Which Airport to use for Yosemite | Grounded Life Travel (2024)

FAQs

Which Airport to use for Yosemite | Grounded Life Travel? ›

The Fresno International Airport is small and easy to navigate. Yosemite is one of the most beautiful places on earth.

The closest airport is the Fresno-Yosemite International Airport (FAT), which is about 65 miles south of the park (about a 1½-hour drive). San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Oakland International Airport (OAK) and San Jose International Airport (SJC) are also within driving distance of park.

Yosemite National Park is located on the east side of California, about halfway up the state. It is approximately 1.5 hours from Fresno, 3 hours from Sacramento, and 3.5 hours from San Francisco.

What major city is near Yosemite? Merced is the closest major city to Yosemite National Park. The drive from Merced to the Yosemite Visitor Center on the valley floor will take 1 hour and 50 minutes. Merced has all the amenities needed for a stopover before heading into the National Park.

Start your next tour of California's beautiful national parks by booking a flight with Southwest. Southwest Airlines has flights to Fresno Yosemite International Airport to help make your visit to the San Joaquin Valley even easier to plan.

FAT Airport: The Closest Airport to Yosemite. Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) is the closest airport to Yosemite National Park, and worlds away from the mad bustle of LAX and SFO.

How Many Days Should I Spend In Yosemite? Plan on spending two to four days in Yosemite if you want enough time to see all the amazing sights. This will give you plenty of time to see Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, Glacier Point, and enjoy some hiking trails.

The drive from San Francisco is fairly easy and the roads are well cared for. You'll start off driving through the East Bay, so be prepared for lots of traffic. In fact, if at all possible, avoid leaving during commute hour as traffic around the area gets really bad between 8-10 AM and 4-6 PM.

The 4-hour drive from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park is one of the most scenic in the country, with winding mountain roads that are lined with ancient redwoods.

What is the best month to go to Yosemite? ›

If you don't want your Yosemite experience to be limited by road, trail, and campground closures, your best bet is to visit between June and September, when everything is typically open and accessible (and several degrees warmer).

The closest town to Yosemite is Mariposa, which is right on Highway 140. The charm of this location lies in its connection with the Gold Rush period, of which traces can still be found. It is located southwest of the park, a 45 minutes drive from Yosemite National Park.

Most people agree that its views of the high country and breathtaking views of Yosemite Valley, including Half Dome and three waterfalls, are the most spectacular in the park. Washburn Point, just south of Glacier Point, has similar views, though the views of Vernal and Nevada Falls are a bit better.

Fresno Yosemite International Airport offers non-stop flights to these major cities. Whether for business or pleasure, we make travel easy, convenient and fast.

The direct drive from Yosemite National Park to Grand Canyon National Park is 692 mi (1113 km), and should have a drive time of 12 hrs 15 mins in normal traffic.

Best stops along Yosemite National Park to Las Vegas drive. The top stops along the way from Yosemite National Park to Las Vegas (with short detours) are Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Badwater Basin, and Artists Dr. Other popular stops include Tioga Pass, Bodie State Historic Park, and Mammoth Mountain.

Can you visit Yosemite National Park from San Francisco in just one day? It'll be tough, but you sure can! This one-day road trip works from any Californian city within 4 hours of Yosemite. This includes Sacramento, Fresno, Modesto, San Jose, San Francisco and more.

By car, it takes around 310 miles (less or more depending on where you're staying in Los Angles). It'll take around 6.5 hours without breaks to get there. For directions, take CA-99 and CA-41 for its many attractions from Los Angeles to Yosemite.

Yosemite National Park is a perfect road trip from San Francisco and the Bay Area in all seasons. Yosemite National Park is one of the most beautiful places in America, with its breathtaking views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

You can use public transportation to get to and around Yosemite all year.

Is 3 days in Yosemite enough? ›

3 days in Yosemite National Park is ideal to get a taster of this awe-inspiring natural wonderland. The park is huge so you could spend weeks there and still not see it all, but this 3 day Yosemite itinerary covers the classic highlights as well as some less well-known sights.

Highway 120 will be the best way to approach Yosemite if you are coming from the big cities of San Francisco or Sacramento and their major airports. This scenic route skirts around the Northern edge of Mariposa County and passes through the lovely towns of Buck Meadows and Groveland.

Yosemite National Park boasts a fair amount of hotels and lodges for a more luxurious stay. However, prices range from $150/night at the Wawona Hotel to over $1,000/night at The Ahwahnee. If you're interested in doing Yosemite on a budget, camping is the way to go.

If you want to be close to the best hikes and viewpoints in the park, try to stay in Yosemite Valley. If you're looking for something outside of the park, the El Portal area is a fantastic option.

If you're an adventure lover and are able to do some hiking, then Yosemite National Park may be the best choice for you. If you prefer just wandering through the park, enjoying the sights, and stopping alongside the road, then you may prefer Sequoia National Park.

If you're wondering which Yosemite entrance is closest to San Francisco, the Big Oak Flat entrance, or the below Arch Rock entrance, is the best one for you. It's located about 4 hours from San Fransisco so bring some snacks and settle in for a scenic road trip.

The top cities between Yosemite National Park and San Francisco are San Jose, Oakland, Palo Alto, Berkeley, and Santa Clara. San Jose is the most popular city on the route — it's 4 hours from Yosemite National Park and less than an hour from San Francisco.

Stockton is right in the middle of San Francisco and Yosemite, so it makes an ideal halfway point for a quick stop to stretch your legs, see the sights and get a bite to eat.

Hiking. One of the best ways to explore Yosemite (and also escape the crowds) is to go hiking. With over 800 miles of hiking trails for all difficulty levels, it's easy to find a hike that suits your interests and abilities. You can find a complete overview of all Yosemite hikes on the NPS website.

Highway 140—as opposed to the most direct route, 120—is by far the most scenic drive into the park and the best way to go if you're visiting for the first time. It's open most of the time and passes through the towns of Mariposa and Fish Camp.

How do I get from San Fran to Yosemite? ›

But the journey there takes some doing: you'll need to catch a bus from San Francisco to the Amtrak station across the SF Bay in Emeryville, take the train from there to the town of Merced, and transfer from there to a regional bus (called YARTS) that will take you to the park.

Yosemite receives 95% of its precipitation between October and May (and over 75% between November and March). Most of Yosemite is blanketed in snow from about November through May. (Yosemite Valley can be rainy or snowy in any given winter storm.)

Yosemite's peak season lies between Memorial Day and Labor Day. If you visit outside the popular summer months you'll likely avoid the crowds, even at famous sights.

Weekdays (Monday-Thursday) are historically least crowded during the summer season in June, July, and August. Weekends attract more tourists and vacationers.

Top Yosemite Attractions

When it comes to things to see in Yosemite, you really don't want to miss El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias and the Ahwahnee Hotel.

The winner: The opportunities for wilderness adventure in Yellowstone are many, but Yosemite has it all, from gentle trails along the floor of the valley to spine-tingling ascents of its rock faces. Plus, Yosemite remains open to many activities through the winter, while Yellowstone goes into bear-like hibernation.

Arrive early and stay late, and visit Yosemite during the week instead of on weekends. Congestion and delays are worse on weekends, with Saturdays and holiday weekends being particularly busy. Ride a YARTS bus to enter the park. If you drive, park your car for the duration of your stay.

The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is the largest sequoia grove in Yosemite and is home to over 500 mature sequoias.

Fresno is home to a large operations base for SkyWest Airlines, the nation's largest regional airline.

FAT Airport Security Checkpoints - Location and Hours

FAT is a quite busy airport, but it has one main security checkpoint that offers the TSA PreCheck option to its travelers.

What is the closest major city to Fresno California? ›

The two major cities near Fresno, CA, are Modesto, CA (91 mi), and Bakersfield, CA (104 mi).

How long is the drive from Yosemite National Park to Yellowstone National Park? The direct drive from Yosemite National Park to Yellowstone National Park is 960 mi (1545 km), and should have a drive time of 17 hrs 2 mins in normal traffic.

How far is Las Vegas to Yosemite? The shortest route is approximately 334 miles from Las Vegas to Yosemite. That's a 5.7 hour drive, non-stop. With so much to see in between, I highly recommend taking your time!

How long is the drive from Zion National Park to Yosemite National Park? The direct drive from Zion National Park to Yosemite National Park is 524 mi (843 km), and should have a drive time of 10 hrs 42 mins in normal traffic.

What major city is near Yosemite? Merced is the closest major city to Yosemite National Park. The drive from Merced to the Yosemite Visitor Center on the valley floor will take 1 hour and 50 minutes. Merced has all the amenities needed for a stopover before heading into the National Park.

The direct drive from San Diego to Yosemite National Park is 460 mi (740 km), and should have a drive time of 8 hrs 18 mins in normal traffic.

If you don't want your Yosemite experience to be limited by road, trail, and campground closures, your best bet is to visit between June and September, when everything is typically open and accessible (and several degrees warmer).

Yosemite is about 170 miles away from San Francisco and about a 4-hour drive. So, we recommend starting your day as early as 5 AM or 6 AM to have full experience in the park.

Fresno Yosemite International Airport is the closest commercial airport (Under 100 miles) to three of California's spectacular National Parks: Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon.

How Many Days Should I Spend In Yosemite? Plan on spending two to four days in Yosemite if you want enough time to see all the amazing sights. This will give you plenty of time to see Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, Glacier Point, and enjoy some hiking trails.

How far in advance should I reserve Yosemite? ›

Yosemite Creek, Porcupine Flat, Tamarack Flat, and White Wolf campground reservations are released two weeks in advance on a rolling daily window (i.e., 14 days in advance of arrival date).

Reservations are not required to visit Yosemite National Park. As always, we strongly recommend that you make a reservation if you plan to stay overnight in Yosemite. The park entrance fee is $35 per car (valid for seven consecutive days).

You can drive your car into and around Yosemite, although some roads are closed from around November through May/June and tire chains may be required on open roads from around October through April (depending on conditions). You can use public transportation to get to and around Yosemite all year.

However, two days will be enough time for one great hike (the best way to see Yosemite) and a few other glimpses into what this 1,200 square-mile UNESCO World Heritage site and natural wonder reveals to visitors.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has been voted one of the world's most scenic airport landings in a poll of global travelers and travel industry experts conducted by PrivateFly. LAX was the only U.S. airport to rank in the top 10.

The short answer to this question is yes. During our trip across the USA, we only spent one day in Sequoia National Park between Los Angeles and Yosemite National Park. In one day, we were able to see all the main viewpoints, walk the main trails and see every main landmark of the park.

Staying in the park allows you to have the world's most beautiful scenery waiting for you right outside your cabin door. You'll be able to make your own agenda, knowing nothing in the park is too far away or takes too much time to access.

Winter. Winter in the Sierra is cold and wet, with over 70 percent of the year's precipitation falling between November and March, usually as snow.