Drive VS. Tour group to Yosemite
 

I will be in San Francisco the first week of December for 4 days on business. My husband and son are coming along with me. We would like to take one day to go see Yosemite. We realize that it will be an entire day and will be about 8 hours round trip.
We are just trying to decide if we should rent a car and drive ourselves there, or pay about $135 a person and go with a tour group?? Can anyone suggest a good tour group?

Thanks!

I'd probably drive. You don't really need a tour guide. Just be sure you leave early. It gets dark inside the park early, and you don't want to be driving if there's any ice on the way in or out.

I would just drive as well. It will be a long day, but at least you will be on your own schedule. I'd leave as early in the morning as possible to maximize the time you have in Yosemite. As mentioned, it gets dark early that time of year and you don't want to leave Yosemite after dark if it is icy.

I agree with the others...though i can be a pain I think driving would be the best option. You can plan according to your schedule and sometimes tour groups stop at things, do things you may not want to do or find interesting.

Hill

www.edufire.com

There is one more option: Amtrak train - bus combo to Yosemite. I think GrayLine tours are like that, they just put people on train. It's easy to go by yourself, you will see the same as on a tour, only cheaper.

For 3 people renting a car may be more economical, BUT in December the mountain roads may be icy slippery. Will a rental company allow you to put chains on their car? Will you have to pay somebody to install them?

You realize it may snow in Yosemite in December? Not a huge accumulation, but it could be cold and wet.

We drove from San Francisco to Yosemite this summer. Usually I would say drive yourself over tour. But the road into the park is very steep and some places no guard rails. Since it is Dec and it will get dark earlier I would go with the experience of the tour company.

mmouse - there are 2 routes into Yosemite from the west. I think most people take Hwy 120 when coming from SF - this route does indeed have some steep sections and I would hestiate to drive it in the winter. Hwy 140 is the other option, which isn't steep and is a pretty easy drive. It follows the Merced River for the most part.