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Best way to get from Orlando to Yosemite, CA

O

OCNewbie

Diamond Member
I'm planning on heading to Yosemite early this summer with my mother. We're planning on flying out there, and I'm just curious if anybody has any tips on flying into Yosemite, especially from the other side of the country.

We'll need a rental car when we arrive, and will be staying in a hotel/motel, so I'm also wondering if going through a travel site, like Orbitz, Travelocity, etc., is worth doing. Also, what about a travel agent? Is a travel agent just a middle man/woman that is going to add costs to our trip? Or are they worth looking into?

I think I might wanna fly into Sacramento. It is a long, 4-hour car ride to the Yosemite area (I believe), but I'm hoping/thinking it will be a very scenic ride, so it should be quite enjoyable. I believe there are a couple airports really close to Yosemite, but I'm under the assumption flights into/out of those are going to be MUCH more expensive, or much more restricted as far as where you can fly from/to.

I'm hoping to see most of Yosemite, and hopefully Sequoia too, while we're out that way. Maybe some other cool locations too. We'll probably be gone 8 days max, I'm guessing.

Thanks for any tips!
 
Fly to San Francisco or Sacramento, (which ever gets you the best price and flights...about the same distance from Yosemite)...drive 180+ miles to Yosemite.

We used to use a local travel agent for some trips...then the internet came along and we've done it all ourselves since. Of course, it's up to you to find the kind of hotel/motel you want to stay in...but odds are, your local travel agent isn't going to be knowledgeable about accommodations here anyway...Expedia has been pretty good for me, but I USUALLY know in advance where I want to stay.
 
Drive from Sacramento is mostly boring. If flying into San Jose is around the same cost, you'd cut 30-40 mins off travel time.
 
Oh...the bad part about your plans...there's no "easy" way to drive from Yosemite to Sequoia/Kings Canyon. You have to drive out of Yosemite, down the mountain into Fresno (or to Visalia) then back up the mountains to Sequoia/Kings Canyon. It's doable...but adds quite a bit of driving to the trip. (something I always thought sucked...and was stupid.)

I live in Modesto and go to Yosemite every year or so. (just under 100 miles) Sequoia/Kings Canyon, every 5 years or so...it's just far enough to be a PITA for me. (about 180-200 miles one way, depending on which entrance I use)

As SlewFoot pointed out, there are scads of small motels in the area. Some are "fairly nice" others not so nice...and there IS lodging available inside Yosemite...if you're willing to pay the price.

Here's some lodging links from the NPS and Yosemite.com:

Sequoia/Kings Canyon:
http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/lodging.htm

Yosemite:
http://www.yosemitepark.com/Accommodations.aspx

http://yosemite.com/where-to-stay/hotel-listings
 
If you go north of Yosemite, the Calavaras Big Trees national park is pretty neat, and not quite as far away as Sequoia. Having never been to Sequoia/Kings Canyon (closest I've been is Three Rivers, which is a big fucking desert), I don't know how it compares to Calavaras...but Calavaras is pretty humbling. Nothing quite like seeing a tree that's big enough for a car to drive through.

If you stay in Sonora, it's a pretty easy drive to either place. You could go to Moaning Caverns, too, as they're also close by.

These are like mandatory elementary school field trips for central California kids. I remember them all fondly.
 
Any of SMF/SFO/OAK/SJC would be cheapest and are roughly the same distance. SJC would be closest to SeKi.

Can't help with lodging recs (usually camp/backpack), but if you have any other questions about Yosemite, feel free to ask. I've been going 3-5 times a year for the past decade or so.
 
There's also Amtrak trains that run between Sacramento and: Merced (147 miles) Fare is about $21 each way; duration: 2 hr, 22 min.
Sacramento to Fresno (205 miles) fare is $26; duration: 3 hr, 12 min.
Amtrak's web site has the schedule information.
 
vailr said:
http://slickdeals.net/f/3989744-virgin-america-20-off-code-first-35-000-sign-ups-for-spring-travel
http://slickdeals.net/?pno=69714&lno=1&afsrc=1Virgin America is offering 20% off Your Next Flight when you follow the instructions below. Offer valid through February 29 for the first 35,000 to sign up.
Note: Must book by March 31 for travel between April 11 and June 13. Blackout dates are May 25, 2012 and May 28, 2012
Click to expand...

I've seen a couple deals lately that expire on June 13th... grrr... We will probably depart around the 9th or 10th, maybe the 8th, but we won't come back til 8-10 days later, I imagine, so the return leg of the flight won't be covered with the discount.

Great tip on the Amtrak option! Hadn't considered that, thanks!
 
If you are going to rent a car dont bother with Amtrak, it is just going take up time. I fly to northern California from Texas several times a year, it is usually cheaper for me to fly to San Francisco and rent a car than it is for me to fly straight in to Sacramento but it might be different from Orlando. If you can fly into Fresno that is probably the shortest drive, and believe me there is nothing scenic about driving Hwy 99 from Sacramento.
 
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