A Road Trip to Yosemite National Park is what sparked my ultimate true love for nature. We have traveled to many nature parks and other national parks over the past decade, but something about visiting the Yosemite National Park truly ignited my love for our beautiful and incredible planet Earth. It was almost like I finally understood what it was all about.
I was amazed that this National Park was so close to us right in California and all it took was a 6-hour drive. According to the husband, the drive was torturous and boring, but I think the destination was so totally worth it.
Yosemite National Park is also officially “Open” as of June 11th, 2020, after the Covid-19 Lockdown. But make sure to check the National Park website for the most updated details.
Where is Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is located just North of Fresno in Central California. Quite close to the California and Nevada state line. It is North of Mammoth Lakes but South of Lake Tahoe. It is considered part of the Sierra Nevada forest region.
This entire region of California is majestically shaped by Mother nature. With incredible mountain-scapes, redwood forests and lakes, this region is known as the jewel of California. Outdoor enthusiasts from all over the world flock to Yosemite National Park. People of all ages come for the hiking, camping, rafting and rock climbing. And photographers are obsessed with Yosemite! You’ll see why when you visit it for yourself.
History of Yosemite
I won’t bore you with a history lesson of the Yosemite National Park, but there is actually a very extensive past to this historical destination. It was fraught with territorial disputes among the indigenous natives and eventually with the Europeans who rushed to the region during the Gold Rush in the mid 19th century.
It was named by a Dr. Lafayette Bunnell. It’s quite a fascinating tale that is worth digging into further if you are a history buff.
If you’re looking for some guided tours to explore the Yosemite area, check out the following vacation guides provided by experts and professionals.
Our Road Trip Guide to Yosemite
Best Yosemite View Points
Visiting Yosemite National Park, you will be graced with granite pillars, multiple cascading waterfalls, green meadows and fields, and just simply gorgeous scenic views as far as the eye can see. And surrounding all these incredible view points are hiking trails for every outdoor enthusiast to enjoy, from the easy beginners hiking trails to the more advanced and challenging trails.
Here is a list of all the best Yosemite National park view points and hiking trails. I won’t bore you with details about each spot, I’ll just let the photos do the “talking”.
Bridalveil Falls
El Capitan Meadow
Glacier Point
Half Dome
Sentinel Dome View Point
Taft Point
Yosemite Falls – Upper and Lower
Yosemite Tunnel Artist Point
What to do in Yosemite
Biking
Many biking enthusiasts actually road trip their way through Yosemite National Park. It’s quite daunting when you see bicyclists loading their bikes up with a minimalist pack of supplies and peddle their way through such a huge area. But don’t worry, you can bike for leisure as well within the park. There are bicycles for rent or you can bring your own. There are marked biking trails in many areas and it’s a great way to explore the national park while getting some exercise and fresh air.
Camping
Ahhh, camping. The great all-american pass time of the great outdoors. I don’t camp, maybe I’ll glamp, but real authentic camping is just not my thing. But I know it’s popular with many, and Yosemite is outfitted with great camping sites for all family vacationers. With cabins, open sites to pitch a tent or parking sites for recreational vehicles, Yosemite is equipped to meet all camping needs. The key is reserving them Early!!! Because camping sites get snatched up fast! I can’t stress that enough! Yosemite is a hot spot for campers and you really need to reserve camping space at least 6-months in advance.
Hiking
The easiest and best activity to enjoy around the Yosemite area is hiking. Trekking your way through majestic redwood trees to a destination with an incredible view makes the outdoor activity totally worth it. There is nothing like enjoying the fresh air and feasting your eyes on nature. Plus, you might run into some wildlife such as this adorable Yellow Belly Marmot, deer, raccoons and other critters of the great outdoors.
Make sure to always prep supplies properly before a hike. And if heading off alone, make sure you always let someone know where you are going and when you will be back. Checking in during a hike is important. Remember, safety first!
River Paddling
A pleasant surprise during our Yosemite Road Trip was the River Paddling activity that we discovered completely by chance. We happened across a small stand at the Yosemite Village central site that mentioned rentals of inflatable rafts. We discovered that we could signup to rent them a few hours in advance or a day in advance depending on how busy the season is.
We’ve never done this before but we took our chances. The Merced River seemed calm enough and it was nothing like white water rafting, so it totally looked like fun. Be prepared for some hefty arm workout though and some hefty paddling through a few spots where the river current is a bit strong. But overall, the activity was pleasant, quiet and serene while you sail down the river with the calm current. You can also take a break at certain spots where you can “beach” the raft on little inlets and just enjoy a snack or rest. There are great views of the Yosemite Waterfall and El Capitan as well. We spent probably close to 3-hours on the river. This was my favorite activity during our Yosemite trip.
Rock Climbing
For avid rock climbers who enjoy this extreme sport, Yosemite is a famous destination for it, that’s for sure. With its incredible granite cliff faces and pillars of giant rock formations, rock climbing enthusiasts flock to Yosemite to take on the challenges presented there.
We don’t know very much about this activity but we saw many outdoor enthusiasts taking it on at many locations in the park. It definitely looks challenging and we heard about a few tragic accidents. So we’re happy just to witness the activity from the ground and leave it to the experienced folks who enjoy the nature climb.
Photographing Yosemite National Park
I love landscape and nature photography. Even though I am not very good at it, I still enjoy it. And Yosemite National Park is a lovely destination for photography enthusiasts. With its incredible landscape, view points, and wildlife, professional and amateur photographers flock to the national park to wet their appetite for all things photography. Whether you shoot with a DSLR or just your smartphone, you won’t be disappointed with your Yosemite photos at all whatsoever.
BONUS – Tioga Highway Drive
An awesome bonus if you visit Yosemite National Park during the Summer/Fall season, is the beautiful Tioga Highway. During the Winter, this highway is closed due to weather conditions, but if you’re lucky to catch it during its open months, I highly suggest this drive. It’s a lovely scenic drive and a quick road trip from Yosemite with many wonderful stops along the way. It should take about 3-hours round trip depending on how many stops you make. We took the highway to the Bodie Historic Ghost Town and made it an extra bonus day trip out of it. See below for more details on the ghost town of Bodie.
BONUS – Bodie Historic State Park
A quick day trip from Yosemite if you take the Tioga Highway is the awesome Bodie State Historic Park. It is an amazing ghost town perfectly preserved in a state of decay. It’s a gold mine of historic and abandoned finds. Pun intended.
From church buildings, homes, automobiles, mining equipment, household items and more. Visiting this historic ghost town site is like stepping back in time.
Visit my guide on what to do in Bodie and how to get there. It’s a great stop for families to enjoy something a bit different. And to witness a glimpse of history perfectly preserved in time.
Where to Stay in Yosemite
If you are not camping directly within the National Park, I highly suggest finding lodging in the Yosemite West area. This location is outside of the official National Park, but the drive is only about a half hour away. There are lots of Bed & Breakfasts that I would highly recommend and a few Lodges and Inns in the same area.
Yosemite Ahwahnee Lodge
Located directly in Yosemite Village, the Ahwahnee is a large rustic cabin lodge with full amnetities. Due to its close proximity to all the main visitor sites of the National Park, it’s a popular stop for visitors on a Yosemite Road Trip. The Lodge gets booked up fast and it costs a pretty penny. So make sure to check often for availability and discounts. Peek season is Summer so I would suggest checking at least 6-months in advance, just like the camping sites.
Yosemite West Inns & Lodges
About a half hour out of the park entrance, is known as the Yosemite West area. Here you can find a couple of motels or inns that are a bit more cost effective. However they are somewhat dated and privately owned. I have never personally stayed at these locations before so I can’t really vouch for them.
AirBNB Bed & Breakfasts in Yosemite
Personally, we enjoy staying in Bed & Breakfasts. On our trip, we stayed in a super nice cabin but it’s unfortunately not available anymore. However, the area was super nice and close to many other available AirBNB rentals. Here are my top three that I personally would stay in when we visit Yosemite again.
YOBEE! HEART OF YOSEMITE STUDIO + BREAKFAST
I totally love this post. It’s a very thorough guide and I have Yosemite on my list so hopefully, I will be able to go someday.
Hi Patti. Thank you for this share. We visited Yosemite park during our trip in the national parks and it was amazing. It is one of my favourite US park as they are so many hikes :). But we didn’t try the paddle – I am sure it is a great experience of the Merced river. The rock climbing is so impressive. We climb both the Upper and Lower and the view from here is just incredible :).
I haven’t been to Yosemite (yet!) but now I really wanna try the river paddling! Thanks for sharing 😉
This is a great guide! I’m looking to go to Yosemite at the end of July, so I’m totally keeping this handy. Plus, your photos are so beautiful! 🙂
Great post on Yosemite. Loved your photos. I’ve been several times but I will definitely use this when we take our kids. Thanks for sharing!
It’s been 9 years since I last visited Yosemite and I’m itching to get back. These photos brought back so many great memories. It’s such a beautiful park.
Wow, you are 100% fueling my wanderlust right now. I’ve never been to Yosemite and would love to explore Western USA a lot more. Thank you for sharing!
Your photos are absolutely stunning, by the way.
Gorgeous photos! This is one of the top spots we aim to visit in the USA. Have you watched the Dawn Wall? It will make you look at El Capitan with a whole new set of eyes. What a beautiful park!
OMG okay Bodie looks like THE. PLACE. FOR. ME. Gonna read up on your Bodie post right now!
I love Yosemite. I live in Sacramento so I’m not too far at all. I wanted to RSVP to go there but they reversed the decision to open to the public.
I’ve wanted to visit Yosemite for as long as I can remember and this post reminds me exactly why! Definitely going to be saving for future reference. Major wanderlust!
The most stunning place I’ve been to in the US! I absolutely live Yosemite! Thank your for all the rad suggestions – I definitely want to go river rafting next time I’m there!! Looks SO fun. Also, climbing half dome is totally on my bucket list. Great post! ☺️❤️
What an amazing article. I really want to visit Yosemite now. The views and waterfalls are stunning. The river paddling on the inflatable raft sounds like fun too.
OMG I want to go to Yosemite sooo badly!!