moosey

Hi everyone -

We are flying to SFO in mid-August and, after a very brief stop in San Francisco (we have been there many times already) heading to Yosemite for three days. After that, it is back to the coast to Monterey, from which we will head south. (Either coming or going, we want to hit San Jose for the Winchester Mystery House - has long been on my son's list of things to do.)

I am having a hard time figuring out the "best" way to get inland and back. Nothing seems to be quick, nor do any of the routes go through places I have heard much about. We would be interested in seeing ghost towns/gold country if that can be done easily. Stopping at a vineyard could also be an option to break up the trip, but again, nothing is jumping out just looking at the maps.

I am assuming it would be 4 - 5 hours each way assuming we don't stop for sightseeing. If there is one route that is more scenic and one that is faster/easier, we could do a different route from SF than we do returing to Monterey. We plan to stay at the Tenaya Lodge in Yosemite for three nights, but if there is someplace on the way that looks good, we could do that the first night instead.

We are two adults and a 9 year old, seasoned travelers, interested in outdoors, scenery, history, whatever (mainly interested in making this long drive interesting!)

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

boom_boom

From San Jose you're best option IMO is the 680 to the 580 and then the 205 into Mantenca. Take SR 120 through Escalon and Oakdale to SR 49 near Jamestown where you make a choice, stay on 49/120 into Yosemite at the Big Oak Flat entrance OR take a side trip to the historic State Park of Columbia for a toursit ghost town experience. Then back track to 120 for Tosemite.
This is a pretty scenic route with good views and some interesting town such as Groveland.
An atlernative is to drive south on SR 99 to Merced and take SR 140 through the Gold Rush town of Mariposa into the Ek Portal entrabnce to the park. This follows the Merced River into the park and is also very scenic in parts.
I beleive there are a couple of wineries near both Columbia and Mariposa.

november_moon

I would go to SJ after SF on the way to Yosemite. Take Hwy 280 south to SJ, which is a fairly scenic route. After a touring the Winchester Mystery house, have lunch at Santana Row (across the street) and then head to Yosemite in the afternoon. Since you are staying at Tenaya Lodge, which is just outside the south end of hte park, the best route from SJ is: Hwy 101 south/152 east/99 south/41 north. There isn't really much on this route for stopping for sightseeing, but between the Winchester Mystery house and the drive, you'll use up most of the day anyway.

boom-boom's route would be good if you don't stop in SJ that day for the mystery house.

cmstraf

Make a loop and take november's route there, route 120 back. Consider the somewhat frightening Old Priest Grade Road shortcut--it should thrill at least your son. On the way back stop for hamburgers in the Iron Door Saloon and Grill.

Consider buying Yosemite Valley, secret places guidebook. Get up EARLY in the morning to avoid summer crowds (this will be harder coming from Tenaya Lodge, but is worth it). I highly reccommend at least one meal at the Ahwahnee Hotel. Breakfast is the best. Rent bikes. The single best (and most crowded) day hike is Nevada Falls. A good way to avoid crowds is the hike that starts by Tunnel View as you drive to the Valley.

Enjoy--when I moved here at 23 (40 years ago) I promised myself I would come here for the rest of my life and I (we) have.

moosey

Thanks everyone for the great advice and detailed recommendations (including food stops!)

cmstraf, we are all early risers and will have the time zone working on our side, so we hope to get a jump on the crowds (as much as possible in August). Thanks!

hazel1

BTW, the Old Priest Grade shortcut is not very scary, unless you're in an old car that's prone to overheating and has bad brakes. I doubt the rental car will be in that condition.

MichelleY

Getting back to Monterey, head west on Hwy 140, thru Mariposa to Merced. Then Hwy 58 to Hwy 152 thru Los Banos and the Pacheco Pass. Here you would then take 156 to Monterey. You could stop in San Juan Bautista, see the mission and historical town.

You will have many chances to see vineyards and wineries along the way, as well as the Monterey/Carmel Valley area. Heading south, you hit vineyards down thru Santa Barbara.

easytraveler

Time of arrival and date of arrival?

I'd suggest going up to Yosemite directly from SFO, then loop back to Monterey, but would not suggest doing this if you are arriving during peak traffic hour on a weekday.

moosey

Thanks everyone (except for Hazel1, who probably jinxed me and my rental car! jk )

Easytraveler, we arrive in SFO on a Friday (19 Aug) at around 8:30 am. The return to Monterey would be a Monday morning. If we kill a few hours in SF and SJ on Friday, I assume we would miss the rush at both ends of the workday. But Friday evening might be the worst time to get to Yosemite (although I guess there will not be a good time traffic-wise in August). On the trip to Monterey there should not be "work" traffic right?

MichelleY

Moosey: Leave SFO and go to Winchester House. As long as you are on the road by 2, 3 at the lastest, you should be OK. If you go to SJ AFTER Monterey, you will be backtracking as you head on south.

BillJ

For California gold rush towns, you might check out Historic Highway 49

http://www.historichwy49.com/

49, as in 49er.

Your lodging for Yosemite are Tenaya lodge, which is outside the park, about 1.5 hrs north of Fresno via Hiway 41. From either SF or San Jose, you could go through Merced, take 140 to Mariposa, then at Mariposa take a right on 49 to Oakhurst, thence north on 41 to Tenaya Lodge. It does not make sense to me after landing SFO, and a long day, to enter Yosemite on 140 or 120 and then go through the park and back out again on 41 to Tenaya Lodge. Trafic in the park is atrocious. I think best to get to Tenaya Lodge via 41, then the next day bright and early take in the park.

You could exit the park via either 140 or 120, and intersect Hiway 49, going north on 49 to either hiway 50 or 80, thence back to SF via Sacramento.
However, if you opt for Monterrey instead of Hiway 49, take 140 out of the Park, via Mariposa and Merced, going through Los Banos, Pacheco Pass, etc., as explained above. 58, 152, 158.
The stop at San Juan Bautista Mission is wonderful for a taste of early (before the gold rush) California history.

easytraveler

Hi, moosey,

Oops, sorry forgot that you wanted to go to the Winchester Mystery House, so yes, go there first from SFO. You will hit some "work" traffic as you near Palo Alto-San Jose, but it shouldn't be too bad.

Best timing would put you in San Jose by about 10am. Go visit the Mystery House and, if you don't spend too much time there, then have lunch at Santana Row as november-moon has suggested. Or, on the same side of the street as the Mystery House, there is great Vietnamese restaurant called "Khanh's".

Otherwise, head out of town immediately. Friday traffic starts really early. I really wouldn't wait until 2 or 3 pm to be on the road to Yosemite. Definitely 3pm is much too late as you'll hit the traffic right on 101 South at 3pm. The bottleneck could also be at Pacheco Pass (Highway 152) which has some sections that are two-lane. If you leave early enough, once you're through the Pass, you can stop in Los Banos for a late lunch. Los Banos has all kinds of the standard eateries nowadays (it used to be a one gas station/restaurant/grocery store tiny town many years ago).

You didn't say what time your return flight is on Monday. At any rate, traffic is quite heavy on the I-80 corridor through Sacramento. If you can, return to SFO through San Jose again.

Hope this helps a bit.

MichelleY

If you stop in Los Banos for lunch, check out the Woolgrower's for old fashioned Basque food. It was an old Basque hotel and still serves family style.