 14-hour day. Yosemite is 195 miles away, 4 to 5 hours each way. Non-US residents aged 16 and older pay an extra $100 park fee, and no tour here includes it.
Our 6 picks for Yosemite from San Francisco
Five day trips with hotel pickup, then a 2-day trip with a night at a lodge.
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from €204 per person Our top pick 14 hours 4.9 (1,736) reviews on GetYourGuide
Small-group Yosemite day with a sequoia hike
A 14-hour day in a van with no more than 14 guests. It stops at more viewpoints, like Bridalveil Fall, and includes a giant sequoia hike if the weather allows.
Best for Couples and friends who like a small group
Check availability: Small-group Yosemite day with a sequoia hike on GetYourGuide -
from €179 per person 15 hours 4.5 (2,018) reviews on GetYourGuide
Yosemite and giant sequoias by bus
A 15-hour day in a 35-seat bus with Wi-Fi and a live park guide. You get over 5 hours in the park and 2 hours of free time in Yosemite Valley.
Best for First-timers on a budget
Check availability: Yosemite and giant sequoias by bus on GetYourGuide -
from €195 per person 15 hours 4.5 (978) reviews on GetYourGuide
Classic Yosemite day trip
A 15-hour day in a minibus with a guided ride through Yosemite Valley and 3 hours of free time. The standard park fee is included for everyone.
Best for Visitors who want free time in the valley
Check availability: Classic Yosemite day trip on GetYourGuide -
from €204 per person 14 hours 4.3 (342) reviews on GetYourGuide
Yosemite and sequoias in a small group
A 14-hour day with a 1.5-hour hike among the giant sequoias and a stop at Tunnel View. The standard park fee is included for everyone.
Best for Walkers who want a longer hike
Check availability: Yosemite and sequoias in a small group on GetYourGuide -
from €185 per person 14 hours 4.2 (205) reviews on GetYourGuide
Guided Yosemite day by coach
A 14-hour day with a 1-hour bus tour in the park and 3 hours of free time. Pickup is at selected places in the city.
Best for Visitors who want a guided loop and free time
Check availability: Guided Yosemite day by coach on GetYourGuide -
from €560 per person 2 days 4.7 (112) reviews on GetYourGuide
Yosemite in 2 days with a lodge night
Two days in a small group of up to 13, with a night at Yosemite View Lodge. You see more of the park, including Glacier Point in season.
Best for Visitors who find 14 hours too long
Check availability: Yosemite in 2 days with a lodge night on GetYourGuide
Yosemite tours from San Francisco compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Group size | Free cancellation | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small-group Yosemite day with a sequoia hike | €204 per person | 14 hours | Up to 14 | Yes, 24 h | Couples and friends who like a small group | The best-rated pick: 4.9 from over 1,700 reviews. |
| Yosemite and giant sequoias by bus | €179 per person | 15 hours | Up to 35 | Yes, 24 h | First-timers on a budget | The most-reviewed pick and the lowest price: 4.5 from over 2,000 reviews. |
| Classic Yosemite day trip | €195 per person | 15 hours | Up to 23 | Yes, 24 h | Visitors who want free time in the valley | Three hours on your own in the valley, rated 4.5. |
| Yosemite and sequoias in a small group | €204 per person | 14 hours | Not stated | Yes, 24 h | Walkers who want a longer hike | The longest sequoia hike of our picks, rated 4.3. |
| Guided Yosemite day by coach | €185 per person | 14 hours | Not stated | Yes, 24 h | Visitors who want a guided loop and free time | A guided park loop plus 3 free hours, rated 4.2. |
| Yosemite in 2 days with a lodge night | €560 per person | 2 days | Up to 13 | Yes, up to 7 days before | Visitors who find 14 hours too long | The way to skip the 14-hour day, rated 4.7. |
Small-group Yosemite day with a sequoia hike
€204 per person14 hours 4.9 (1,736)
More details
- Group size
- Up to 14
- Free cancellation
- Yes, 24 h
- Who it suits
- Couples and friends who like a small group
- Why we picked it
- The best-rated pick: 4.9 from over 1,700 reviews.
Yosemite and giant sequoias by bus
€179 per person15 hours 4.5 (2,018)
More details
- Group size
- Up to 35
- Free cancellation
- Yes, 24 h
- Who it suits
- First-timers on a budget
- Why we picked it
- The most-reviewed pick and the lowest price: 4.5 from over 2,000 reviews.
€195 per person15 hours 4.5 (978)
More details
- Group size
- Up to 23
- Free cancellation
- Yes, 24 h
- Who it suits
- Visitors who want free time in the valley
- Why we picked it
- Three hours on your own in the valley, rated 4.5.
Yosemite and sequoias in a small group
€204 per person14 hours 4.3 (342)
More details
- Group size
- Not stated
- Free cancellation
- Yes, 24 h
- Who it suits
- Walkers who want a longer hike
- Why we picked it
- The longest sequoia hike of our picks, rated 4.3.
€185 per person14 hours 4.2 (205)
More details
- Group size
- Not stated
- Free cancellation
- Yes, 24 h
- Who it suits
- Visitors who want a guided loop and free time
- Why we picked it
- A guided park loop plus 3 free hours, rated 4.2.
Yosemite in 2 days with a lodge night
€560 per person2 days 4.7 (112)
More details
- Group size
- Up to 13
- Free cancellation
- Yes, up to 7 days before
- Who it suits
- Visitors who find 14 hours too long
- Why we picked it
- The way to skip the 14-hour day, rated 4.7.
Pickup included for all 6. Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 22 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Is a day trip to Yosemite too long?
For most people a day trip works, but it is long: 14 to 15 hours. A day tour runs roughly like this:
- Dawn: pickup in the city.
- Morning: 4 to 5 hours on the road to the park.
- Midday: 2 to 3 hours of free time in Yosemite Valley, plus stops at viewpoints.
- Late evening: 4 to 5 hours back, and drop-off in the city.
Too long for you?
If that sounds like too much, take the 2-day trip. You sleep near the park and have time for more stops.
Yosemite bus tours from San Francisco
Every pick is a bus or van tour with pickup. The big bus is the cheapest, from €179. The small vans cost from €204, hold 13 to 14 guests and stop at more viewpoints.
Read what the price includes. All picks include the standard park entry. None includes the $100 fee for non-US residents aged 16 and older. Meals are extra too, but most tours stop for food.
Getting to Yosemite from San Francisco
You can drive, take a tour, or go by train and bus. Of all the day trips from San Francisco without a car, a tour with pickup is the simplest way to Yosemite. There is no entry reservation in 2026, so you can just drive in.
Wondering about the distance? See how far San Francisco is from Yosemite by car, bus and train.
By train and YARTS bus
Take Amtrak to Merced, then the YARTS bus into Yosemite Valley. The bus takes about 3 to 3.5 hours and costs $22 one way. In winter, from 1 October 2026 to 28 May 2027, there are 4 buses a day.
Driving yourself
Yosemite is 195 miles from San Francisco, about 4 to 5 hours by car. The routes run on I-580, I-205 and Highway 120 or 140. Entry costs $35 per car for 7 days.
Tips for a Yosemite day trip
Be ready at dawn
Day tours start very early. Check your pickup time and place the night before.
Budget for the park fee
Non-US residents aged 16 and older pay $100 extra. The tours do not include it.
Book free cancellation
The day trips can be cancelled up to 24 hours before for a full refund. The 2-day trip needs 7 days’ notice.
Pack food and layers
Meals are not included. Snacks help on a 14-hour day.
Yosemite from San Francisco: questions and answers
How do you get to Yosemite National Park from San Francisco?
How far is Yosemite from San Francisco, and how long is the drive?
Is there a bus from San Francisco to Yosemite?
What is there to do on the drive from San Francisco to Yosemite?
More Yosemite tours, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
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More day trips
Facts checked on 23 October 2026 against: NPS Yosemite: driving · NPS Yosemite: reservations · NPS Yosemite: fees · NPS Yosemite: public transportation · YARTS: tickets and fares · YARTS: Highway 140.
Written by the Things to Do in San Francisco editorial team.