Yosmite,SF, Sonoma itinerary questions
 

Hi,
Coming from NY, where should we fly into, Oakland or SF? We will stay with friends in Sonoma last. Should we go to SF first or drive straight to Yosemite. How many days should we stay in Yosemite? We have never been there. We want to do some light hiking and sightseeing. Where should we fly out of? Any must sees or suggestions for scenic drives? Thanks for your help.

What time of year? And how many days do you have altogether?

Assuming you are flying from the NYC area, according to Travelocity, there are:
49 non-stop flights to San Francisco
1 to Oakland
1 to Sacramento

On a work day, if the 1 flight to Sacramento fits your schedule, fly to Sacramento, visit Yosemite first, then SF, then Sonoma, then fly out of SFO. On weekends, Sacramento & Oakland are about the same "time" from Yosemite.

If picking up a car in Sacramento and dropping it off "elsewhere" is expensive - consider that into your cost analysis. If it's a budget breaker - then RT to Oakland or SFO would work best. Just remember - on a work day traffic between SFO and OAK is horrible. Same with traffic between Somoma and SFO and OAK.

If you get an early flight, stay a minimum of 2 nights in Yosemite - preferably 3-4 nights.

If you are arriving before mid-April - Yosemite can be "iffy". So you might do San Francisco first and then check the weather conditions in Yosemite. Last time we were in Yosemite, most of the roads into Yosemite were closed.

Here are some things to do in the San Francisco area.
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...mendations.cfm

Stu Dudley

Thank you for such concise answers. We will be traveling in mid May of 2016. Maybe 3 nights in SF, 3 in Yosemite and the rest in Sonoma. Where would the best area to stay in Yosemite?

>>Where would the best area to stay in Yosemite?<<

We stayed at the Lodge at the Falls in Yosemite Valley. But most of the hotels may be already "sold out" for mid-May. Decide and act ASAP. Mid-May should not have any weather problems.

Stu Dudley

I'd book your accommodations at Yosemite first and arrange the rest of your itinerary around what you can get there. Stay at Yosemite Lodge at the Falls (and book as soon as your dates are firm). If your dates aren't available (a distinct possibility) book at Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal. Then keep trying for a cancellation. Because people book months/years in advance there are frequent cancellations so you can likely get in eventually. Then you can cancel the booking at Yosemite View.

To be honest -- it doesn't matter which order you do things since all three are w/i easy drives of the other two.

So nail down Yosemite first and you are good to go. May is the absolute BEST time of year in Yosemite Valley, though the road into the back country might still be closed. The waterfalls will be torrents.

I just checked the reservation portal and all of May & June are already booked for Yosemite Lodge. Same for the cabins and the Ahwahnee. You're currently stuck with heated and non-heated tents, or outside the Valley.

That is why I recommended Yosemite View Lodge. It is right outside the park entrance and the closest property to the Valley (by a long shot) other than some condos in Yosemite West.

Be careful booking any property farther out than El Portal . . . even if they say they are right outside the park -- most every other area is a 70 min. to 2 hour drive into the Valley.

Then once you have Yosemite View nailed down, after the first of the year you can keep calling (<u>call</u> - not on line) for a cancellation. Most of the time (like MOST of the time) you can get in because people's plans change and cancellations become available.