Need Input regarding Yosemite Trip
 

Hi Everyone,
I will be flying into Oakland On a Monday. I have Tues-Thursday reserved at The Curry Campgrounds. We had planned on staying in Oakland Monday night. We arrive at 11.30 a.m.on Monday, but my husband would like to pick up a rental and head to Yosemite. Do you think this is too much for one day. I hear the trip is 4 to 5 hours. Since we do not have loding the first night, I thought I would book a B& B outside the park. Should the B&B be off Hwy 120 or Hwy 140.
Thanks

The drive will take you about 4 hours, not including stops. Driving up on a Monday afternoon you shouldn't hit much traffic at all. So getting up to Yosemite a day early is definitely doable, just just depends on how long you want your day to be and what your limits are.

As far as the route, I prefer 140 to 120. There are some great views from 120 but it's pretty steep in some places - both the road and the drop off the side. It's not a bad road, just not exactly a relaxing drive. When I go on that road I have visions of the part in the Long Long Trailer with Lucille Ball and Desi Anraz when they are trying to take their rig over that mountain. 140 goes along the Meced river and is a beautiful and relaxing drive.

I would absoulutely do it! I would feel like I was wasting a day by staying in Oakland. We drove in on 120 from Oakland and out on 140 (major snowstorm when we left and 120 was closed)You will want to be going somewhere, rather then being in neutral and the area is just beautiful!

Well, I'll always recommend getting out of the city in favor of seeing California's natural beauty, but I suppose it just depends upon how much travel you can take in one day. Personally, I plan-train-automobile it all day, but many people prefer not to. I love highway 120 into Yosemite, I seem to remember some cute B&B's in the Groveland area, although I've never stayed in one outside the park.

The places along 120 are a little higher elevation (thus cooler) than 140. I would look at Sonora/Jamestown or Groveland. Personally, I would pick up the car and head over on Monday; it's probably 2.5 hours to Sonora from Oakland (as long as you aren't trying to head out on a friday afternoon).

Thank you everyone for your input