youngtom2910

hello--

I will be flying into fresno in the evening, staying at a motel in Fresno, and then driving to yosemite the next day. I want to eventually end up on the valley to get to the yosemite view at the falls motel/hotel, but of course want to see the park too. I will have 2+ full days in the park. should I drive into the park form the south entrance?

thx

J62

Yes. I did the same thing last fall. Visit wawona grove when you enter the park, then stop at Glacier Pt on your way to the valley.

tomfuller

Unless it is late night when you get into FAT, try to check into a motel in Oakhurst. There's a great Ralph's grocery store in Oakhurst to stock up before you head into the park.
As soon as you leave the south entrance station turn right and go to visit Mariposa Grove.
On the way to the valley from Mariposa Grove, you will go through a tunnel. On exiting the tunnel turn left into a viewpoint where you can see the whole valley including Half-Dome.
Have fun in Yosemite.

ElendilPickle

Depending on where you're flying from, you may want to go ahead and stay in Fresno that first night. I've spent a lot of time in the Oakhurst area, and you have to be really careful to watch out for deer crossing the roads at night.

You'll be fine taking 41 into the park. As others have mentioned, you can stop at Wawona Grove, then at Wawona (hotel, pioneer village, etc.) before going into the valley.

Tomfuller, do you mean Raley's? If so, yes, it would be a great place to stop and pick up lunch/snacks before you head into Yosemite. But if you stay in Fresno, you could stop at a store there before you leave the city.

Lee Ann

janisj

OK - where exactly are you staying??

Yosemite View (in El Portal) . . . Or . . . Yosemite Lodge at the Falls (on the valley floor).


You have combined the two names so it isn't clear which you mean.

tomfuller

Yes Lee Ann, Raley's not Ralph's. I took my DW to Yosemite for her birthday/our anniversary a few years ago. We got a great cake that I believe was baked in the store.
I do remember driving back on 41 to Fresno in early morning fog to return the rental car and get a taxi to the train station.
We rode the San Joaquin to Martinez and waited for the Coast Starlight headed for home in Oregon.

J62

I stayed close to Fresno - Hampton Inn near Hendron Ave. & Rt 41 on the way towards Yosemite. The drive from there to Wawona Grove was just about an hour - an easy drive early in the morning in full daylight. You could certainly drive to Oakhurst but in the scheme of things it's not like it gains you that much overall time.