Hi there,

Next month I'll be visiting Yosemite with some friends and then driving onto San Fransisco for a few days after. We are heading to Yosemite from Vegas and have that part of the route sorted but I wanted some advice on the best route from Yosemite to SF. We are staying at a Yosemite Scenic Wonders property so will be leaving from there (address 7403 Yosemite Park Way, CA 95389).

We will unfortuantely not have too much time in the park, we'll arrive on a Wednesday late afternoon/evening and want to be in SF on the Friday before the evening traffic so wondered if there was anything in particular we should plan on our full day at Yosemite to do? Looking to be out all day and see as much as we can in the short period of time. Also, we want to get up early Friday to be out for a couple of hours before we have to check out - is there any short hikes you could recommend for that time?

Finally, we have some things planned for SF but any insider insight is always useful for planning what to do. We are staying near Golden Gate Park.

Thanks!

>>want to be in SF on the Friday before the evening traffic > insider insight is always useful

Unless you leave early in the AM you can't miss the Friday afternoon traffic. If it was me I'd leave Yosemite West later -- like 4PM or later and get to the City in the evening after the worst of the traffic.

That would also give you a few more hours in Yosemite Valley.

Let me know exactly where you are staying near the Park. We access SF quite frequently via 280 - but the "exact" exit to take is "difficult to find" for most people. You don't want to get on 19th Ave - that's horrible also.

Stu Dudley

>> I'd leave Yosemite West later -- like 4PM or later and get to the City in the evening after the worst of the traffic.

Thanks for the advice! Didn't realise traffic would be so bad so early (naive!) from the UK where traffic is only heavy from early evening.

We will be staying at this address in Yosemite: 7403 Yosemite Park Way, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389. Sorry I don't know much more about where it is just that its Yosemite West!

If you could give road numbers for a best scenario route that would be incredibly helpful. It's pretty hard not being familiar with the area(/country!) and trying to work it out on a map!

Leaving the park later is a good idea, I just need to check with the person that booked the rental car if we're tied into returning it on the day we get into SF.

Also, thanks for the link to the recommendations Stu, great stuff!

I meant the address of your place near Golden Gate Park in San Francisco - not Yosemite Natl. Park

Stu Dudley

Ahh of course, apologies - it's been a long day! We are staying at 537 33rd Ave. Thank you.

Just re your place in Yosemite West . . . it is very convenient. Except for IN Yosemite Valley itself, Yosemite West and El Portal are the ONLY locations close to Yosemite Valley. You did good

Very interesting location - just 1 block from the Lincoln Park. See the "suggestions' list for the Coastal Trail in Lincoln Park

Here is how I would get there.

- Leave Yosemite on 120 then 108 to Manteca
- Then 205 to 580 to 238 to 880, then south on 880 to 92 heading west. There was some re-doing of this 580/238/880 area within the last 5 years & I have some older maps. Just end up on 92 heading west.
- Cross the San Mateo Bridge (#92) and keep on 92 until it hits Hwy 280
- Head north (to SF) on 280
- As you pass the airport exit & Serramonte ave, stay in the middle 2 lanes.
- Do not take the branch (2-3 lanes to the right) that takes you further on 280 to Downtown SF. Instead pass this exit, following the signs towards 19th ave and perhaps the Golden Gate Bridge (can't recall if there is signage to the GG Bridge).

- After passing the 280 branch to downtown, move over to the right lane. Pass John Daly blvd, slow down, & start looking for the sign for "Brotherhood Way". In addition to the sign for Brotherhood Way - there will be a large green sign with a "cloverleef/circular arrow". Turn right & follow the cars in front of you & keep turning right onto Brotherhood.

- Keep going straight on Brotherhood & follow the cars in front of you. Move to the right of the road. When it dead-ends - turn right onto Lake Merced Blvd.

- Follow the cars in front of you and swoop past Lake Merced.

- Get in the right lane and when it kinda ends & intersects with Sunset Blvd, turn right onto Sunset Blvd.

- This is really easier than it sounds - basically once you are on Brotherhood - just follow the cars in front of you , stay to the right, and make right turns, (no left turns)

- Go straight north on Sunset Blvd. You'll get glimpses of the Golden Gate Bridge in the far distance. There are no left turns allowed anywhere on Sunset (I think) so stay in the left lane. Cross-streets have names that follow the alphabet in Z to A sequence.

- Pass Judah and at Irving, make sure you do not take the road to the right "up" to Lincoln - stay to the left. You will immediately drive under a bridge/tunnel, enter Golden Gate Park, and dead-end into Martin Luther King Blvd.

- Turn right onto Martin Luther King. After a stop sign, move over to one of the 2 left lanes and at the stop light, turn left onto Cross Over Drive (lots of traffic) and cross Golden Gate Park.

- Stay in the left lane on Cross Over. At the light, turn left onto the 25th Ave exit. The line of traffic turning left at rush hour might be a little long.

- Stay to the right on the road and exit Golden Gate Park onto 25th Ave.

- After exiting the park onto 25th, drive 2 blocks & turn left onto Balboa. Then right on 33rd Ave, & start looking for addresses.

Stu Dudley

Thanks so much Stu, that's super helpful. Will print those off and mark onto a map. We ended up with that apartment location because we left quite late to book it - I will look up the Coastal Trail!

That's good to know janisj! Thank you!