Traveling to Yosemite from Fresno?
Some of my friends and I are planning a trip from Fresno to Yosemite. We are thinking a day trip would be our better option, but we would love to stay the night. The only problem is we are college students and don't have much money. So I have a few questions: -If you are only there for a day, what are the "must see" things? -Is there anywhere in the park or nearby that we can stay for a reasonable price? -How long does it take to get to the park from Fresno? Thanks!
Other - United States - 2 Answers
People's Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
Answer 1 :
Is has been some time since I made the trip, but the cheapest place to stay would be Fresno. If you drive to Yosemite, take the tram tour through the park. Leave very early in the am and get there as soon as you can. When you leave, drive to the top of Half dome and view the valley floor. It's well worth the extra time. I would pack an ice chest with food for sandwiches and drinks so as to not need to stop and wait for food service. After dark, you can drive back.
Answer 2 :
It takes about an hour and a half to two hours to get to Yosemite Valley from Fresno. You can easily make it a day trip without an overnight stay unless you are caught in a snowstorm. If you can handle some cold, the tents in Curry Village are about $80 a night but can easily be split four or five ways. Plan to leave early in the morning by 6 AM. You should arrive around 8:30 or 9 AM. Park in Curry Village and ride the bus for the day. Most people take about an hour to hike up to Vernal Falls Bridge from Happy Isles. It's a nice hike with a bit of a climb up but it is downhill all the way. It's a better hike in the spring when the falls are full. It's better to ride the bus and do the whole loop, allowing time for stops at each stop. The Mirror Lake road is about as long as Happy Isles but it's a nice hike this time of year and the water should be warmer for swimming. Now is a great time to go bicycle riding in Yosemite - if you have bikes and a bike rack I highly suggest you bring the bikes and a lunch and explore the roads and trails. You get around but can stop at any time to take in a great view. There's a couple of fun things to look for. Under the pedestrian bridge - the second one past Happy Isles, in the pedestrian tunnel is some fun grafitti. On the hiking trail between Mirror Lake and the Ahwahnee (Closer to where the horse trail nears the road to Mirror Lake) check out the natural rock grottoes that used to be called the Indian Caves (before politically correct changed them to "Natural Rock Grottoes") They are fun and are a fairly safe way to climb a few rocks in the process. The Ahwahnee Hotel is beautiful to look at but pricey. It's okay to take a moment to warm your toes by the big fire for a while. As for food, I never liked their pizza but most people do. The Pizza Loft above Degnan's Deli is still reasonably priced without having to travel. Even better are their specialty sandwiches at the deli that are made fresh. Take some time to go to the visitor's center while you are there. Give yourself some time to hike up to Lower Falls even though it's mostly a drip this time of year. It's a seasonal waterfall that is dependent on snowmelt - no snow to melt, no water. But the hike is nice and I wonder if John Muir's stone bench is still there? It will be dark early, so staying the night at Curry Village is cold but you can warm up by the fire in the lounge (a former dance hall) near the office. Cheaper but an hour's drive away is the town of Oakhurst. If you think it will be a better deal try to arrange your room as you drive in instead of on your way out. The Pizza Factory there in Oakhurst is where I get my pizza as it really is as awesome as they claim. The bonus is for the same price as the tent you get your own bath and cable tv. Have fun. Now is a great time of year to visit Yosemite. We'll be going bike riding there next month and ice skating in the winter. P.S. Uhm, Bandit, you can't drive to the top of Half Dome to view the valley floor. There is no paved road up to Half Dome. It's a 16-mile hike round-trip. Hannah, you could drive up to Glacier Point to view both Half Dome and the Valley floor, but it is a 45-minute drive round-trip and it is at 7,000 feet in altitude at it's highest, so be prepared for altitude sickness and bring some water and aspirin or ibuprofen with you.
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