San Diego, Yosemite, Napa
 

Hi, Looking at planning a trip to San Diego, Yosemite and Napa. Flying into San Diego and out of San Fransisco, and driving from San Diego to Yosemite and then Napa. We are looking at doing this over a 7 day time frame. Is this too ambitious to really see all three places?

>> Is this too ambitious to really see all three places?<<

Yes -- much too ambitions. San Diego to Yosemite is an all day drive (like 8 or 9 hours without a single stop)

YNP to Napa is about a 5 hour drive

Napa to SFO is a 2 to 3 hour drive depending on time of day/traffic.

So you will be spending about 2.5 days of your time in the car leaving you only about 4 days for San Diego, YNP and Napa (and San Francisco? ).

Either . . . 1) spend your week in San Diego and southern California, fly home from San Diego or LAX; 2) fly in/out of SFO and spend your time in northern California (Yosemite and Napa w/ maybe a day or 1.5 days in SF); or 3) Arrive in SD and fly home from SFO and just drive the coast in between, but this will be pretty rushed (no detours to YNP nor Napa)

The usual janisj knee-jerk "NO".

Arrival day and Day 2 in San Diego
Third day to drive to Yosemite (7 hours to the south entry). You could possibly stay in Oakhurst of Wawona (Big Trees Lodge) this night.
Day 4 and Night 4 in Yosemite (if you can find lodging in the Valley)
Day 5 is morning in Yosemite. Drive to Napa takes bout 4 or 5 hours, so leave after lunch.

Day 6 you've got in Napa.

Day 7 I assume you are morning Napa and then drive to SFO.

Depending on your flight times.

If your 7 days don't include arrival and departure then even better.

Not knee jerk at all . . . however your knee jerk attack is to be expected . . .

When is this trip and do you have reservations for Yosemite? It is a long way from SD to Yosemite. I suppose you could fly to Fresno or maybe Sacramento.
There are some nice wineries about an hour's drive from San Diego in Temecula and the tasting fees are a lot less expensive.
Or you could spend 3 days or so in San Diego and then drive up to Santa Barbara and visit the Santa Ynez Valley wineries.

"Is this too ambitious to REALLY SEE all three places?" That was the question.

Of course it is too ambitious. 1 day San Diego, 1 day driving. 1 day Yosemite, 1/2. - 1 day driving. 1 day Napa? What time does flight leave SFO? When is the trip? Reservations in Yosemite are needed way in advance. Traffic in Napa is horrendous certain times of the year. Traffic in to SFO is always bad. Driving from San Diego to Yosemite can be awful too, al least thru the OC/LA bask.


It is a doable itinerary, certainly, but no trip I'd ever want to be on.

Sorry, but I'm with janisj and ginger50. Too much driving and not enough time anywhere, esp. in Yosemite. FYI, depending on the day of the week, driving north from San Diego could send you to the loony bin. The 405 routes you through Orange and L.A. Counties. Oh, joy. The 15 is longer in distance and probably time as well. I would look into the option of flying to Fresno. At least you'd arrive with your brain intact.

And, yes, if you don't already have lodging reservations in Yosemite, the whole question is probably moot.

I also agree with jamie99 that you don't have to go all the way to Napa Valley to experience the California wine scene. I love the Santa Ynez Valley with and without wine.

If you do go to Yosemite, there are plenty of vineyards and wineries in the foothills. In fact, just about everywhere.

I would only attempt this trip if I were under 40. Too much driving for me. I did trips like this in my 20's.

I think Janisj is viewing the itinerary from a perspective of "is this something I would recommend to my friend who is a first-time visitor"?

mlgb's itinerary may be doable, but I personally would never recommend it to a person I would want to remain "a friend", because:

1. 1 1/2 days in San Diego really isn't much time to spend there. Unless vhocken just wants to wander around with no beach time, no zoo, etc.

2. The drive from SD to Wawona is through the heart of San Diego, Orange Co, and LA - if you follow the mapquest route. If this is on a work day - vhocken is going to spend hours in "stop & go" traffic and then through the miserable Central Valley. The 8-9 hr drive could be 10-11 hrs if things don't work in your favor. This would be a horrible drive for anyone I know. A total wasted day.

3. Then only 1 1/2 days in Yosemite???? That's minimal time to just visit the Valley, but not other venues.

4. Then another 4-5 hr non-scenic drive to Napa and only 1 day in Napa.

5. If you follow the mapquest route to SFO, you'll be driving on the "most congested" stretch of freeway in the Bay Area - between Vallejo & the Bay Bridge. Last week or so, I read this in the Chron - it's been "1" for many years. Then on 101 down to SFO - another mess. This could be a 4 hr drive if it is done in the morning. And you have a flight to catch with all the stuff we've been hearing about waits at airports lately?? STRESS!!!

IMO, it is not "too ambitious" plan if this were a 10-11 day trip, with at least 1 night in San Francisco.

Stu Dudley

More time would be better, but I don't mind driving and I'd do it. How important is Napa itself? If you want to enjoy CA wineries, what about the Central Coast wineries on the way to Yosemite from SD?

A possibility -

A couple of days in SD.
Day 3 - drive to Paso Robles - (5 hour drive)
Overnight in the area. I'd go to Cambria and Moonstone Beach on the coast.
Day 4 - drive to Yosemite - (3.5 hours from Cambria)
Days 4 and 5 at Yosemite
Day 6 - drive to SFO - (about 3.5 hours)
See a little bit of SF and fly out on Day 7.

Adding even a day or two would improve your plan.

Another thought - how important is San Diego?
That's a lot of driving for limited time in SD.
What about flying into Sacramento or Oakland, going to Yosemite for a 2-3 days, on to Napa for a couple of days and then SF for a couple of days.

Depending on which airport you choose and which order you choose, that's about 7 hours of driving during the week.

It's 7 hours from SD to Yosemite, plus wherever else you want to go. If SD is very important to you, then try to add a day or two to your trip to make that drive worth it.

1.5 days in San Diego and Stu can't manage to "wander" down to the beach?

I do agree that Napa might be switched out for another wine region, along the routes. Not scenic, but Paso Robles is another option.

"beach time" - throw the towel on the sand, put some sunscreen on, and spend 4 hrs working on the tan. Then shower and do something else. Total time "door-to-door" - 5 hrs.

Stu Dudley

What ARE you babbling on about Stu?

Where are you staying in San Diego OP? Coronado Island is one option. Pacific Beach (area south of La Jolla) is walking distance to beach (Windansea is good for surfer-watch). A bit farther north there are hotels along the bluffs in Del Mar, which is a healthy walk to Torrey Pines State Beach.

The area I don't particularly like is Mission Bay.

I think we have a different definition of "beach time".

Stu Dudley

I agree with janisj, more time necessary for your itinerary.

"Not scenic, but Paso Robles is another option."

Paso Robles wine country is not scenic? Wow, that's a new one.

I was surprised by that also.

I met my West Hollywood friend in Cambria for a central coast winery trip. He was pretty much wow'd. I thought it was great too. Loved the hotel location on Moonstone Beach. Loved wandering the wineries. Saw some happy California cows on the hillsides. It was scenic to us - without the traffic of Napa.

Thanks for the triangle, janisj! I see that suppressing disagreement with your suggestions is your new plan of action.

Not everyone travels slowly or has unlimited time. Of course, more time would be better, but given the time the OP has, the stated desires are doable, as I said in my original post. mlgb's itinerary is helpful.

But janisj construes all disagreement as attack, which is unfortunate given her ubiquity on these boards.

I agree with janisj. 1 day each for San Diego, Yosemite and Napa, and 2 + days driving is not much of a vacation or time to see the places you are hoping to enjoy.

But if you are just checking off cities or places then this will work.

Mlgb ... lets see in San Diego there is the SD Zoo, Safari Park, Midway Museum, Balboa Park Museum, Carrillo National Monument, Old Town, Sea World, etc, why would they spend the day at the beach?

Almost half of the vacation is traveling by car or plane. I'd prefer to stay home and relax at a local pool.