Getting from San Francisco to Yosemite [6 BEST WAYS]

Traveling from San Francisco to Yosemite for the first time?

It can get quite confusing trying to find the best way to get there, so we created this guide to help you decide the best mode of transportation to take. 

From estimated costs and length of travel time to suggested routes and pick-up locations, we’ve got it all covered to help you have a seamless travel experience from SF to Yosemite.  

How to Get to Yosemite from San Francisco

If it’s your first time traveling to the national park, you probably have no idea how to get from San Francisco to Yosemite.

To help you make the right decision, we created this list of six different ways you can get there.

The most convenient way to get to Yosemite National Park from SF is by booking a one-way transfer service which includes a hotel pick-up and an option to book a return ticket on any day you want.

The second best option is to book a day tour for an enjoyable and hassle-free way to get to the park and back.

Riding the train is the best option for those who hate sitting through traffic and want more legroom. 

Taking the bus is the cheapest for the budget-conscious, but it’s also the longest way to get there. If you’re strapped for time, the fastest option is to travel by a rental car.

*Click on the links below to jump to different sections

	Travel Time	Cost
By Train	6:32 hours	$43 not including the BART ride
By Tour	Full Day (14-15 hours)	Starts at $149
By Transfer Service	3:45 – 4 hours	$139
By Bus	9:21 hours	$40
By Car	3:45 – 4 hours	Cost of Gas
By Plane	1-hour flight + bus (4 hours)	varies

6 Best Ways to Get to Yosemite from San Francisco

1. San Francisco to Yosemite by Train

• Cost: $21 (Amtrak) + $22 (YARTS) = $43 without the BART ride
• Travel Time: 6:32 hours
• Suggested Route: BART from SF > Richmond BART station > Richmond Amtrak Train > Amtrak to Merced Station > YARTS to Yosemite Valley
• Onboard Services: air-conditioning, onboard dining, Wi-Fi, desk, power outlets, restrooms, bicycle-friendly, wheelchair and ADA accessible
• Recommended Amtrak Train from Richmond: 7:54 a.m.
• Amtrak | YARTS 

In order to take the train to Yosemite from San Francisco, you will need to first hop on a BART and take the Red Line that leaves at 6:50 a.m., which will take you directly to the Richmond Station.

Then take the 7:54 a.m. Amtrak from Richmond Station, and you’ll be at Merced Station by 10:35 a.m. 

Upon arriving there, hop on the YARTS that leaves at 10:55 a.m., and you’ll be at Yosemite Valley Visitor Center by 1:26 p.m.

This is the earliest arrival time you can get to the park by taking the train.

If you chose to travel by train, you’d have to transfer from the BART to the Amtrak and the YARTS all in one day. However, it’s still more comfortable and faster than traveling by bus. 

Local Tip: If you want to save a few bucks, you can book your Amtrak and YARTS tickets through Amtrak’s website at a cheaper price. 

2. By a Yosemite Tour From San Francisco

This is the best option for tourists, families, and first-time visitors.

Traveling from San Francisco to Yosemite by tour can be a bit pricey, but you’ll be able to explore the valley properly and make the most out of your day. 

Both of the Yosemite tours below will allow you to explore Yosemite with an experienced tour guide.

Due to snowpack levels, the hike to the Giant Sequoias may not be offered for those planning to book a tour bus in winter. 

OPTION 1: Yosemite Full-Day Tour from San Francisco (Small Group)

• Trip Duration: Full Day (14-15 hours)
• Pick-up Locations: Hilton Union Square Hotel, Dublin BART station

Do you hate large group tours? Then this small group full-day tour is perfect for you!

With no more than 10 people per group, you’ll be able to explore the park with an English-speaking tour guide.

You’ll go on a 1.5-hour hike to see the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias, enjoy the views of El Capitan and Half Dome from Tunnel View, and take amazing photos without the struggle that comes with large groups.  

This tour includes Yosemite Park entrance fees, transportation in a biofuel vehicle, and an experienced tour guide.

However, pickup and drop-off are only available at Hilton Union Square and Dublin BART station.

Pros:

• Live English-speaking tour guide and foreign language audio guides
• Small group of no more than 10 people

Cons:

• Pickups and drop-offs are only available at two locations

Book your small group tour here➡

OPTION 2: Yosemite National Park & Giant Sequoias Hike

• Trip Duration: Full Day (14-15 hours)
• Pick-up Locations: Pickups are available from most hotels in Downtown SF and Fisherman’s Wharf

Do you like exploring on your own but don’t want to worry about transportation? Then this Yosemite Tour from SF might be what you’re looking for. 

You’ll have five to six hours to explore Yosemite National Park by yourself with a complimentary audio-guided tour so you can move at your own pace.

You can see the majestic El Capitan, Half Dome cliffs, Bridalveil, and Yosemite Falls and there will also be a one-hour Giant Sequoia Walk to see the majestic sequoia trees.

This tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off from most San Francisco hotels, an English-speaking tour guide, park entrance fees, and optional Yosemite audio guides.

However, gratuities, food, and drinks are not included.

Pros:

• Pickups are available from most hotels in Downtown SF and Fisherman’s Wharf 
• Live English-speaking tour guide and foreign language audio guides  
• Fully-guided Yosemite audio commentary included

Cons:

• Limited time to see the giant sequoias

Book your Yosemite & Giant Sequoias Tour➡

3. SF to Yosemite Transfer Service

San Francisco to Yosemite One-way Transfer

• Pick-up Locations: Pick-up optional; Hilton Union Square and Hotel Zephyr

This one-way transfer is the best option if you want a more affordable and flexible alternative to guided tour buses.  

You’ll be able to see beautiful views as you pass through San Joaquin Valley, Sierra Nevada Mountains, and historic mining towns.

This luxury transportation has daily guaranteed departures all year round, so you can explore Yosemite National Park at your own pace for as long as you like. 

This transfer leaves at 5:50 a.m from SF and 3 p.m. from Yosemite if you decide to book the trip back to the city. 

Local Tip: If you prefer exploring on your own rather than joining a group tour, check out this engaging self-guided audio tour to make your visit to Yosemite much more interesting.

4. San Francisco to Yosemite by Bus

• Cost: $21 (Greyhound) + $22 (YARTS) = $43
• Travel Time: 9:21 hours
• Suggested Route: Greyhound Bus from San Francisco > Merced Bus Station > YARTS to Yosemite Valley
• Greyhound Pick-up Location in SF: Google Map
• Onboard Services: Wi-Fi, power outlets, reclining leather seats, extra legroom, restroom, onboard entertainment
• Book your Greyhound Bus Ticket

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, the bus from San Francisco to Yosemite is only $40, but it’s the most inconvenient way to get there and takes the longest time. 

From the San Francisco Greyhound Bus Station, board the 11:00 bus to Merced.

There are multiple stops in Oakland, Hayward, Tracy, Modesto, and Tracy, so it will take 3 hours and 45 minutes to get there. 

At 2:45 p.m., the bus will arrive at Merced Bus Station. However, the YARTS bus doesn’t leave until 5:40 p.m., so you’ll have to wait for three hours.

The bus will arrive at Yosemite Visitor Center at 8:21 p.m., which is the earliest arrival time you’ll get by taking the bus. 

You can purchase your bus tickets online through Greyhound and YARTS.

Book your SF to Yosemite Bus Ticket➡

5. San Francisco to Yosemite National Park by Rental Car

If you hate the hassle of taking public transportation and you want to get from SF to Yosemite as fast as you can, traveling by car is the best option for you.

There are two routes that you can take. You can drive via Highway 120 E or via 99S – 140 E. 

If you want to spend the day at the park, we recommend leaving SF at 4:00 in the morning to arrive at the park by 8:00 a.m.

Entrance wait times between 8:30 am to 11:30 am on summer weekends tend to be really long and congested. 

Once you get to Yosemite, you can park your car and use the free Yosemite shuttle bus to get around the different scenic points inside the park.

If you don’t have your own car, find out how old you need to be to rent a car in California. 

Local Tip: Want to learn about Yosemite from the park’s expert tour guides? Yosemite offers guided bus tours where it focuses on the park’s natural history, indigenous and non-indigenous settlers, and wildlife.

❗❗ If you prefer exploring on your own rather than joining a group tour, check out this engaging self-guided audio tour to make your visit to Yosemite much more interesting.

SF to Yosemite via Highway 120 E

• Travel Time: 3 hours and 45 minutes
• Notable Stops: Jamestown (Gold Rush Town)
• Suggested Gas Stop: Oakdale (Shell, Quik Stop, 76)

Highway 120 is the most straightforward way to get to Yosemite from San Francisco, and it will take about 3 hours and 45 minutes to get there.

This route leads directly to the Big Oak Flat Entrance, which is a very popular option, especially during summertime. 

This is the best route if you want to visit Tuolumne Grove before heading into the park. However, it has a section that’s quite windy.

If you have motion sickness, you can either avoid this route or keep some motion sickness pills on hand. 

On the way to Yosemite, you can visit Jamestown, a historic Gold Rush Town.

You can stop by Oakdale for gas, and it’s also a great place to buy groceries and other necessities before entering the park.

🚦 Use RentalCars.com to find the best deals on rental cars and Outdoorsy for renting RVs or campervans.

SF to Yosemite via 99 S – 140 E

• Travel Time: 4 hours 
• Notable Stops: Mariposa (Gold Rush Town), El Portal
• Suggested Gas Stop: Merced (Chevron, Costco, Shell, 76) 

If you’re planning to drive via 99 S and 140 E during your San Francisco to Yosemite road trip, this route will lead you to the Arch Rock Entrance and will take about 4 hours to get there. 

This option is the best if you prefer a more scenic way to get to Yosemite that will only take 15 minutes more than going through 120 E.

This route is also less winding, so you’ll be able to enjoy the beautiful views without any discomfort.

If you want to visit Mariposa Grove before heading into the park, make sure to choose this route. We also recommend stopping by Merced for a quick gas stop.

If you fail to do so, you can still stop by one of the towns closer to Yosemite, El Portal, where you’ll also find a market, a picnic area, and campgrounds.

6. By Plane

• Travel Time: 1 hour (Flight), 4 hours (YARTS)
• Airline: United Airlines

Another way to get to Yosemite from San Francisco is to fly to Fresno International Airport (FAT). Only United Airlines has direct flights to this airport with fares starting around $200 each way. 

This is the airport closest to Yosemite, and you can rent a car to drive 2.5 hours to the park or hop on the YARTS bus.

It’s important to mention that YARTS has only 3 departure times from the FAT airport at 6 am, 2 pm, and 2:25 pm and will take 4 hours.

San Francisco Airport to Yosemite National Park

Traveling from San Francisco Airport to Yosemite National Park is quite easy, and there are two ways to get there. 

The quickest way to get there is by renting a car, but the cheapest option is taking public transportation.

Depending on your arrival time, the duration of your trip might vary so keep that in mind before planning your trip or booking your flight.

Use this guide if you’re traveling from the Oakland airport, and this post if you’re coming from San Jose to SFO.

SFO to Yosemite By Public Transportation

• Cost: $11 (BART) + $21(Amtrak) + $19 (YARTS) = $51
• Travel Time: 6:38 hours
• Suggested Route: BART from SFO > Richmond BART station > Richmond Amtrak Train > Amtrak to Merced Station > YARTS to Yosemite Valley
• Amtrak | YARTS 

Traveling from SFO to Yosemite by train is quite comfortable and is the second-fastest way to get there.

Board the BART from SFO Station and hop on the red Line to take you straight to Richmond Station.

From Richmond Station, take the 2:40 hour Amtrak train ride to Merced. From here you can take the YARTS bus which takes 2.5 hours to arrive at the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center.

You can book both of your tickets through Amtrak’s website. You can also download the Amtrak app to check train status, get gate and track information, and travel with contact-free eTicket scanning.

• Amtrak Trains from Richmond: 7:54 a.m., 9:54 a.m., 11:55 a.m., 1:55 p.m.

• YARTS from Merced Amtrak Station: 5:40 a.m., 6:10 a.m., 7:20 a.m., 9:10 a.m., 10:55 a.m., 5:50 p.m.

By Rental Car

• Travel Time: 4 hours and 40 minutes
• Pick-up Location: SFO Rental Car Center

Rather than taking public transportation, renting a car is more convenient, faster, and hassle-free. If you need to rent a car under 25, see this article.

Just keep in mind the rush hour traffic in San Francisco, which is typically from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Make sure to make online reservations beforehand. Upon arriving, ride the AirTrain Blue Line and get off at SFO Rental Car Center.

🚦 Use RentalCars.com to find the best deals on rental cars and Outdoorsy for renting RVs or campervans.

How far is Yosemite from San Francisco?

The distance to Yosemite from San Francisco is 167 miles and takes about 3 hours and 15 minutes to the closest park entrance.

From there, it takes another 40 minutes to get to Yosemite Valley where most of the attractions are located.

Can you do a day trip to Yosemite from San Francisco?

Yes. We recommend either going on a guided bus tour or driving there as taking public transportation is very time-consuming.

It takes around 4 hours to drive from SF to Yosemite, and public transportation takes even longer.

If you’re just taking the train or bus, you’ll arrive at the park by 1:26 p.m. at the earliest. This option would make trips to Yosemite from San Francisco difficult to pull off in one day. 

Yosemite Valley Quick Facts

• Fees: $35 per car, valid for 7 days
• Reservations: Required at certain times of the year
• Best Time to Visit: Spring in Yosemite is the best time to visit when the waterfalls are gushing and the summer crowds haven’t arrived yet. Summer is the peak season if you want a guarantee of good weather.
• Where to Stay: Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal or Yosemite Bug in Midpines.
• How to Get Around: Having your car is the easiest way to get around, especially if you’re visiting other nearby sights. Check RentalCars.com to find the best deals on rental cars.
• Best Self-Guided Tour: This audio tour from GyPSy Guide provides engaging commentary to make your trip more fun and interesting at such an incredible price!
• Insider Tip: Make sure to get the America the Beautiful National Park Pass for only $80 which allows entry to over 400+ national park sites valid for an entire year.

FAQs: How to get from San Francisco to Yosemite

Is there a train from San Francisco to Yosemite?

There is no direct train from San Francisco to Yosemite. However, you can ride the BART from San Francisco and transfer to Amtrak at Richmond Station.

From the Richmond Station, you can take the train to Merced Station, where you have to transfer to a YARTS bus to Yosemite Valley.

How do you get to Yosemite from San Francisco without a car?

You can choose between taking the train, booking a bus tour, a one-way transfer service, or taking the bus. The fastest way to get there is by train, and the longest and most inconvenient is by bus. Bus tours and one-way transport services are great options, but they cost a lot more.

Other Day Trips from San Francisco

• Muir Woods – One of the closest redwoods to San Francisco, this stunning National Monument provides you an opportunity to walk amongst the Coastal Redwoods.

• Sausalito – This charming coastal town across the Golden Gate Bridge offers lots of great restaurants, cafes, and boutique shops with beautiful views of San Francisco.

• Napa Valley – Napa Valley is an easy day trip from SF. This premier wine-growing region in the United States offers up opulent chateaus, fine dining, and Cabernet Sauvignon, which is the best in the world. These hand-selected tours in Napa showcase the best of the wine country.

• Sonoma – Sonoma is a sprawling wine region just north of San Francisco Bay that is well known for its adorable town square and great Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

• Sacramento – Visit the capital of California and stop by Old Sacramento. You can stay at one of the hotel suites in the area and eat your way through some amazing restaurants downtown. It’s also an option to travel to Yosemite from Sacramento if it fits your travel plans.

• Lake Tahoe – Go on a road trip to Tahoe and see this beautiful alpine lake famous for its crystal clear blue water surrounded by forested peaks. This is a top destination for winter skiing and summer fun on the water and at the casinos. From here, you can continue your road trip to Yosemite.

• Monterey Bay – Monterey Bay is home to one of the most biodiverse stretches of ocean in the world. It’s an ideal location for whale watching or exploring its internationally renowned aquarium. The drive to Monterey from SF is gorgeous and shouldn’t be missed.

• Big Sur – Big Sur is famous for road trips along the windy coastline that boasts some of the best ocean views in California. Stay in Carmel for the perfect weekend getaway.

Wrap-Up: San Francisco to Yosemite National Park

Now that we’ve covered the best ways to get from San Francisco to Yosemite, it’s now up to you to decide which form of transportation to use.

Whether you decide you take public transportation, book a fun tour bus, or drive there yourself, Yosemite’s beautiful waterfalls, spectacular views, and ancient giant sequoias will be right there waiting for you.