My Mom and I are trying to plan a 7 night trip to Yosemite, Big Sur, Monterey Penninsula in August. I know this is a lot of ground to cover, but we really want to do all 3. We would like to stay in Yosemite 3/4 nights, Carmel 1/2 nights, and Big Sur 1/2 nights. I have been to the Monterey Penninsula and San Fran before so, I am familiar with that area. What I need advice about is:

1. Where should we fly into? SFO?
2. What's the best itinerary for driving? (driving times, in what direction?)
3. Am I nuts? (ha!)
4. Any other suggestions?

Thanks for your advice!
Jessica

Not nuts!!
Check rates between SFO, Oakland and San Jose. I would choose San Jose as first choice. We did this trip from San Jose, drive down to Monteray/Carmel (2 hr drive). Take the coast road to Big Sur (We also went down to San Simion to Hearst Castle).
Travel up to Yosemite for a few days and back to san jose.
You should check into hotels and/or campgrounds now especially for Yosemite.
If camping, the state campgrounds on US1 are all nice. At Yosemite, the best campgrounds are the ones furthest from the valley. (IMHO)
Good luck on your planning!!

Before you make your airline reservations, I would check for lodging availibility in Yosemite. August is the high season, so you might have trouble finding something.

I would fly in and out on San Jose if possible.

What order are you doing the locations in? Oakland airport is closest to Yosemite (though still over 150 miles away), while San Jose is closest to Monterey and Big Sur. Plan on 4 hours to/from Yosemite and 1 hour between Carmel and Big Sur. That's a lot of driving: Carmel, Big Sur, and Hearst Castle might make a more manageable week. But if you don't mind spending long hours in the car (going over the same roads in both directions) they why not - all three locations are wonderful in their own ways. Where are you planning on staying?

Thanks for the information. I was planning on staying in Carmel at Cobblestone Inn (something like that) or possibly at Carmel Valley Ranch or Bernardos (I am probably botching the names). I wish I could stay at Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, but this is out of our pricerange....we may try to fit in Ventana (again probably botching the name, here). I don't know any other lodging in Big Sur that is recommended? I don't know where we would stay in Yosemite (we will not be camping).

I travel quite a bit overseas, and have been told to skip Hearst castle. Do you not agree?

I was thinking of doing Yosemite first, and then going to Big Sur and up to Carmel last and then home. Would you suggest doing it the other way?

I don't mind doing long hours in the car - as long as the drive is pretty!

Jessica

I personally enjoy Hearst Castle. Plus the drive is gorgeous and the beach is different than further north. And, just south of san simeon, you can cut across and not have to back track up US1 (one way is enough).
Direction is up to you.
As far as Yosemite, I would check now to see if they have any availability in the hotels in the valley.

For Yosemite, I would try for the Yosemite Lodge - it is clean, basic lodging right in the middle of things, so you can easily explore the valley. You can also take day trips to the high country and Wawona. Curry Village is another option - there are hard-sided cabins and motel-style rooms with private baths and then tent cabins with shared baths. The tent cabins would be my last choice, because they are sort of crowded, but I think staying there would be better than staying out of the valley because you will waste a lot of time getting in and out in the car. If you stay outside the valley, El Portal is the town just outside one of the entrances and is probably the closest lodging to the valley. Mariposa is about 45 minutes further down the hill and has lots of options. In Yosemite, but not in the valley, there is lodging at Wawona and then just beyond the south entrance.

Try the River Inn or Deetjen's in Big Sur and enjoy the Post Ranch views from their restaurant/bar deck.

As for skipping the Hearst Castle, don't think of it as a faux-European castle. Sure, he raided the continent for literally tons of furniture, art, books, even ceilings. But the architect Julia Morgan designed a uniquely 1920s Californian retreat in an amazing location - and the state park service has really done a great job with their IMAX movie and multiple tour options. Like vahiker1 noted you can drive there quite easily from Big Sur and then after going just a little further south you can drive east to Paso Robles (great undiscovered wine-tasting country) and then zip up the 5 freeway (not nearly as attractive as the PCH but a good window into California's bread-basket) back to the Bay Area.

Of course you probably can't see everything in a one trip. My favorite half-day hike in Yosemite Valley starts with a bus ride up to Glacier Point for the view. Then hike down then up to Vernal Falls and possibly further up to Nevada Falls before turning back to the valley. With only 2 or 3 nights in Yosemite you would have plenty of time to enjoy the California coastline.

Thanks so much for the advice! We are trying to make our decision - and your advice really helps. We are now throwing around the idea of changing to the Pacific Northwest (Portland, Seattle, Vancouver), as I am afraid August will be too packed with tourists in Yosemite to even enjoy it?

I am going to check on flights and hotel availability to get an idea of what we are headed for in California...I know that this trip would probably be much more enjoyable in September or October when the crowds die down. Correct assumption?

Decisions, Decisions!!

As much as I love Yosemite, I would probably opt for the Pacific Northwest that time of year. Yosemite will be absolutely mobbed - even finding lodging in the area might be a real challenge. If you can come to Yosemite in the spring or fall, that would be better. In the spring you will have the waterfalls and in the fall you will have the fall colors. We've been twice in May and once in November and both times were really great. There were still plenty of people around, but nothing like the summer time. I've always wanted to go in winter as well because it looks absolutely incredible from the pictures I have seen.

FYI Yosemite Falls is usually bone dry in the fall, so visit in the Spring to see it in all its glory.