BTW -- even though park accommodations fill up far ahead that doesn't mean you can't get in later. Simply <i>because</i> folks reserve so far ahead ensures there are MANY cancellations. Things happen in the months between booking and the actual dates, so even if one is shut out the first try -- they can almost always get a booking eventually.

Bu go ahead an book towards the end of this month . . .

Totally true about cancellations....but takes arduous calling. I am working on same for this spring right now. But the year and a day gives optimal room choice and is often necessary in high season for weekends. Under old system of Delaware North, once you get in one year and a day, you can go ahead and book all the dates you want. I hope this is still true.

I called new reservation system today. They told me phone calls are considerably ahead of computer system (starts at 8am PDT now). However, I booked by phone a reservation in June. Got confirmation 4 hours later by email (okay), but then got cancellation of same 5 minutes after that, a cancellation I had not made. Their system must not be totally in order.

>>But the year and a day gives optimal room choice and is often necessary in high season for weekends<<

I personally think you are unnecessarily scaring the OP -- she is not gong in high season OR on a weekend - she is going Mon-Wed in mid-May next year. The schools are still in session and IME this won't be a tough booking.

My intention is not to scare OP, it is to help her get what she wants. You may be right, but for us to get a Thurs, Fri, Sat in midMay it has always taken the proverbial year and a day. Anyhow, we also tend to get to the airport three hours before an international flight rather than two, so it may be a matter of style.

Thanks for all of the information. We are now leaning more towards the third week of May, and so will be calling for reservations in another few weeks. Appreciate all of your input!

Does anyone have any thoughts on the Three Rivers area, as a base for exploring Sequoia and Kings Canyon Parks? Or, any other suggestions?

For Sequoia/KC I'd probably stay at Wuksachi Lodge, but otherwise Three Rivers is fine.

Have you thought about calling to find out when the most likely time for the dogwoods are? They vary every year, but there is a general range, I think. Most likely the dogwoods will bloom before the falls are at their very highest, but they will still be full and dogwoods are almost as magic as cherry blossoms.

Wondering what you ended up with and wishing you well....Went for the weekend over my birthday at the end of April, dogwoods already well into bloom, lovely new green on deciduous trees, water in the falls. Snagged a cancellation and going back this weekend....

I thought I would provide an update on our plans. We are booked at Yosemite Valley Lodge May 15, 16th and 17th. Then, we are booked at the River Jewel Suites in Three Rivers for May 18, 19th and 20th. I made these reservations last May, to ensure I could get the accommodations we wanted for the dates we wanted. I originally thought we would fly out on May 14 and return home on May 21. I just booked our flights, and due to pricing, we will actually go out on May 13 and return May 22. The savings was significant, enough to justify additional lodging for two nights! And, a good excuse to extend our vacation!

This will give us two extra days to enjoy the area. I thought I would run my tentative plans by you folks; feel free to make any additional recommendations!

May 13: Our flight will arrive in Fresno in the evening, so I plan to just look for a hotel near the airport.
May 14: Explore the southern part of Yosemite (Wawona area), including Mariposa Grove if it is open, as well as Nelder Grove. Spend the night in Oakhurst.
May 15: Head towards Yosemite Valley; would like to go through the town of Mariposa on the way. Spend three nights at Yosemite Valley Lodge, exploring the Valley and northern parts of the park.
May 18: Leave Yosemite Valley, head towards Three Rivers. Spend three nights at River Jewel Suites, and spend our days exploring Sequoia and Kings Canyon Parks.
May 21: Check out of River Jewel Suites. Activities TBD!
May 22: Flight home leaves Fresno at 12:30 PM.

I'm not yet quite sure of the best way to spend our day on May 21, or where to spend the night. I could inquire at River Jewel Suites to see if we could stay there an extra night, but it is not inexpensive there, and our three nights are a bit of a splurge. Any ideas on what else might be good for that day, that might allow us to spend the night within at least an hours drive of Fresno, for the next morning?

Thanks to everyone for all of the past input, it has been so helpful.

>>May 14: Explore the southern part of Yosemite (Wawona area), including Mariposa Grove if it is open, as well as Nelder Grove. Spend the night in Oakhurst.
May 15: Head towards Yosemite Valley; would like to go through the town of Mariposa on the way.<<

Oakhurst/Wawona and Mariposa aren't really doable on the same drive in to Yosemite Valley For one route you'd be on 41 and the other on 140.

How early/late in the evening are you arriving at FAT? Since you will see Wawona/Oakhurst on your way south to Three Rivers, I'd head north from Fresno. Maybe even all the way to Mariposa -- it is about 70 miles. But even if I decided to tay that night in Fresno -- I'd stay the next night in Mariposa instead of Oakhurst so you wouldn't be retracing your route leaving YNP.

We get in around 8:00 pm. I know we won't feel like traveling far that evening.

Actually, I was thinking we would see the Wawona area on the 14th, spend the night in Oakhurst since it is close, and then leave on the morning of the 15th to head towards the Valley. Just thinking of a drive through Mariposa on the way north towards the Valley, we would not spend much time there. Is it worth allotting more time to see?

>> I was thinking we would see the Wawona area on the 14th, spend the night in Oakhurst since it is close, and then leave on the morning of the 15th to head towards the Valley.<<

But that is the way you would leave the Valley en route to Three Rivers so why not do it then??

>>Just thinking of a drive through Mariposa on the way north towards the Valley,<<

I was trying to explain that Mariposa is not on the way to the Valley from Oakhurst. They are on different routes. Mariposa would take you up 140 along the Merced River through Midpines and El Portal. Oakhurst = up 41 through Fish Camp, Wawona and Tunnel View. They are totally different roads. (You could take Hwy 49 between Oakhurst and Mariposa but that is quite a detour)

So - yes stay in Fresno that night but then drive up to Mariposa and then in to Yosemite via 140. Then on your way out use 41 through Wawona/Oakhurst.

I missed your thread the first time around and realize you've already made reservations but I don't think that Three Rivers is the best base for SEKI. It's an hour to the Giant Forest area, farther to Grant Grove and about 2.5 hours if you drive down into Kings Canyon each way. Last May we split our stay between Wuksachi and Cedar Grove. Staying at Grant Grove is another possibility if you prefer not to move.

I agree w/ Patty - if your accommodations aren't pre-paid/non-refundable there are better locations than Three Rivers.

The Mariposa Grove will not be open until July at the earliest. There are other places to see Giant Sequoias within Yosemite without going to Sequoia/Kings Canyon.
https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvis...iposagrove.htm
The one time that we came into Yosemite from the south, we rented the car at the Fresno airport and spent the night in Oakhurst and left for Mariposa Grove after an early breakfast.
The early morning drive back to FAT to return the car was very foggy as I recall.
With the amount of snow the Sierras are getting, the waterfalls should be spectacular in May.

I wouldn't worry about missing Mariposa Grove if you're heading to SEKI. You'll see bigger groves and the largest trees there. I'd spend your time in Yosemite concentrating on other attractions.

There really aren't that many Sequoia in Yosemite - there are a few but especially w/o the Mariposa Grove, NOTHING like Sequoia NP. I would travel in via 140/Mariposa and out via 41/Oakhurst.

The Mariposa Grove was supposed to reopen late last Fall so I didn't check but now I see it is closed until at LEAST mid summer. You will see all the redwoods you want in Sequoia NP.

Great advice to consider, thank you everyone. I also had not seen that Mariposa Grove would not be open in May - good to know we can see the giant trees in Sequoia NP!

Nelder Grove has plenty of Giant Sequoias and it very near the south entrance.

http://www.yosemitehikes.com/not-yos...lder-grove.htm

Thanks for the link, we'll be sure to go to Nelder Grove!