Seeking Advice for Northern Ca.Trip
 

My husband and I will be in Ca. early Oct. for 11 days-arriving in SF mid-day. The following morning we drive to Sacramento and overnight to attend a wedding. After that, do you feel we have enough time to spend two days at Yosemite - or is it too far to drive for too short a time? Would it be better to spend two days at Tahoe- or do neither? Have been to Tahoe but not Yosemite. I feel we need at least 2/3 days for Sonoma and the northern coast and 3 more days in SF. Would also like to drive to BigSur (overnight somewhere) and drive back up the coast. We'll be leaving on a late night flight the last day so do have 11 full days. Any feedback and advice would be helpful - just trying to figure out where to go and in what order to make best use of our time. This is not our first time in Ca. but it's been many years. Thanks.

Yes go to Yosemite. Two days might not be forever but you'll enjoy Yosemite in the time you have.

I'll back Suzie up. It should be less than 4 hours from Sacramento to Yosemite.

I'll add the note that Highway 49 through the foothills is quite scenic and dotted with small towns dating to the gold rush era. If you have plenty of time (it's winding and fairly slow), it can make a nice route heading down to Yosemite. You'd probably only average 30-40mph on much of it, so if time is limited head down the US99 freeway.

Spend two nights in Yosemite, so you have a full day in the valley.

You've convinced me - we'll spend two nights and do as much as we can in that time. Hopefully we'll be able to take highway 49 - prefer quaint and scenic to the freeway.