How to Get from Los Angeles to Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is a place of breathtaking mountain scenery, giant sequoia forests, waterfalls and valleys. It is also home to a great diversity of flora and fauna. Without a doubt, a visit to this natural space, considered one of the oldest parks in the United States, is one of the best things to do in Los Angeles and disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The park is located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California and is about 500 kilometres from Los Angeles. To get there, you have several options: join an organised tour, hire a car and drive at your own pace, use public transport or fly in. Here are the details.

The organised tour is one of the most practical ways to get from Los Angeles to Yosemite National Park. You won't have to worry about anything, as this type of activity includes transportation, accommodation and an expert guide, who will tell you the history of the place you are visiting. All you have to do is enjoy the experience.

Some of the best tours and excursions from Los Angeles that will allow you to discover this impressive park and even other nearby destinations are the following:

2-day tour from Los Angeles to Yosemite and Glacier Point

This is a tour that will allow you to see the most emblematic destinations within Yosemite National Park. In addition, you will enjoy a comfortable and safe journey both by train and bus, discovering beautiful natural and urban landscapes along the way in the company of an expert guide.

The 2-day tour to Yosemite and Glacier Point from Los Angeles begins with a train ride to the City of Fresno in California (San Joaquin Valley). It's about 332 kilometres, about 4 hours and 40 minutes. There, you'll have time to explore on your own and overnight accommodation is available.

The next morning, you'll depart for Yosemite National Park, about 90 minutes away by private bus. You'll tour every nook and cranny of the park with your guide. In addition, you will climb Glacier Point, about 2 kilometres above Yosemite Valley. You will get a breathtaking view of the waterfalls and a series of rock formations.

• Price: The price of the tour is approximately €536 per person.
• Journeytime: The intercity (Amtrak) train route takes about 4 hours and 40 minutes. The private bus transfer from Fresno to the park takes about 90 minutes, but be aware of traffic conditions.
• Pros: You'll have access to Glacier Point, a popular natural lookout point with a commanding view of the park.
• Disadvantages: This adventure may not include a transfer from the hotel to the Los Angeles train terminal and back, so you'll need to plan ahead.

3-day tour to Yosemite and elsewhere on the West Coast of the USA

If the timing of your itinerary allows, don't hesitate to set aside 3 days in Los Angeles for a trip to Yosemite National Park. Not only will you enjoy the wonderful natural environment of the park, but you will also discover part of the West Coast of the United States: Santa Barbara and San Francisco.

You will travel by bus with a driver-guide on a route of just over 2 hours to the first stop in Santa Barbara, which has the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains as a backdrop. There, you'll stroll through the historic downtown, the city's harbour with its dozens of restaurants, bars and shops, among other places.

The next morning, you'll depart for San Francisco, a journey of just over 5 hours. In this city, you will see great attractions such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, Twin Peaks, the Silicon Valley complex, among others. You can also take a cruise on the bay.

After discovering the culture of this pair of California cities, you will go to Yosemite National Park, a journey of between 3 hours and 30 minutes to 4 hours. You will be amazed by this idyllic natural environment: cliffs, lakes, waterfalls, native wildlife and much more. You will then return to the starting point of the activity, ending this 3-day tour to Santa Barbara, San Francisco and Yosemite from Los Angeles.

• Price: The price of this tour starts at around €34 per person.
• Travel time: Just over 2 hours (Los Angeles to Santa Barbara), about 5 hours (Santa Barbara to San Francisco) and 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours (San Francisco to Yosemite National Park).
• Pros: Not only will you get to enjoy the incredible Yosemite National Park, but you'll also get to explore the culture of two important cities on the west coast of the United States.
• Disadvantages: This type of tour generally does not include lunch on either day, so you'll have to pay for it yourself.

If you want to drive from Los Angeles to Yosemite National Park on your own itinerary, then it's a good idea to rent a car and drive yourself. This is the most flexible option, allowing you to make as many stops as you wish along the way to enjoy the scenery, eat, take pictures, etc.

In the city of Los Angeles you will find a wide range of car rental companies to connect with. For example, Hertz car rental and Aco renta car, among many others. You can select the model that best suits your needs according to the number of people and even the season of the year.

Once you have the car, you can drive from the city centre towards the 2 N motorway from N Hill St and Stadium Way, continue along I-5 N and Highway 99 N towards Fresno and then Highway 41, which will take you to the park. It's about 500 kilometres which takes about 5 hours.

Useful information

• Price: The cost of renting a car in Los Angeles to drive to Yosemite National Park starts at around €60 per day.
• Travel time: The drive from Los Angeles to Yosemite National Park takes approximately 5 hours. However, traffic conditions should be taken into consideration.
• Advantages: You will have full control of your trip, being able to travel directly from Los Angeles or stop as many times as you wish along the way.
• Disadvantages: Because Yosemite National Park is a busy destination, finding a place to park your car can be a bit of a chore.

Another option for getting to Yosemite National Park from Los Angeles is by plane. This is a fast, safe and comfortable mode of transport that will save you a significant amount of time on your itinerary.

You'll need to get to Los Angeles International Airport, a 30-minute drive from downtown Los Angeles. You can take a taxi, bus or connect with one of the LAX airport shuttles in Los Angeles. Once at the air terminal, you'll board a flight to Fresno.

You'll arrive at Fresno Yosemite International Airport in about an hour. From there, you can take a taxi or use the YARTS shuttle service to Yosemite National Park. The shuttle runs from May to September and is ideal if you're travelling from Los Angeles in the summer.

Useful information

• Price: from €158 per person. Please note that the cost of the flight may vary according to the time of year.
• Travel time: The flight from Los Angeles to Fresno takes approximately 1 hour, while the transfer from Fresno Yosemite International Airport to the park takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
• Advantages: You'll get to Yosemite National Park in the shortest time possible.
• Disadvantages: This transfer is one of the most expensive, so it's not suitable if you're on a budget.

Public bus service is another way to get from Los Angeles to Yosemite National Park. It's a time-consuming and adventurous option, and you'll feel like a local. You'll feel like a local.

From downtown Los Angeles, head to the Greyhound Bus Station at 1716 E 7th St. There, you'll board the route to the city of Fresno. It runs a regular service from approximately 5:30am to 11:10pm and makes an average of three stops along the way.

When you arrive at the bus terminal in Fresno City, you will board another bus, a local YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System) bus, which runs from approximately 6:23am to 2:45pm. This will take you at least a couple of hours to get to Yosemite National Park, depending on traffic conditions.

Useful information

• Price: The average price for each of the routes (Los Angeles-Fresno and Fresno-Yosemite National Park) by public bus starts at about $20 per person.
• Journey time: The bus takes about 5 hours to cover the Los Angeles-Fresno route. The other bus from Fresno can take at least 2 hours to reach Yosemite National Park.
• Pros: You'll get a different perspective on the trail by travelling like a local.
• Disadvantages: There is no direct route, so you'll have to transfer in the city of Fresno to get to the park, which takes longer.

Another way to get to Yosemite National Park from Los Angeles is with the combined train and bus service. You will experience a scenic and sustainable journey to the train station in La Merced, California, where you will board one of the buses to the park.

In the city of Los Angeles, you will head to Union Station, located at 800 N Alameda St., where you will board the San Joaquins Amtrak train and ride the San Joaquins Amtrak train to Yosemite National Park. There, you will board the San Joaquins Amtrak train and travel about 5 hours to Merced, considered by many to be the gateway to Yosemite.

Once you get off the train, you will board one of the buses operated by the local transportation company, YARTS. This will take you directly to Yosemite National Park in approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Useful information

• Price: The cost of the train ride (Los Angeles-Merced) is about 35€ per person and the bus transfer (Merced-Yosemite National Park) is about 20€ per person.
• Travel time: The train transfer can take approximately 5 hours from Los Angeles to Merced. The public bus route from La Merced to Yosemite National Park, on the other hand, usually takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
• Advantages: The train generates fewer carbon emissions than cars or planes, making it an environmentally responsible mode of transport.
• Disadvantages: The train from Los Angeles to Yosemite National Park is not direct, which can be a bit of a hassle as you have to board a bus in Merced to complete the route.

Any time of year is the best time to head to Los Angeles for a trip to Yosemite National Park and enjoy the natural spectacle. In fact, there are several ways to do this route in the city. However, there are a few tips to help you avoid complications.

• If you plan to travel by rental car, make sure you have a valid driver's license. Also, have a map handy or activate your GPS along the way.
• Check road restrictions; this will save you time and hassle when driving.
• When joining an excursion, not only should you book in advance, but also check what the activity offers (accommodation, meals, transfers, entrance to attractions, etc). This way, you will be prepared to take on some extra expenses during the trip.
• In caseyou use the bus or train service, don't forget to book tickets for these means of transport.