How to Get to Yosemite

Driving from San Francisco covers 195 miles and takes four hours to reach Yosemite Valley. You must download offline maps before leaving the city, as cellular service disappears entirely inside the park boundaries. Plan your arrival before 9:00 am or after 5:00 pm between April and October to bypass heavy traffic congestion at the entrance gates. Entrance stations accept only credit or debit cards for the $35 vehicle fee. Winter drivers visiting from November through March must carry tire chains in their vehicles. Park rangers strictly enforce this rule at checkpoints because mountain roads quickly turn icy. Once parked overnight, you must remove all food and scented items from your car. Black bears frequently break into vehicles, so lock your supplies inside the provided metal bear-proof lockers.

The Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) runs year-round along State Highway 140, depositing passengers straight into Yosemite Valley. This 80-mile trip takes two and a half hours from Merced. Your $44 ticket absorbs the standard park entrance fee, saving money for solo travelers. The bus coordinates its schedule with arriving Amtrak and Greyhound services in Merced. Riders avoid the stress of hunting for scarce parking spaces in the valley. Once inside the park, you can transfer to the free Valleywide shuttle buses. These shuttles feature wheelchair lifts and tie-down systems, minimizing walking distances between major sights. You remain tied to the fixed departure timetable, so check the final outbound bus schedule before starting a long afternoon hike.

Traveling by public transit from San Francisco requires a three-leg journey covering 210 miles. Passengers board an Amtrak bus in the city bound for the Emeryville station. You then transfer to an Amtrak train heading southeast to Merced. At the Merced station, travelers board the YARTS regional bus for the final stretch into Yosemite Valley. The entire route consumes at least six and a half hours each way. The $30 base fare provides an economical alternative to renting a car. This route requires careful timing to ensure you do not miss your connections. Prepare for a full day of travel before you even reach the granite cliffs or giant sequoia groves. Bring a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated during the long transit times.

Riding a motorcycle from San Francisco follows the same 195-mile route as driving, taking approximately four hours. Riders pay a reduced entrance fee of $30 at the gate using a credit or debit card. Late spring and early summer provide the best riding conditions, as temperatures remain pleasant and high-country routes like Tioga Road open for the season. Riding between November and March exposes motorcyclists to freezing temperatures, ice, and snow. Major scenic routes shut down entirely during these winter months. Stick to the lower elevations of State Highway 140 for the safest year-round pavement.