Huntington Beach to Yosemite
 

We have a wedding in Huntington Beach on August 19, we have 7-8 days after the wedding and want to drive and stay in Yosemite 3 days- 2 Nights and then meander the coast back South to LAX. Bucket list items include the Sequoias and Yosemite. We are open to any ideas, Should we hit the coast first and Yosemite last or the opposite? I'm thinking maybe first because we would be there at the beginning of a week and if possibly a little less insane? Would lake Tahoo at the end of the trip be worth the drive, we could rent the car one way and fly out of Reno? That would put the coast line on the front end of the trip? Thanks for your thoughts

August is insanely busy at Yosemite -- you may already bee too late to get accommodations in the Valley. It will be hot and dry - don't get me wrong, I LOVE YNP but don't expect to be an easy time to visit.

(BTW -- 2 nights will give you 1.5 days not 3 days since it will take at nearly half a day to get to/from there from just about anywhere but Fresno.)

Try booking accommodations first -- then plan your itinerary around which if any dates you can get.

If nothing in available in the Valley, try the Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal - the only decent property close enough to make a 1.5 day visit work.

How about Sunday night in San Louis Obispo, Monday night in Mariposa, tuesday, wednesday thursday nights in Yosemite then head towards either sacramento or San Fran for Friday, Sat and Sunday nights and fly out Monday. We like the smaller towns and would prefer to stay away from the tourist traps. I understand Yosemite is going to be crazy in August, but we would like the rest of the trip to be lower key- we aren't big drivers 3-4 hours max a day. San Fran doesnt really excite us. How about Lake Tahoe and fly out of Reno? Too far? I would be glad to extend another day or two not to rush.. from what i'm hearing,the coast seems too busy and overrated- we live on the coast in southeastern CT which is pretty quiet. Thanks

You can fly out of Reno or SFO, or Sacramento or Oakland or San Jose, or even Fresno. But before you decide on anything -- nail down your accommodations in Yosemite. Without that, any other plans will be 'the cart before the horse'.

"... from what i'm hearing,the coast seems too busy and overrated..."

I'm not sure what a person would be expecting and come away disappointed, thinking the coast is overrated... I admit to some bias, but I think the undeveloped parts of the California coast are scenic wonders of this country. But it will be busy.

Yosemite, though, will be in an entirely different category of busy, and it won't matter what days of the week. You really do need to follow janisj's suggestion of securing Yosemite lodging reservations before you think about anything else.

FWIW, I think Sequoia N.P. would be less crowded, but securing lodging now would still be an imperative.

If you drive down the coast and back to LAX, be aware that most lodging right on the coast will have a 2-night minimum stay requirement between Friday (sometimes Thursday) and Sunday. I would secure these reservations in advance, too.

If you plan to do a one-way car rental, make sure you inquire about drop fees.

>> from what i'm hearing,the coast seems too busy and overrated- we live on the coast in southeastern CT which is pretty quiet. <<

OMG -- I didn't even notice that bit!!

Does this look overrated?

http://bicycleadventures.com/blog/wp...-Sur-Photo.jpg

http://frugalfrolicker.com/wp-conten.../06/bigsur.jpg

http://saveourshores.org/wp-content/...is-Lincoln.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/kcFI0yq.jpg

Oh, and all those shots are w/i one small 30-ish mile stretch . . .

Why San Luis Obispo on the way to Yosemite? Maybe head to Sequoia/Kings Canyon before Yosemite if you can find accommodations. It gets fewer visitors than Yosemite. The foothill areas and Sacramento will be hot in August. I'd head to higher elevation areas if you don't want the coast. Everywhere will be varying degrees of busy in August.

August is ridiculous, tourists and kids on summer vacay everywhere. Good luck.