Yosemite National Park and Big Sur Road Trip

Road Trip: This fantastic journey takes you through some of the most beautiful sections of California.  From Yosemite National Park and Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks to Big Sur, Point Lobos, Ano Nuevo and Big Basin.  This road trip has more than enough scenery for any outdoor enthusiast!

Mileage: Approximately 795 miles.

Main Points of Interest: Yosemite National Park, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, Big Sur State Park, Point Lobos Preserve, Ano Nuevo and Big Basin State Park.

Suggested Start and End for this Road Trip: San Francisco, California

What to Expect Along this Road Trip

San Francisco, California
We begin our journey by starting out in the beautiful city of San Francisco, California. Take some time to visit San Francisco before you head out on your road trip if you have never visited this wonderful city before. Just a few of the popular destinations in San Francisco would be the Ghirardelli Square, Fisherman"s Wharf, , Chinatown and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.  Once you have finished visiting San Francisco, it is time to start your road trip by heading to Yosemite National Park.

Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is our first park destination on this road trip.  It adorns the Sierra"s with some of the most beautiful views you can imagine. From Half Dome and El Capitan to Tuolumne Meadows and the High Country, Yosemite will offer anyone something special to remember. Yosemite Valley is probably the world"s best known example of a glacier carved canyon. Beautiful waterfalls, rounded domes, towering cliffs and massive monoliths make it a natural marvel. Yosemite National Park has inspired everyone from poets, painters, photographers, John Muir, and millions of visitors for more than 100 years.  You can stay at any number of lodges inside Yosemite National Park but plan far in advance in order to get a reservation. If you can"t stay inside or wish to stay in a nearby town, you might want to consider Mariposa Lodging, El Portal Lodging or Fish Camp Lodging.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Our next stop is in Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. These parks are home to giant redwoods and sequoias, immense mountains and deep canyons. Thanks to their huge elevational range, 1,500" to 14,491", these parks protect very diverse habitats. The Generals Highway climbs over 5,000 ft. from oak studded foothills to chaparral to the beautiful sequoia groves. Trails lead to the high alpine wilderness which makes up most of these parks. Beneath the surface of Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks lie over 200 fascinating caverns. Lone Pine Lodging and Three Rivers Lodging are located about 25 miles from these parks. For more lodging options, see our lodging page.

Phieffer Big Sur State Park
Moving now towards the ocean for some of the most spectacular coastal driving, we visit Phieffer Big Sur State Park. Though it lies along Highway 1, it is well inland in the Big Sur River Valley, not along the coast. It is Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park of which many people immediately think when "Big Sur" is mentioned. It has a lodge with accommodations, a very large campground, and beautiful waterfalls that are accessible by a short trail. The park is sheltered by the canyon walls and its large trees, so it is a good place to relax. If you are unable to stay in the lodge or prefer to stay outside of the park, you might want to consider Big Sur, California Lodging.

Point Lobos State Preserve
The next stop on our road trip takes us to Point Lobos State Preserve.  Point Lobos derived its name from the offshore rocks at Punta de los Lobos Marinos, meaning Point of the Sea Wolves. The reserve has often been called "the crown jewel of the State Park System." Point Lobos State Reserve has outstanding passive recreation opportunities, such as sightseeing, photography, painting, nature study, picnicking and scuba diving. Point Lobos is also home to rare plant communities, endangered archeological sites, unique geological formations, and land and sea flora and fauna. Some excellent places to stay near Point Lobos would be Pebble Beach Lodging, Seaside Lodging, Pacific Grove Lodging and Monterey Lodging.

Monterey, California
If you have time, take some time to explore the Monterey Bay area. Monterey County encompasses some of the most beautiful California scenery as well as offering famous Monterey attractions such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Big Sur Coastline and the quaint Carmel and Pebble Beach. Monterey also offers diverse peninsula communities and the Salinas Valley. If you are interested in staying in Monterey, California, see our Monterey Lodging to stay in this beautiful town.

Ano Nuevo State Park
Año Nuevo State Reserve is the site of the largest mainland breeding colony in the world for the northern elephant seal, and the interpretive program has attracted increasing interest every winter for the past 19 years. People who hope to see the seals during the winter breeding season are urged to get their reservations early. The males battle for mates on the beaches and the females give birth to their pups on the dunes. You can either visit Ano Nuevo directly from visiting Monterey area or you can have another stop off in Santa Cruz, California or possibly stay in Pescadero, California after your visit to Ano Nuevo. See Pescadero Lodging, Santa Cruz Lodging or even further north at Half Moon Bay Lodging.

Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Our last park on this road trip includes Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Big Basin is California"s oldest State Park, established in 1902. Big Basin is home to the largest continuous stand of ancient coast redwoods south of San Francisco. This park consists of over 18,000 acres of old growth and recovering redwood forest as well as conifer, oaks, chaparral, and riparian habitats. Elevations in the park vary from sea level to over 2,000 feet. The climate ranges from foggy and damp near the ocean to sunny, warm ridge tops. Big Basin is located fairly closely to Ano Nuevo so you might want to consider the same lodging options listed for Ano Nuevo.

End the Yosemite and Big Sur Road Trip
We have completed the Yosemite and Big Sur Road Trip. Either stay in San Francisco another night to explore if you have not already done so, or take an evening flight out back home.

What Should I bring on my Trip?

Depending on what time of year you are planning on taking this route, you might want to consider some of these items:

Summer Travel:

Shorts
Shirts :: Performance Short Sleeve
Soft Shell Jackets
Hats
Pants: Soft Shell Pants :: Trek Travel Pants
Shoes: Hiking Footwear

Winter Travel:

Shirts: Fleece :: Performance Long Sleeve
Pants: Fleece Pants :: Insulated Pants :: Rain Pants
Shoes: Hiking Footwear
Jackets: Fleece :: Insulated Jackets :: Down Jackets

Spring and Fall will also vary in temperatures so using any combo with the summer and winter ideas would be suitable.  Plan for layers to keep up with the temperature changes in the course of a day.

Road Trip Details