Yosemite and Giant Sequoias Day Tour from San Francisco w Pickup
Description
See more of Yosemite in less time with early park entry. This year-round guided day trip from San Francisco covers the park’s top sights, including Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, Tunnel View, and the iconic Giant Sequoias of Tuolumne Grove. Spend 5 full hours in the park taking in the best views and landmarks. If you want the most complete Yosemite experience in one day, this is your tour.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Join us on this breathtaking tour of Yosemite National Park, whose towering granite peaks, cascading waterfalls and nature trails are perhaps the most stunning in the world. This award-winning tour spends the most time in Yosemite and includes a unique hike among ancient Giant Sequoias. Your tour begins with a convenient hotel pick up in Downtown San Francisco.
Enjoy the scenic drive as your guide shares how a flash of gold in the American River sparked the California Gold Rush.
Stop for breakfast and grab a quick bite at a nearby supermarket or Starbucks.
Enjoy a scenic drive into Yosemite National Park as you head toward a breathtaking viewpoint made famous by photographer Ansel Adams.
Iconic vista point offering panoramic views of El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, and Half Dome.
A short walk to the base of this 617-foot waterfall, known for the mist that blows in the wind.
Capture a perfect reflection of Half Dome in the Merced River as you drive over Sentinel Bridge.
The heart of the park, where travelers have 2–2.5 hours of free time to grab lunch and explore. Take a walk to Lower Yosemite Falls, hike the Meadow Loop, or just relax and soak in the views at your own pace.
During your free time in the valley, take a walk to Yosemite Falls—one of the tallest waterfalls in North America. Enjoy the views, take photos, and soak in the power and beauty of this natural wonder.
Hop back on the bus and head to El Capitan Meadow, where you’ll stop to discover the world’s largest granite monolith and the legendary climbers who brave its towering cliffs.
As we are leaving Yosemite Valley, we will make our final stop at Valley View which serves up a panoramic landscape framing the Merced River, El Capitan and the imposing spires of Cathedral Rocks.
A 1-hour and 15-minute stop to hike among a grove of Giant Sequoias—some of the oldest and largest trees on Earth. Standing among these giants is a humbling and unforgettable experience. *When the Tuolumne Grove trail is snow-covered or unsafe (November-March), we always spend extra time in Yosemite Valley.
Enjoy a scenic drive through the historic town of Groveland, a charming Gold Rush-era village with rustic buildings and rich California heritage.
On the way back, we’ll stop for dinner at a plaza with fast food, a sandwich shop, a taqueria, Hawaiian BBQ, and a supermarket—something for everyone.
Wrap up your adventure with a comfortable ride back and drop-off in San Francisco at your original pickup location.
Yosemite National Park
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick-up details and times are as follows: 5:20 AM – Holiday Inn San Francisco-Golden Gateway (1500 Van Ness Ave). 5:25 AM – Motel 6 (2850 Van Ness Ave). 5:30 AM – Zephyr Hotel (250 Beach St), Avis Car Rental (500 Beach St). 5:40 AM – Hilton Financial District (750 Kearny St), Fairmont San Francisco (950 Mason St). 5:50 AM – Hilton San Francisco Union Square (251 Mason St), JW Marriott (515 Mason St). 6:00 AM – The Mosser Hotel (54 4th St). 6:40 AM – 7-Eleven Convenience Store, Livermore (891 Airway Blvd, Livermore).
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Non-U.S. residents aged 16 and older will be charged an additional $100 park entry fee per person after completing their booking. This fee will be collected by the tour operator via a separate payment link. Note that holders of the “America the Beautiful Non-Resident Pass” do not pay the $100 fee; the $250 pass covers up to 4 people at the entrance.
- From November to March, when the trail is unsafe due to snow and ice, we replace the Sequoia hike with extra time in Yosemite Valley.
- The tour stops around 8:30am for breakfast, 1pm for lunch, and 6pm for dinner on the way back. Meals are not included.
- California law requires tour guests to bring a car safety seat for all children under 8 years and under 4' 9" (1.4 meters) in height
- Winter in Yosemite is much colder than San Francisco. Wear warm clothes and shoes with rubber soles and good traction.
Reviews(3,579)
Randall was a fabulous tour guide. The tour is long 15 hours. It mostly consists of driving. But Yosemite is a site to behold.
Thank you for your kind review! We're glad Randall helped make the long journey enjoyable and that you found Yosemite truly breathtaking. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!😊
Andy was knowledgeable and an amazing tour guide. Great experience going to Yosemite!
I went to the actual pick up location on the map. It might be better to note that. Excellent tour guide thanks Randall R. Solo trip safe. Meet and engaged with lots of people. Great experience.
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so glad you had a safe and enjoyable solo trip and that Randall helped make it such a great experience. We also appreciate your feedback regarding the pickup location and will share it with our team!
The experience was far beyond exceptional, our guide Andy was extremely informative and attentive to everyone's needs and ensured we all each had a fun and smooth trip. Yosemite is truly one of a kind and I would highly recommend any and everyone goes at least once. Yee Haw!
Thank you for your amazing review and recommendation! We're thrilled Andy helped make your Yosemite adventure so enjoyable and memorable with his knowledge and care. We'll be sure to share your kind words with him. Yee Haw! 🤠
My trip from beginning to end was well informed and I was kept in the loop with expectations, things I needed to come with to be prepared (child seat laws in California differ from Indiana). Our guide Andy Howse was phenomenal, brought waters for us, circled spots on the map to make things easy and convenient to get the most out of our free time, told historical stories that correlated with the trip, shared educational information about the parks and sang! The parks were amazing the weather was fabulous! I couldn’t ask for a better day! Another good family trip on the books
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear Andy made your family trip so enjoyable and memorable with his thoughtful care, knowledge, and great energy. We're glad the preparation and helpful tips made everything smooth from start to finish. We'll be sure to share your kind words with Andy, and we hope to welcome your family back for another adventure soon!❤️
I had so much fun Andy Howse was so knowledgeable on history and everything happening in the forest. I had such a blast with him I never felt bored even though the ride was super long. It was a big crowd because we came in August but still everywhere was beautiful. The water was low since it was August but it’s still so cool because the photos just look like computer backgrounds.
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful experience! We're so glad Andy's stories, helpful tips, and thoughtful touches helped make your adventure a smooth and memorable one. It sounds like you had a fantastic day, and we're delighted to have been part of another great memory! 🥰
We loved getting to know Yosemite and hiking there in our free time. It was a busy day but once you are out in the wild you’ll love it. Our guide Andy Howse was always kind and approchable to ask any questions and not to mention his historical knowledge he gives you to know about the national park. He even bought us water to all the group making sure no one had a hard day. The only thing for them to make better is to have an option of accompaniment in the free time for those who aren’t close to the activities.
Thank you for your fantastic feedback! We're delighted Andy's knowledge, hospitality, and fun personality made your Yosemite adventure such a great family experience. We're especially glad his guidance helped you make the most of your free time. We hope to see you and your family again soon! 😊
We had an absolutely amazing time on our trip to Yosemite national Park through the tour guide and the tour guy. Andy house was absolutely amazing. He was very engaging and very respectful and funny in times as well. Really a special driver and tour guide. Anything you can do to give him some kudos would be great. We really appreciate it is taking us to the trip and everything.
Thank you for such a wonderful review! We're so happy to hear Andy made your family trip easy, fun, and memorable from beginning to end. His attention to detail and enthusiasm truly shine, and we'll be sure to share your kind words with him. We hope to welcome you back again soon! 🥰
Andy was great!! He was super personable and very helpful. Couldn’t ask for a better guide!
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're thrilled Andy's knowledge, care, and energy made your adventure so special. We hope to see you again soon! 🥰
Andy was an amazing guide. You can tell he has a passion for his craft. He maintained a lively atmosphere and attitude throughout the whole trip. I would highly recommend him as a guide! He definitely made the experience SO much better. Thank you!
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so glad Andy helped make your Yosemite experience fun, and memorable. We'll be sure to share your kind words with him. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon! 🥰
