Yosemite in mid-March with Toddler
 

We have just decided to start planning a trip to Yosemite in mid-March with my husband and 2.5 year old son. We are in the Bay Area (and I'm from the Bay Area) but it will be our first time there. Any help with my questions would be greatly appreciated!

We are trying to decide whether to spend 1 or 2 nights - I am not an outdoorsy type, and traveling with my son is not something we do regularly, so I am somewhat anxious about being away from home. We were thinking of driving in the early morning - seeing the sights in the Valley, staying at the Yosemite Lodge, and if we were to stay a second night to stay at the Tenaya Lodge near the sequoias. Any problems with this rough itinerary? Thoughts on either of these hotels?

What are the road/weather conditions like in mid-March? Do we have to buy snow chains? Best route from Palo Alto to the Park? Any roads to avoid?

Best sights to see that would be accessible with our 2.5 y/o?

Thoughts/advice greatly appreciated!!

Have you checked availability of hotels in the park? They book out a year in advance. If you can a room at Yosemite Lodge (more like a motel) do so. It has a great location close to the Merced River. The rooms are nothing special. I think they may have renovated some of them in the last few years. I used to love the little cabins down by the river, but those got flooded out and I don't think they offer them anymore. I have stayed in Tenaya Lodge twice and like it fine. Good location for seeing the big trees and Wawona. It is more modern and upscale and they have fashioned it to look like a mountain lodge. It used to be a Marriott, so expect that style of place. Stay two nights.

I live in Palo Alto too. I usually like to take 120 into the park. There will be snow at the higher elevations along the road in March most likely. The low road in is 140 that follows the Merced river. Check road conditions before you go. I get to 580 east, 580 splits into 205 going north, take that to 5 north for a short time then take 120 towrds Manteca. You basically stay on 120 the whole way. It is no freeway and can be slow going. There are a few juctions that can be tricky and easily missed. It should take around 4 hours to get there if you get an early start. Google yourself a route map.

When I wrote "stay two nights", I meant do your plan for two nights, not two night at the Tenaya Lodge.

I would recommend 2 nights in 1 location - and would choose Yosemite Lodge if you can get it because then you will be in the middle of Yosemite valley. Tenaya Lodge is a nicer hotel, but it is a good 45 minutes outside Yosemite Valley, and if the weather is iffy, that drive might not be very fun. The reason I recommend 2 nights in 1 location is that with a small child, esspecially one you aren't used to travelling with, it will probably be a much more relaxing trip if you can settle in for a couple nights rather than packing up and moving right away. With 2 nights, you will have the interum day to just hang out and see the sights on your own schedule. And there is a lot to see, even if you aren't outdoorsy.

As for route - I'd take Hwy 140 since it is a lower elevation road and if there is a storm, the road will be better than 120, which is much steeper and higher elevation.

I like Yosemite and love to travel with kids, but Yosemite in March with a 2.5 year old when you're not outdoorsy and don't travel with him? That just sounds a bit nutty. It will be cold and wet (at least) and maybe even snowy this year. I would either try this trip when it warms up a bit or choose someplace else to get used to traveling as a family. Maybe Monterey? I know, so close it can be a day trip but it's fun to spend a weekend there.

I think Monica is right. Monterey or Carmel would be great little shakedown cruise.

Thanks for the feedback...We're actually Monterey Aquarium members so we're there all the time. I wish we didn't have to travel in March - but our vacation schedules are dictated by work (we're both residents). We are still probably going to do it - either Yosemite (2 nights at the Lodge - rooms still available according to their website) or going to go with friends to a cabin in Tahoe.

I still think I'd be going someplace warm. My kids didn't really like the snow at 2.5 and I worry that you're setting yourself up for a bad trip and then you won't travel with your son again for a long time and that would be a mistake! We have a cabin and we've had lots and lots of families stay with us and a lot of the time the younger kids have sleep issues. Would your friends be cool with a crying preschooler? We always are but if they don't have kids of their own they might not be as understanding. How about someplace a bit farther south like San Luis Obispo? You could make a nice weekend of it.

Eh...My DH's family is in LA - we go there to visit a few times a year. SLO and Santa Barbara are nice, but we do want to see the snow, something different. Luckily our boy is a good sleeper and actually loves novelty - never seen snow so I think we're going to go for it. I already have snow gear and our friends have kids my son's age so they are good traveling companions. Thanks again for the feedback!

I'd go to Tahoe and play in the snow with him.