Yosemite or Lake Tahoe from San Francisco?

All being well we will be in San Francisco at the beginning of August for four nights. Someone has mentioned to me that Lake Tahoe is worth a visit and I understand it is a 3 hour drive from SF. Alternatively we could do an overnight trip to Yosemite and hopefully stay at El Portal. Which would be the best destination given that we only have 2 days?

Thanks.

Yosemite or Lake Tahoe from San Francisco?

Though Yosemite must be great If I were you I would not go cause you just have a few days and I think Yosemite deserves a relaxing visit.

Lake Tahoe is aprox 3h from SF.

Yosemite around 5h.

Leave Yosemite for another occasion...

Ad茅u from Barcelona.

Yosemite or Lake Tahoe from San Francisco?

Agreed with SwingCha. I love Tahoe, but I think Yosemite is more spectacular and unique and well worth even an overnight stay. I%26#39;d stay in the park so you don%26#39;t have to waste time driving to/from El Portal.

OK, but I am not sure that with only 4 nights in San Francisco (does that mean only 3 days?) that I would take away two days, even to see Yosemite. I might save both Lake Tahoe and Yosemite for another trip, and then do them back to back and spend longer in each.

Both places are very nice, I think you should see Yosemite. If places are already booked in Yosemite, go for Lake Tahoe, we loved our stay at the Marriott Timber Lodge in South Lake Tahoe. :)

Thanks for all your advice. Unfortunately all the accommodation, according to this site, in the park is fully booked. Is there any other means of checking for accommodation in the park aside of telephoning? Any other websites?

Many thanks.

No, the best way to check for last minute cancellations is by calling. I%26#39;ve always had luck when I%26#39;ve called about a week before, since their cancellation policy on rooms is 7 days prior to arrival.

I didn%26#39;t realize you%26#39;d only be in SF for 4 days and I agree this is really short. You may want to think a about swapping Yosemite for a day trip to Monterrey or Napa instead?

Thanks. We have changed our plans from going straight to L Vegas to Yosemite for 3 nights because of the no accommodation factor. We are now going via Los Angeles up the coast (which is something I really want to do anyway) and so will visit Monterey on our way to SF. We could have 5 nights in SF now so I reckoned using one of them for a trip to Yosemite was a fairly good compromise. I think anyway that I would prefer to spend more time in Yosemite in the Spring perhaps and so will just have to make a return trip sometime! We are having to get to grips with just how far everything is away from everywhere in USA! Looks so small on the map!

Thanks.

I don%26#39;t want to confuse you Polodriver but you are missing Death Valley NP, the great drive along the Eastern Sierras (Lone Pine-Lee Vining and Mono Lake) and fantastic Tioga Pass. Maybe an option to stay in Lee Vining, drive Tioga Pass next morning, visit Yosemite Valley and stay somewhere outside Yosemite before San Francisco. This also will give you all day in Yosemite NP and no backtracking.

Tet - thanks for your thoughts and I appreciate your input! Ideally we would have three weeks to do everything we want to but we have to compromise. I think a return to Yosemite one spring is def. on the agenda.

Can you just tell me how easy it is to drive through Yosemite in July/August? I see there is a road going straight through to Lee Vining. How long would that take?

Thanks.

Polodriver,

I%26#39;ve just done a very similar trip (in reverse). I couldn%26#39;t do the Tioga pass drive as it doesn%26#39;t open until May/June time. I drove up and around - even this big drive (took about 5 hours in the end - not the 6-7 I thought it would) was fine. I understand the Tioga pass drive takes about 2-3 hours and is stunning.

Try not to miss Yosemite - it%26#39;s amazing. I%26#39;ve travelled a fair bit and skied in many places, so have seen a lot of mountain scenery and Yosemite is completely different from anything I%26#39;ve ever seen before and stunning. The falls were spectacular a couple of weeks a go, but will be smaller (completely dry?) when you%26#39;re due to be there.

The whole drive (SF -%26gt; Yosemite -%26gt; Lee Vining -%26gt; Death Valley -%26gt; Vegas) was brilliant. Amazing scenery and great fun.

Enjoy!

Pete