Yosemite or Sequoia/kings canynon
 

Which is better?
should we do both?
If one, which one?
Thanks

Melissa

What time of the year are you going and how long do you have for these parks?

Utahtea

We are going in august .
I have reservations at yosemite 8/20 and then I have reservations in crater lake either 8/24 or 8/27
Melissa

You can see some sequoias by Yosemite, and there are other amazing sights there as well. If I had to choose, I'd go with Yosemite. Sequoia Nat'l Park is awesome, but very time consuming to get to, and there is less variety once there. I'm glad I've been to both, but if it was one over the other, there is no doubt which I'd prefer.

Yosemite is absolutely spectacular, but will be crowded in August. If the crowds wont bother you, then go to Yosemite. If you find crowds of people annoying while trying to enjoy the mountains, then go to Sequoia.

Personally, I wouldn't go to Yosemite in August even if it was free, but then that is me and I only live 4 hours away. I can pretty much go whenever I want to. If I only had one chance to see Yosemite, then I might have a different opinion.

My choice would be to go from Yosemite to the Redwoods via Highway 1. I would spend a night in Mendocino or at Benbow Inn, south of Garberville.

In Eureka, check out the old part of town.

The drive from Eureka to Crescent City is spectacular.

If you have time on your way to Crater Lake, it would be worth your while to visit Jacksonville and Ashland.

Given your time schedule, I'd plan at most one day in Sequoia, skipping Kings Canyon. Not that the latter isn't spectacular, but there's no way I'd miss Yosemite in order to see Kings Canyon. It'd be two days to get from the Sierras to Crater Lake, meaning you'll have to leave the Sierras by August 25th at the latest. If the 20th is your starting day, you have at most five days to see either or both of these parks. Seeing as how Yosemite has three days as a decent minimum (and three lifetimes as a maximum), you really don't have time for more than a cursory view of SeKiCa.

Just note that Correa is correct: in August, Yosemite will be jammed. Try to look above the crowds at the eye-popping cliffs.

I can only get one night at yosemite.
with the crowds wil it be worth it?

Yes, because if you stay in the park at night you will be there when the most of the tour busses and the day-trippers are gone. Focus on Glacier Point and the valley floor.

Have been to both, and I also agree that Yosemite is a better choice.

Don't know if you're hikers, but we were there in either July and August. Although the valley was crowded, we left early to hike and once you're a short distance up the trails, the people disappear. It's also wonderful to look down on the valley from above (can't remember the name of the point)

Melissa,
Do the Yosemite trip. See valley floor, Glacier Point area and the various waterfalls and landmarks around the valley.
How are you going to Crater Lake? Inland like on 395 and then cut over? Hwy 49 thru Gold Country and then up I-5? Or are you going to try to do more coast hwy 1? If you want to go to Lassen, then doing the gold country route and I-5 will get you there. You could veer off and go thru it going out upper end and stop where ever you ended up. Drive to Lassen and to Crater are very nice as is the drive around Crater Lake.

I love Sequoia, but it is a park that is best enjoyed if you can stay a while and tour Crystal Cave, climb Moro Rock, hike to Tharp's cabin, etc. If you're just going to drive all the way up there to stay a night and peek at the General Sherman tree, you'd be better off skipping it . Yosemite, on the other hand, can be appreciated with a pme mogjt stay to see the waterfalls, Glacier Point, etc. And I would not miss Crater Lake.

Yes, I agree. See Yosemite!
Even if only for one night altho' 2-3 more ideal.

Take what you can get. :-)

And, a tip...keep trying w/the lodging. Closer to the date when cancellations have to happen by, is when I usually snag a stay. But you need to be dedicated.

Where in Yosemite did you get? Valley Floor? If so, that's very cool & will make one night more worth it, to be sure! It's quieter at night...you can stare at the big walls surrounding you by starlight or moonlight...even the waterfalls! (had hubby take moonlight images of the falls at night once)

I agree, if you could hike even a little, you will soon leave behind crowds.

And, like others pointed out, you'll see redwoods along the way to Oregon, if you're driving & can go a more coastal way. (altho' you may not do that for Crater Lake)

i got two nights at yosemite lodge and then lake tahoe for three nights then up thru lassen to crater lake.
Melissa

You are very lucky that you got the two nights (although last summer, we managed to get a couple of last minute cancellations) so far in advance of your trip. While Yosemite Lodge is very simple (although they did add tv's to the rooms a year or so ago), the location can't be beat, the views can't be beat, and the pool is fabulous.

I don't know what to do.
I have 2 extra days .
after 2 days at yoesmite
then 3 days at lake tahoe.is this enough?
then I am driving up to crater lake.
I don't know where or what to do for these two days.
any ideas?
Thanks
Melissa

You've got 2 extra days between Lake Tahoe and your drive to Crater Lake?

You could spend them along the northern section of Hwy 49. Beautiful country and a bit off the beaten path.

Two extra days between Lake Tahoe and Crater Lake? Make certain one of them is spent at Lassen Volcano NP.

I'd spend them at Lassen or Shasta. I like Dunsmuir near Shasta, a cute old Railroad town. You could spend a night at the Caboose Motel. My kids (okay, me too!) got a kick out of it. :-)

Does anyone know if it's do-able to get to Yosemite from Lake Tahoe, as a day trip? We have friends who are interested in seeing Yosemite, but that's all the time they can spare on their upcoming trip.