Hi,
We have a wedding in the LA area the end of Oct and then 9 days to travel.
We've driven north to SF and south to San Diego before, haven't been to Yosemite.
How is the park then? We are from Maine so cool weather is fine. We thought to spend a couple of days then drive to SF for a couple of days and home.
Any other ideas?
Thanks!
CCF

In Yosemite Valley it probably won't be any cooler than Maine. The high country may have snow by then and the road to Tuolumne Meadows and Tigoa Pass may be closed, as will most facilites in the Meadows.
If you go mid-week you can best avoid the crowds that seem to show up on any sunny weekend.
En route from Yosemite to SF, consider the Columbia State Historia Park just outside of Sonora and the intersting little towns along Highway 49 (Angels Camp, Jackson etc.) There are also a few wineries in the foothills near Angels Camp and Placerville.

Where would you stay in/at Yosemite? You might want to look into availability before you decide. I love Yosemite in the fall, but for me it's too late in the year for the tent cabins in the valley. I would want a hotel/lodge room.

First snowfall is predicted for the day after tomorrow, and temps are falling to below 20 overnight. There could be a warming trend later in the month ... or not.

They do have heated tent cabins. I love Yosemite in October.

Heated tent cabins might be warm enough for some. I was only speaking for myself and my itsy-bitsy bladder.

Haha....good point!

Thanks for the suggestions.
Sounds like it might be a little late in the season,what about Sequioa Natl Park.It is more south,nearer LA,right?
We are more interested in seeing some pretty nature spots than the urban jungle.
CCF

No! It isn't late in the season. You're from Maine. It's just beautiful in October. If there is bad weather, anywhere in the Sierras will be affected, including Sequoia and Kings Canyon. I would try to get a reservation at Yosemite and cancel if there is a forecast storm that concerns you. There is a minimal chance of snow, but 94% chance of a clear day. I believe there are rooms at Yosemite Lodge for all of October so you won't have to worry about walking to the toilet block in the cold at Curry Village in the middle of the night.
Check the Yosemite Organization website for weather and there's a link there to Delaware corp that does the lodgings.
http://yosemite.org/visitor/weather.html

Our weather is more a function of elevation than latitude - as others have said, if it is cold in the mountains, it will be cold north and south.

I would absolutely go to Yosemite in Nov. if you can. People are just cautioning about the overnight temperatures and tent cabins in case those are the only available lodging in Yosemite Valley. Stay in Yosemite Lodge or the Ahwanee if you can - otherwise, check lodging outside the valley. The town of El Portal has some places and if pretty convinient to Yosemite Valley.

Thanks for the link.What kind of time should we allow to get to the park from Long/ Seal Beach, and then from the park to SF?

I don't know if this is helpful to anyone but I just got an email from Alaska Airlines that their regional partner Horizon Air is flying from LA into MAmmoth/Yosemite.

Hi CCF,
6-7 hours from LB to Yosemite,
4-5 from Yosemite to SF. If you are not able to reserve accommodations inside the park, do try the Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal.
This has always been our fave place outside,yet VERY close to, the park.

R5

Thanks all for the info.
I checked,Air flights start in Dec. Too bad,lots of quality car time!
What are must see/do for a 2 day stay in the park.
CCF

Sory teh air flights didn't work re: timing.

If you can afford pls do stay at Awahnee. It is a "once in a lifetime" experience.

We took a tram (on the ground all four wheels) and really learned all kinds of things about the, American Inidans, geography rocks etc we would never have known on our own.

Great gift shop..Ansel Adams pics and great books.

Realy just about anywhere in teh park is great..when we retire we are serious about becoing Park volunteers..course if teh economy keeps going downhill we'll be living in a tent sooner than we thought!!