San Francisco to Yosemite One-Way Transfer
Description
If you are needing a more flexible itinerary to experience the wild, natural beauty of Yosemite National Park this is the tour for you. This is the only Yosemite Valley tour from San Francisco where you can select your departure day and return day as separate segments. Enjoy plenty of free time to hike, bike and explore at your own pace. Guaranteed departures 365 days a year. Arrange your hotel separately, accommodations are NOT included in the tour.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, known locally as the Bay Bridge, is a complex of bridges spanning San Francisco Bay in California. As part of Interstate 80 and the direct road between San Francisco and Oakland, it carries about 260,000 vehicles a day on its two decks.
Treasure Island is an artificial island in the San Francisco Bay and a neighborhood in the city and county of San Francisco. Built 1936–37 for the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition, the island's World’s Fair site is a California Historical Landmark.
The Sierra Nevada is a mountain range in the Western United States, between the Central Valley of California and the Great Basin.
Yosemite Valley is a glacial valley in Yosemite National Park in the western Sierra Nevada mountains of Central California. The valley is about 7.5 miles long and approximately 3000–3500 feet deep, surrounded by high granite summits such as Half Dome and El Capitan, and densely forested with pines.
Tunnel View is a scenic viewpoint on State Route 41 in Yosemite National Park. Visitors have seen and documented the iconic and expansive views of Yosemite Valley from the overlook since its opening in 1933.
Bridalveil Fall is one of the most prominent waterfalls in the Yosemite Valley in California, Yosemite National Park.
El Capitan, also known as El Cap, is a vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, located on the north side of Yosemite Valley, near its western end. The granite monolith is about 3,000 feet from base to summit along its tallest face, and is a popular objective for rock climbers.
Half Dome is a granite dome at the eastern end of Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park, California. It is a well-known rock formation in the park, named for its distinct shape.
Horsetail Fall, located in Yosemite National Park in California, is a seasonal waterfall that flows in the winter and early spring. The fall occurs on the east side of El Capitan. Around the second week of February, the setting sun hits Horsetail Fall at just the right angle to illuminate the upper reaches of the waterfall. Only during certain time of the year
A quarter-mile (one way) hike to a spectacular mist-blown view from the base of 320-foot Lower Yosemite Falls. Lower Yosemite Falls Hike is a must visit for its accessibility and proximity to this massive waterfall and has spectacular views of both falls.
The Merced River in the central part of the U.S. state of California, is 145 miles (233 km) long. Tenaya, Yosemite, Bridalveil and Pigeon Creeks join the Merced River in Yosemite Valley.
Yosemite Valley Lodge is a favorite choice for families and large groups. Its close proximity to Yosemite Falls makes it the perfect base camp for exploring Yosemite National Park.
The Valley Visitor Center is located in Yosemite Valley and is the largest and most comprehensive in terms of displays, books, postcards and maps. The Valley Visitor Center is open year round and offers natural history displays, audiovisual programs and is staffed with individuals who are happy to answer all your questions.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick-up details and times are as follows: 5:20 AM – Holiday Inn San Francisco-Golden Gateway (1500 Van Ness Ave). 5:25 AM – Motel 6 (2850 Van Ness Ave). 5:30 AM – Zephyr Hotel (250 Beach St), Avis Car Rental (500 Beach St). 5:40 AM – Hilton Financial District (750 Kearny St), Fairmont San Francisco (950 Mason St). 5:50 AM – Hilton San Francisco Union Square (251 Mason St), JW Marriott (515 Mason St). 6:00 AM – The Mosser Hotel (54 4th St). 6:40 AM – 7-Eleven Convenience Store, Livermore (891 Airway Blvd, Livermore).
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Nonresident Fee Notice: Non-U.S. residents aged 16 and older will be charged an additional $100 park entry fee per person after completing their booking. This fee will be collected by the tour operator via a payment link or on the bus at the start of your tour. Note that “America the Beautiful Non-Resident Pass” holders do not pay the $100 fee, the $250 pass covers up to 4 people at the entrance.
- Between November and March, when the trail is not safe due to snow and ice accumulation, we substitute the hike with additional time in Yosemite Valley.
- During winter months, temperatures in Yosemite can vary drastically to the ones in San Francisco. Therefore, it is recommend to wear winter clothes, especially shoes or boots with rubber soles and treads.
- Tour makes stops for breakfast, lunch, and on the trip back for dinner. Meals are not included.
- For hotel pickups, please select the Hilton Union Square if your hotel is not listed.
- California law requires tour guests to bring a car safety seat for all children under 8 years and under 4' 9" (1.4 meters) in height. Any guest that does not provide their child's safety seat at the time of the tour and does not inform the tour operator may not be allowed to board the tour and will not be subject to refund.
- The Giant Sequoias Grove is located at a higher elevation and the hike is dependent on trail conditions, especially from October through May.
Reviews(27)
The tour was really well organised. Everything ran on time, we stopped at all the right attractions, and there was plenty of time to explore and take photos without feeling rushed. Communication from the team was also excellent, with clear and timely WhatsApp updates that made everything smooth and stress-free. Andy our tour guide made the whole experience even better. He was funny, friendly, and really helpful, taking everyone’s photos and going the extra mile to get the perfect angles (even lying on his back in front of El Capitan for the shot), sharing interesting facts about the giant sequoias. He even sang to wake us up at the dinner spot! A great, well-run tour made even more memorable thanks to Andy’s energy and humour
Thank you for your wonderful and thoughtful review! 🥰 We’re truly delighted to hear that your Yosemite experience was exceptional and that Andy’s professionalism, knowledge, and attentiveness made such a positive impact. It’s great to know his thoughtful explanations and careful planning helped make the journey both smooth and enriching. We sincerely appreciate your recommendation and will be sure to share your kind words with Andy — they will mean a great deal to him. 😊
Visiting Yosemite was something really special, but what made the experience even more unique was our guide: Andy. With his skill and especially his sympathy, he accompanied us to discover an incredible place making us feel at ease. It was not just a visit, but an experience lived with enthusiasm, interesting stories and a lot of passion. Andy was able to involve us all, turning a day in Yosemite into a precious memory that we will carry with us. Thank you so much for making everything so natural and fun.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that Andy made your Yosemite experience so special with his skill, warmth, and engaging personality. It’s fantastic that his enthusiasm, stories, and passion turned your visit into a truly memorable day. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with him — he’ll be thrilled! Thank you again for sharing your experience!
Andy is an amazing person. From the very first moment he passed on his passion and made us feel completely at ease. What we experienced thanks to him was something authentic, intense, difficult to put into words. It was an experience that left us so much and that we will carry with us as a precious memory. Thank you very much, Andy!
Thank you so much for your heartfelt review! We’re delighted to hear that Andy’s passion and warmth made your Yosemite experience so authentic and memorable. It’s wonderful that the day left such a lasting impression, and we’ll be sure to share your kind words with him — he’ll be truly touched! Thank you again for sharing your experience!
WOW, that's the word to describe Andy. The tour was interesting, but it was only thanks to Andy that I was able to have so much fun and enjoy every single moment of this tour. Since the morning he has made himself so helpful, kind, funny. The best tour guide of our entire holiday in USA. Congratulations to Andy, I really appreciate it. Thank you very much. See you next time, with you for sure. Yee haw!
Thank you so much for your amazing review! We’re thrilled to hear that Andy made your tour so fun and memorable, keeping you engaged and entertained from start to finish. His kindness, humor, and dedication truly make him an exceptional guide. We’ll be sure to share your heartfelt compliments with him! We can’t wait to welcome you on another adventure with Andy next time!
Andy is just great. He accompanied us a whole day showing us the Yosemite park and did it with great sympathy and professionalism. I couldn't have asked for more for this experience. Andy is a guide who knows how to amuse and fascinate by telling you historical anecdotes and many curiosities. A person of extraordinary sympathy and great care. Highly recommended!!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that Andy made your full-day Yosemite experience so enjoyable with his professionalism, warmth, and engaging storytelling. It’s fantastic that his knowledge, humor, and care made the tour truly memorable. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to him! We greatly appreciate your recommendation!
The tour and guide was very good. It is a long tour, stsrt 5.30 am and finish almost 8 pm. It is ok, if you only have one day to go to Yosemite. There are stops to bkfast, dinner, bsthrooom. You will stay 3 hoyrs by yourself to visit the principal Yosrmite spots plus some bus stops to the Capitan and others to take pictures I reccomend this tour for visit Yosemite in one day from San Francisco Abraham
Thank you for your detailed review, Abraham! We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the tour and found it well-paced with enough time for key Yosemite sights, meals, and photos. We appreciate your recommendation for anyone looking to experience Yosemite in a single day from San Francisco!
Really enjoyable tour with a great host driver! Thank you for everything. Yosemite Valley is a stunning place.
Thank you for your lovely review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such an enjoyable tour and that you loved Yosemite Valley. Your host/driver will be delighted to know you appreciated their efforts!
Andy was the best guide that we could have imagine. He drove us to really nice places and took pictures of us. He even bought us icecream. All 10 of us! He is in general a really kind person & a really good guide! I would book another tour with Andy! :)
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re so happy to hear Andy went above and beyond to make your tour special. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with him!
Our guide is Robert. He is enthusiastic and helpful. From San Francisco, where we got on bus, he introduced scenic spots in city continuously. He arranged the suitable time in scenic spots in Yosemite so that we can appreciate the beautiful scenery. By the way, we also have enought time to take photos.
Thank you for your lovely review! We're so glad you enjoyed the tour with Robert. His enthusiasm and thoughtful planning really help make the day special. It's great to hear you had enough time to enjoy the views and take photos—thanks for sharing your experience!
This tour is very challenging in time management, but the guide Andy is very professional and knowledgeable. I am very grateful to have him taking care of us throughout the trip safely and with tonnes of tips and travel information. Highly recommended for those not having the luxury of multi-days trip but wish to taste the gorgeous landscape and history of Yosemite in a single day!
Thank you for the thoughtful review! We're so glad to hear you appreciated Andy’s professionalism and insights. One-day tours are definitely a whirlwind, but it sounds like you made the most of it. We hope to see you again for a longer Yosemite adventure next time!
