Los Angeles, CA to Yosemite National Park, CA Road Trip
An extended 4-day road trip from Los Angeles to Yosemite. Enjoy more hiking, visit Glacier Point for epic panoramic views, and explore the high country of Tuolumne Meadows.
Detailed Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 Itinerary
Your Yosemite adventure begins at sunrise in Los Angeles. Departing at 7:30 AM lets you slip north on I-5 before the Grapevine corridor traffic builds up. You'll feel the city dissolve into open highway by the time you summit Tejon Pass, with sweeping views of the Central Valley stretching ahead of you. After a hearty lunch and grocery run in Fresno — your last chance for cheap gas and trail snacks — a quick stop in Oakhurst gives you a taste of mountain-town charm before you duck into the trees. Mariposa Grove is one of the most humbling places on Earth: walking beneath sequoias that were saplings before the Roman Empire puts the rest of your week in perspective. By the time you check into your Oakhurst hotel and settle in over craft beers at South Gate Brewing, the stress of the city will feel a world away.
- Tejon Pass & Grapevine - Tejon Pass, I-5, Lebec, CA 93243 - Rest stop at summit (4,144 ft) before the Grapevine descent. Stretch your legs.
- Heirloom Restaurant, Fresno - 7525 N Palm Ave Suite 101, Fresno, CA 93711 - Farm-to-table lunch. Stock up on trail snacks and fill your gas tank — last cheap fuel before the mountains.
- Oakhurst Town Browse - Oakhurst, CA 93644 - Stretch your legs in this charming mountain gateway town. Browse local boutiques or check out the Sugar Pine Railroad.
- Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias - Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389 - Walk the Big Trees Loop Trail to the Grizzly Giant and California Tunnel Tree. Elevation ~5,600 ft.
- South Gate Brewing Company - 40233 Enterprise Dr, Oakhurst, CA 93644 - Craft beers and pub food. Alternatively try Erna's Elderberry House for upscale dining.
- Best Western Plus Yosemite Gateway Inn - 40530 Hwy 41, Oakhurst, CA 93644 - Comfortable Oakhurst base camp. Breakfast included. 15 min from Yosemite south entrance.
Day 2 Itinerary
This is the day you've been building toward. Waking early, you'll catch the south entrance gate before the summer queue builds. By the time you crest the ridge and roll into Tunnel View, the valley will be spread before you like a painting: El Capitan's sheer granite wall on your left, Half Dome's iconic silhouette dead ahead, and Bridalveil Fall threading white mist on your right. Today you're living inside that postcard. Park at Yosemite Village and use the free Valley shuttle for the rest of the day — driving between stops is restricted, and the shuttle is half the fun. A slow Yosemite Village lunch at Degnan's Kitchen sets you up for the Lower Yosemite Fall loop and a golden-hour walk along Sentinel Meadow. By the time you check into Yosemite Valley Lodge, you're sleeping at the foot of North America's tallest waterfall.
- Tunnel View - Tunnel View, Yosemite Valley, CA 95389 - The most photographed viewpoint in Yosemite. El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall all in one frame. Timed entry reservation required in peak season — check nps.gov/yose before departure.
- Bridalveil Fall - Bridalveil Fall Trailhead, Yosemite Valley, CA - Short paved walk (0.5 miles round-trip) to the base of the 617-ft waterfall. Bring a light rain jacket — mist can be heavy in spring and early summer.
- Yosemite Village — Park & Ride - Yosemite Village, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389 - Park your car here for the entire day. Use the Free Yosemite Valley Shuttle (Routes 1 & 2) to move between all Valley floor sights. In-Valley driving is restricted during peak season.
- Degnan's Kitchen - Yosemite Village, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389 - Wood-fired pizza, deli sandwiches, and fresh salads in the heart of Yosemite Village. Also visit the Yosemite Museum and Ansel Adams Gallery right next door.
- Lower Yosemite Fall Trail - Lower Yosemite Fall Trailhead, Yosemite Valley, CA - Easy 1-mile paved loop trail to the base of Lower Yosemite Fall — the tallest waterfall in North America (2,425 ft total). Take the shuttle from Yosemite Village.
- Sentinel Meadow & Merced River Walk - Sentinel Meadow, Yosemite Valley, CA - Stroll the boardwalks through the open meadow for the classic Half Dome reflection in the Merced River. The soft afternoon light here is ideal for photography.
- Mountain Room Restaurant - Yosemite Valley Lodge, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389 - Steaks, fresh fish, and California cuisine with floor-to-ceiling views of Yosemite Falls. Arrive before 6 PM to avoid waits.
- Yosemite Valley Lodge - 9006 Yosemite Valley Lodge Dr, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389 - The best in-park lodging in the Valley. Centrally located and walking distance from Yosemite Falls and the Valley shuttle stop.
Day 3 Itinerary
Day 3 is where the 4-day itinerary earns its stripes — this is for the hikers. Pack your picnic lunch the night before at the Village Store and drive the winding Glacier Point Road to the Sentinel Dome and Taft Point trailhead. The ~5-mile loop delivers two distinct wow-moments: the 360-degree granite panorama from Sentinel Dome's bare summit, and the stomach-dropping, railing-free sheer cliff of Taft Point where you peer 3,500 feet straight into the Valley. Glacier Point in the early afternoon keeps you ahead of the peak crowd. The evening ends at El Capitan Meadow, where you lie on the grass and watch tiny dots of light — climbers' headlamps — inch up the 3,000-foot vertical face above you. Return to the Lodge by 5:30 PM to beat the dinner crowd.
- Sentinel Dome & Taft Point Trail - Sentinel Dome Trailhead, Glacier Point Road, Yosemite NP, CA - Combined ~5 mile loop hike (moderate–strenuous). Sentinel Dome = 360° Sierra Nevada summit view. Taft Point = sheer 3,500 ft drop into the Valley with no railing. Pack a picnic lunch and minimum 2L water per person.
- Picnic Lunch on Trail - Glacier Point Road, Yosemite NP, CA - No restaurants exist on Glacier Point Road. Pack your lunch from Degnan's Kitchen or the Yosemite Village Store the previous evening.
- Glacier Point Overlook - Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389 - The full Sierra Nevada panorama from 3,200 ft above the Valley floor. Half Dome sits at eye level. Arriving after 1 PM avoids the worst of the morning crowd (peak 10 AM–12 PM). Elevation: 7,214 ft.
- El Capitan Meadow - El Capitan Meadow, Yosemite Valley, CA - Lie in the meadow and watch climbers scaling El Capitan's 3,000-ft vertical face. In summer, sunset is ~8:30 PM — enjoy the extended golden hour light.
- Base Camp Eatery - Yosemite Valley Lodge, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389 - Quick, casual dinner at the Lodge. Returning at 5:30 PM gives you a solid buffer before the post-6 PM dinner rush fills up the Mountain Room.
- Yosemite Valley Lodge - 9006 Yosemite Valley Lodge Dr, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389 - Second night at Yosemite Valley Lodge.
Day 4 Itinerary
The best road trips end with something memorable, not just a long drive. Day 4 opens with an early hike on the Mist Trail — the most beloved trail in Yosemite. Getting out at 8:15 AM puts you on the trail before the parking at Happy Isles fills up and the crowds arrive. The hike to the Vernal Fall Footbridge is an easy, gorgeous 2-hour round-trip that ends at the roaring base of the fall. For the full experience, continue up the steep, ancient granite staircase to the very top of Vernal Fall — but warn everyone that the Mist Trail lives up to its name. You will get soaked. A poncho is not optional. After the hike, you'll wind south for one last Wawona Hotel lunch before rejoining the Central Valley. Bravo Farms and a Bakersfield Basque dinner close out the trip before the LA skyline rises from the horizon.
- Base Camp Eatery — Breakfast - Yosemite Valley Lodge, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389 - Eat a high-protein breakfast before the hike. The Mist Trail is strenuous and you need fuel.
- Mist Trail — Vernal Fall Hike - Happy Isles Trailhead, Yosemite Valley, CA 95389 - Option A: Vernal Fall Footbridge (1.6 mi RT, moderate, ~2 hrs). Option B: Top of Vernal Fall via Mist Trail (2.4 mi RT, strenuous, ~3 hrs, 600 ft granite stairs). Parking at Happy Isles fills by 9:30 AM in summer — take the Valley shuttle from the Lodge.
- Wawona Hotel Dining Room - 8308 Wawona Rd, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389 - Farewell lunch on the Victorian veranda before the long drive south.
- Bravo Farms, Traver - 36799 CA-99, Tulare, CA 93274 - Stretch, refuel the car, and pick up snacks and artisan cheeses for the last stretch to LA.
- Wool Growers Restaurant, Bakersfield - 620 E 19th St, Bakersfield, CA 93305 - The legendary Basque family-style restaurant — the perfect final meal of the road trip.
