I don't see how this new idea works if you have only 7 days. I think you run out of time before you even start the drive to Yosemite. I can't tell where you intend to stop overnight, but you've listed a lot of things you want to see/do.

You’re right that is just a list of stuff we would want to do, for sure not planning on fitting it all in.

Not sure where we would stay or what we would leave out just yet… hoping someone has done something similar to this. All I know is we were thinking we would spend 2 nights in Yosemite and we were thinking of staying in Santa Cruz and somewhere else along the coast.

sorry I’m all over the place! I’m having a hard time trying to plan a comparable trip to the one we did this past April.

With a week and using an RV -- By dropping time IN San Francisco you could easily do Santa Cruz/Henry Cowell, the Monterey Peninsula including Point Lobos and a bit of Big Sur, and Yosemite.

If you fly into SFO or SJC, Pick up the RV and head to Henry Cowell then stay two nights in/near Santa Cruz the nights of 4-19/20. Then down to the Monterey area and stay the the nights of 4-21/22/23. Then across to Yosemite via Merced/Hwy 120 (the easiest route into the Valley so recommended for motor homes) stay the nights of 4-23/24/25. Then back to the Bay Area, drop RV and fly home. IF you fly out before say 1PM -- the I'd only stay 2 nights at YNP, drop the motor home late afternoon on the 25th, stay in a hotel near the airport.

JanisJ's itinerary is smart, but for Yosemite and assuming no fresh snow at the low elevations making the trails difficult and trapping you to the valley floor, really you want that third night. Is there a reason you can't stay an extra day? You are traveling Friday to Friday, is it the RV rental that is dictating the length of the trip?

I'm not exaggerating when I say the views from the valley floor at Yosemite are restricted, so I would have a plan on where you are going to stop and walk to open areas to get views. This list has some (Tunnel View + those that say "Yosemite Valley") https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/viewpoints.htm. Missing is the Swinging Bridge which has great Yosemite Falls views. The vehicular system is 2 one way loops so miss your turn and it's 20 minutes around for another chance, without traffic.

Just one quick comment and a few photos. Re views, the following pix were taken on a single maybe 1 hour walk on the floor of Yosemite Valley. Other areas of the Valley have equally glorious views. Of course getting up high on some of the trails offers other amazing viewpoints but there is PLENTY to see/do in the Valley itself.


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Puzzled where the above pictures were taken, it looks like it might be Sentinel Meadow, which I missed in June.

2023 was a peculiar year. The Sentinel Bridge and Road were closed all summer for construction, as was some of the adjacent parking on the north side of the bridge. It looks like normally this area would be a great arrival to the park area with some open views, a "We're here!" moment before hitting the Visitor Center and Yosemite Village. This summer all arriving traffic was routed east and away through the Curry Village area, and without the middle link provided by Sentinel Bridge the loop road was enlarged and extra unforgiving of a missed turn.

Also in early June the river was flooding and the riverside meadows and trails were half under water, which I doubt is a normal occurrence. In any event I was always disoriented, and if sticking to the valley floor on a future visit I would still have in advance a plan of where I was going to hike around, and which parking or shuttle stop location I planned to use.

This was a walk from the Lodge, down along the river, across the Swinging Bridge, through the meadow, across the road to the Chapel, back to the meadow and across the Superintendent's Bridge, then Lower Yosemite Falls and back to my balcony at the Lodge and a glass of bubbly and cheese and olives -- :)

Only maybe 2.5 or 3 miles total with zigs and zags and totally level

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Here's a view from the Swinging Bridge in early June. Most of the meadows were partially under water then.

We could stay 3 nights in Yosemite if we wanted to, I was thinking we would have enough time because of closures in April. Is the shuttle running at that time to drop us at different viewpoints or hikes? I’m trying to compile a list of the hikes or viewpoints that we are able to do at that time and what would be missing to see if it’s worth going. By what I’m reading and finding, there’s quite a bit we wouldn’t be able to see because it would be a strenuous hike.

this is all so helpful!! Thank you thank you!!

Yes the hikes all the way to the top are strenuous, but you don't have to go all the way and from what I am reading the tops of the trails are often closed anyway in April due to snow.

Just going up 200' in elevation is enough to open up broad views up and down the valley.

I saw a mid-70s couple climb to Union Point, taking their time and with hiking poles and proper hiking boots. I can't image two 13-year-olds not loving the hikes.

3 nights also gives more slack for bad weather.

Amazing photo. This year was truly historic in the way of snow pack and therefore lots of flooding once that all started melting. The OP is traveling in April though and none, or virtually none, of the pack will be heading down the Merced river at that time. The scenery then should look more like my photos . . . except there'd be some leafing out of the trees.

For the OP’s reference I believe the view of my photo immediately above is the same view as the middle photo (fourth from the top) of JanisJ, hers apparently taken around Christmas.

Because of the flooding I missed almost all these valley floor views, but braved walking through water this one time to get back to the lodge and avoid taking the shuttle. So walking along the river is something to do for the next trip.

Hi, I'm a native San Franciscan. It will be warmer down south that time of year BUT it can still be lovely and mild here. The boys would like Santa Cruz (gotta go to the Mystery Spot). The Monterey Bay Aquarium would be a hit with them also I think. Personally I think you Big Sur isn't a big enough draw for that age group. Pretty to look at but, get a postcard. Yosemite is awesome. Now if you go south - LA has a million and 1 things they would like but it's a totally different animal. TOTALLY. Traffic, cars, people, everything. Malls, shops. It all depends on what kind of experience you are looking for. It's more of a cursory experience. Palm Springs is not really a place for them and Joshua Tree is cool but limited. So Santa Monica, San Diego and Laguna are pretty similar - sun, beach, people, shops. I like your SF trip better but I'm bias!

Thank you all! Still planning this trip… anyone have campground suggestions for anywhere on the coast or Yosemite??