United States›From San Francisco›Yosemite National Park
San Francisco to Yosemite National Park by train or road
About 310 km. The private car is fastest at 4.3 h; the train is cheapest, from ₹3,800 per person.
Fastest
Private car
Rental car via I-580 and Highway 120 or 140, per vehicle
4.3 h door to door
Cheapest
Train
Amtrak San Joaquins to Merced + YARTS bus to Yosemite Valley
from ₹3,800 per person
Best value
Private car
Rental car via I-580 and Highway 120 or 140, per vehicle
cheapest at mid fares among options within 1.5× the fastest time (or 1 h more on a short ride)
Every option, compared
Door-to-door times (flights include the time at the airports). Fares are typical ranges from the cheapest seat to the premium one.
| Mode | Service | Time | Fare | Runs | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private car | Rental car via I-580 and Highway 120 or 140, per vehicle | 4.3 h | ₹9,610–₹13,600per car (up to 4) | Daily | Rome2Rio ↗ |
| Train | Amtrak San Joaquins to Merced + YARTS bus to Yosemite Valley | 6.5 h | ₹3,800–₹7,130per person | Daily | Rome2Rio ↗ |
- Private car, Rental car via I-580 and Highway 120 or 140, per vehicle: The last hour is on mountain roads; carry chains from November to March.
- Train, Amtrak San Joaquins to Merced + YARTS bus to Yosemite Valley: A Thruway bus links San Francisco with the train at Emeryville or Richmond; YARTS runs from Merced all year.
Booking links open the route on the country's transport booking site for trains, buses, boats and transfers, and a flight search for flights, dated about two weeks out; change the date there.
What it costs your group, one way
Fares × people; a private car is priced per car, one car per four people.
| Option | 2 people | 4 people |
|---|---|---|
| Private car · Rental car via I-580 and Highway 120 or 140, per vehicle | ₹9,610–₹13,600 | ₹9,610–₹13,600 |
| Train · Amtrak San Joaquins to Merced + YARTS bus to Yosemite Valley | ₹7,600–₹14,260 | ₹15,200–₹28,520 |
Once you’re in Yosemite National Park
- Best time: May – October
- Typical stay: 2 days
- November: Better avoided: November is outside the recommended season (May – October). Against it: Wildfire Season; Tioga and Glacier Point Roads Closed.
Related
Plan San Francisco and Yosemite National Park
A day-by-day plan with this journey, the stays and the rest priced in.