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Travel Information for Yosemite National Park
Yosemite’s remote mountain setting is one of the things that makes it so idyllic. However, it is relatively easy to reach. It is a four-hour drive from San Francisco and a six-hour drive from Los Angeles. To reach one of its four main entrances, see the GET HERE pages on Yosemite Insider for each of the four regions: Northwest – Big Oak Flat Entrance via Hwy. 120; East (summer and fall) – Tioga Pass Entrance via Hwy. 120; West – Arch Rock Entrance via Hwy.140; South – South Entrance via Hwy. 41.
Road conditions can change at any time due to weather or other natural occurrences, so it is wise to check with Caltrans at 1-800-427-ROAD and Yosemite Park at (209) 372-0200 for the most current information before you leave. When traveling in the Sierra Nevada from November through April, you should always carry tire chains in your vehicle, and know how to use them.
Airport options include:
Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) – 2.5 hours to Yosemite via South Entrance via Hwy. 41
San Francisco International (SFO) – 4 hours to Big Oak Flat Entrance via Hwy. 120
San Jose International Airport (SJC) – 3.5 hours to Big Oak Flat Entrance via Hwy. 120
Oakland Airport (OAK) – 3 hours to Big Oak Flat Entrance via Hwy. 120
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – 5.5 hours to South Entrance via I-5 to Hwy. 99 to Hwy. 41
Sacramento Airport (SMF) – 2 hours to Big Oak Flat Entrance via Hwy. 120
Reno International Airport (RNO) – 4 hours to Tioga Pass Entrance via Hwy. 395 to Hwy. 120
Las Vegas Airport (LAS) – 7-8 hours to Tioga Pass Entrance via Hwy. 395 to Hwy. 120
Amtrak trains and Greyhound Bus Lines also stop in the major cities along Hwy. 99 on the west side of the Sierra Nevada. Amtrak in Merced provides daily motorcoach service to Yosemite Valley. YARTS daily bus service also travels to Yosemite Valley year-round from Merced, and from Mammoth Lakes during summer and fall while Tioga Pass is open.
Rental cars are not available in Yosemite, but can be found at all of the airports listed above. There is no taxi service in Yosemite.
Once you reach Yosemite Valley, park your car and enjoy the Free Park Shuttle service for as long as you are in the Valley. Hybrid buses stop at frequent intervals at all of the major attractions in the east end of the Valley. In summer, two additional free shuttles provide round-trip access from Wawona to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, and in the Tuolumne Meadows area, from the Tioga Pass Entrance Station to Olmsted Point. In winter, free shuttle service is available from Yosemite Valley to Badger Pass Ski Area. There are also a number of Tours available to various places within the Park which can be scheduled by calling (209) 372-1240.
Car Rental Links:
www.enterprise.com
www.hertz.com
www.budget.com
www.avis.com
www.thrifty.com
www.dollar.com
www.nationalcar.com
www.alamo.com
Other Transportation Links:
Amtrak – www.amtrak.com
Greyhound – www.greyhound.com
YARTS – www.yarts.com
Free Yosemite Park Shuttle - www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/bus.htm
Local Gas Prices (Mariposa County) - www.gasbuddy.com
Local Road & Weather Links:
Caltrans – www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo
Yosemite Park – www.nps.gov/yose
Sierra Sun Times - www.goldrushcam.com
