Because Yosemite lodging fills up quickly in the summer, you better decide and move quickly on when/where you want to stay.

Anything after April is almost impossible to book, as booking is up to a year in advance.

This is the official reservation site for staying in Yosemite.

http://www.yosemitepark.com/yosemite-lodge.aspx

It doens't work so well, but you'll get used to it.

Always good option will be make advance booking through the internet and make it confirm by calling them its better to avoid any other mishap. well all the best...!

Highway 49 would be excellent for the first part of your drive: http://www.historichwy49.com/mainmap.html

Persistence is the key to getting a room in the popular National Parks. Cancellations are frequent. I call every day until a room becomes free. In Yosemite we like to stay in the motel type rooms at Lodge at the Falls. The location is perfect and the Mountain Room is a descent restaurant.

HTtY

Thank you both. I did manage to book Curry Village yesterday. Still planning out the rest of my trip. Lots of good advice on the forum regarding the Sonoma/Pt Reyes drive.

I do the Yosemite- Wine Country trip via 120 to 49 enjoying the Gold Country. Take 16 to Sacramento and endure I80 to Davis. Take 113 to E6 to Winters and 128 to Rutherford. I suggest late morning for this part of the trip. From Rutherford there is no bad way to get to Pt. Reyes. I prefer Calistoga through Gurneville to 1 but I am a twisty back road nut, and the North Coast is an incredible bonus.

Thank so much. I'll let you know what we decide

"the Mountain Room is a descent restaurant"...does that mean there's a danger of landslides?

I see you suggested to take 49. I looks like an interesting drive. Where would you suggest we stay overnight on the way to Pt. Reyes? We have about three days. Leaving Yosemite Wednesday morning and flying out of San Fran early Sunday morning. Any suggestions are appreciated.

If you want to stay the night in Sonoma, just take 120 to I-5 and then I-5 north to 12 and 12 to Sonoma. Then take 116 the next day to Petaluma and then head out to Pt. Reyes via D Street.

Unless you are a glutton for punishment or you are really looking for an unusual back road route, avoid the road from Winters to Rutherford. Lots of twists and turns on that one.

Hopefully you will find a nice day at the lighthouse. Lots of fog and wind out there in the summer.

I agree with Otis, do not take the road from Winters to Rutherford. Too long.

I think in looking at the map that I am being a bit ambitious to want to get all the way over to Pt Reyes after visiting Yosemite for a few days. We have revised our trip , please tell me what you think.
Fly into San Fran Saturday drive to Meced and sleep there.
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday night Yosemite.
Wednesday morning drive to Sonoma. The only thing I might add is to take a bit longer route and take 49 to 12 over to LODI and catch 5 over to Sonoma.
Wednesday Thursday, Friday in Sonoma Napa
Friday night Drive to San Fransico
Saturday San Fran sleep by the airport
Sunday early flight out.

Am I crazy to take a little longer road trip to Sonoma.
Is that part of route 49 worth it?

Thanks so much for any help you can provide. Any questions about the north east, I'lll love to help you with.

"Fly into San Fran Saturday drive to Meced and sleep there."

WHY? No reason to stay in Merced of all places. If you have a night to kill (and don't want to stay in SF) then stay somewhere along hwy 49 - Jackson, Angels camp, Sonora -- anywhere but Merced.

What time do you land at SFO?

I agree, use Rt. 49 instead of 140. If you want to be closer to Yosemite, stay in Mariposa or ElPortal.
Mapquest says it is 260 miles from Yosemite to Point Reyes in 5.5 hours. There is a HI Hostel in Point Reyes that is about 2 miles from the ocean.