Yosemite National Park: Full Day Tour from San Francisco
San Francisco, USA
- 14 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Experience Yosemite National Park without the challenge of a long drive from San Francisco or the hassle of planning a day’s sightseeing on your own. Travel by coach to some of the park’s most iconic viewpoints, including Tunnel View, Bridalveil Fall, El Capitan, Half Dome, and Yosemite Valley, with time to explore independently. It’s an easy way to combine guided sightseeing with the freedom to experience Yosemite at your own pace.
- Explore Yosemite Valley independently with three hours of free time
- Guided bus tour includes stops at Tunnel View, Bridalveil Falls, El Capitan, and Half Dome
- Professional driver-guide provides live commentary in English
- Comfortable coach transport from San Francisco with convenient departure points
What's Included
- 3 hours of free time to walk, hike, and explore Yosemite Valley’s highlights
- Yosemite National Park permit and entrance fees
- Professional driver-guide providing live commentary in English
- Choose from two departure locations in San Francisco: Fisherman's Wharf or Union Square
- Coffee and restroom stop in Oakdale or Turlock
- GratuitiesNot included
- Additional food and drinks
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Government FeesNon-resident passengers aged 16 and over are required to pay a $103 government fee at the destination for entry to U.S. National Parks, as mandated by the government.
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting points
Select a meeting point
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.6:20 am
Itinerary
Board your luxury vehicle for the trip to Yosemite National Park in one of two locations in San Francisco. Cross the Bay Bridge and travel through the Central Valley, where you'll stop to buy picnic supplies, and then into the foothills of the Sierra.
Upon arrival at Yosemite, embark on a guided bus tour of Yosemite Valley's best-known attractions. Then, enjoy free time to explore on your own. Rent a bike (own expense) to cruise the valley floor, visit the Ansel Adams Gallery, or hit up the rangers station for informative lectures and guided walks. Peruse the Indian Village of the Ahwahnee or stroll along the banks of the Merced River.
Afterward, meet back at the bus to return to San Francisco.
Upon arrival at Yosemite, embark on a guided bus tour of Yosemite Valley's best-known attractions. Then, enjoy free time to explore on your own. Rent a bike (own expense) to cruise the valley floor, visit the Ansel Adams Gallery, or hit up the rangers station for informative lectures and guided walks. Peruse the Indian Village of the Ahwahnee or stroll along the banks of the Merced River.
Afterward, meet back at the bus to return to San Francisco.
Financial District (Pass By)
San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (Pass By)
1
Oakdale
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Yosemite National Park
5 hours • Admission Ticket Free
3
Tunnel View
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
4
Bridalveil Fall
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
5
Yosemite Valley
3 hours • Admission Ticket Included
6
Ansel Adams Gallery
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Lower Yosemite Fall Trail (Pass By)
Valley Visitor Center (Pass By)
Sentinel bridge (Pass By)
7
El Capitan
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
8
Yosemite Falls
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 1 day of travel. In this case confirmation will be received as soon as possible, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- The Yosemite tour takes all day. We recommend wearing comfortable clothes and bring a pillow to sleep on the drive back.
- Please Note: National Park fees may apply for international visitors. If applicable, this fee is collected in-destination and not at the time of booking.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 45 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Gerry_L
The trip was incredible. The driver was very knowledgeable and an excellent careful driver. He was very detailed on the sights as we passed them. I would do the trip again that’s how much I really enjoyed the experience. I plan to do more tours with this company.
I am not one to remember names, the driver, I called him the captain, was excellent. I met people on the tour from all over the world. Can’t wait to to do my next tour.
Reviews
4.1
based on 954 reviews
Suzanne_D, Jun 2026
The tour guide, Deb, was very personable and kept the tour running on time. We were able to make all the stops for photos and had plenty of time to explore the Yosemite Valley sites.
Debra_G, Jun 2026
Our tour was good, we got to see a few spots and had time to walk around Yosemite, this tour was contracted out to grey line and wasn't the usual Viator tour. The guide was very sweet but she didn't offer that much about what we were passing or what we were looking at.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your feedback! Glad you enjoyed Yosemite, and we appreciate your comments about the guide—we’ll take it into account.
Tanya_R, Jun 2026
dont take greyline tours they left us at yosemite my daughter and i misunderstood we thought meeting was at 2:50 pm not 2:30
the driver(debbie) did not wven wait half an hour for us and left us there how unfair
it was very traumatizing to be left there amd the amount of money and inconvenience we had to endure to get back to sf on our own
SOMNATH_C, Jun 2026
Overall, a well-organised tour, though the comfort was aided by a fortuitously lower number of visitors to the Park on the date of our visit.
Two specific comments:
1. Our tour that was originally scheduled on a Saturday, was canceled at the last moment by the company, reportedly because the driver called in sick at 3 AM. We were informed of this at the pick-up point at around 6:30 AM. Since both Viator and Grayline have the contact numbers and emails of all participants of the tour, it is expected that such information, particularly on tour cancellation/rescheduling, is communicated soon after it is received. While we accepted the offer of rescheduling the trip to the next day (Sunday), what made it worse was when we overheard a co-traveller indicating that this (Saturday) was her rescheduled trip as her original trip was canceled on the previous day (Friday) was canceled as well. Given the long-standing reputation of both Viator and Grayline, I expect them to have back-ups (including substitute drivers and buses) for such contingencies, so as to minimise inconvenience to visitors, many of whom could be pressed for time.
2. A toilet stop just before entry to the Park was horrendous by any standard and does not behoove the stature of a developed entity. Viator and Grayline may please take this up with the concerned authorities on a priority basis.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry for the last-minute cancellation and the inconvenience at the rest stop. We appreciate your comments and will share them with our team for review.
Valerie_L, Jun 2026
This was the most enjoyable and relaxing tour. The park is absolutely breathtaking and the tour allows you to experience its splendor
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your kind words! We're thrilled you found the tour relaxing and enjoyed the breathtaking beauty of the park. We hope to welcome you back again soon!
Devyani_P, May 2026
Great tour. Had an amazing time in the bus, very pleasant journey. Stopped at a fruit stand and then in Oakdale while getting there. Make sure you dress accordingly to the weather and download offline google maps. Saw coyote walking about and a lost bear cub on our stop for El capitan picture. Please carry cash for the gratuities tip since the driver or the tour guide only accepts cash. Overall a good day it took us 15 hours
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your great review! We’re so glad you had an amazing experience and enjoyed the journey. We truly appreciate your helpful tips for future travelers!
Bashar_K, May 2026
It is a long trip but totally worth it ;and if one is a nature lover,this experience is one of the best
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you! We’re so glad you felt the trip was worth it and enjoyed the experience as a nature lover!
Diana_G, May 2026
Unfortunately the bus had no AC and it just ruined the experience. There was traffic going into the park so it took 3 hours to get in.
The temperature inside the bus was close to 99 degrees, the driver guide Debi made it even more uncomfortable by saying that none of the tour busses in SF have AC.? She is not a professional driver/guide, she did not keep count of her passengers, on the first stop she missed 1 passenger for not counting how many in her group so that delayed it another 30 mins going back to pick up the passenger left behind.
She did not provide details during the drive on time slots of arrival and at the park asked the group to count if we were all in and none missing, this is her job.
Again what made the tour awful was not having AC specially during that period the traffic was not moving. The diver should be trained on how to respond to passengers on these situations, Debi said that this was normal of the AC not working, if this is normal then she should have at least have a cooler with ice and water for these situations! my husband suffers from high blood pressure and the heat inside the bus could have caused him a stroke. We took pictures of the heat reaching 99 degrees.
I will be requesting my money back and will file a complaint.
I have taken Viator tours in the past and even on this trip to SF but with this experience I will not be booking again.
I hope your management team takes into consideration this review seriously.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi Diana, Thank you for your feedback. We sincerely apologize for your experience and are especially concerned to hear about the discomfort caused by the heat and the impact it had on your husband. Your comments regarding the vehicle conditions, communication, and guest management have been shared with our operations team for review. We appreciate you bringing these concerns to our attention and will use your feedback to improve our service.
Gerry_L, Apr 2026
The trip was incredible. The driver was very knowledgeable and an excellent careful driver. He was very detailed on the sights as we passed them. I would do the trip again that’s how much I really enjoyed the experience. I plan to do more tours with this company.
I am not one to remember names, the driver, I called him the captain, was excellent. I met people on the tour from all over the world. Can’t wait to to do my next tour.
Response from Host, May 2026
Hi Gerry! Thank you! We’re thrilled you had such a great experience and felt well taken care of. We can’t wait to have you on another tour!
MariaIlaria_M, Mar 2026
Although the transfer time is quite long (4 hrs each way from/to San Francisco) we had plenty of time to spend in the Park. The guide (Debbie) took us to many panoramic spots
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your review! We’re glad you enjoyed the time in the park and that Debbie made the experience memorable with the scenic stops.
DavidGraham_T, Mar 2026
Be prepared for a long day & changing weather in glorious country. Our guide, Andy Howse, was very knowledgeable, helpful & enthusiastic & ensured we had a great day.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi David! Thank you for your review! We’re glad Andy made your day enjoyable and that you loved exploring the beautiful countryside.
Teodulo_C, Mar 2026
Fantastic trip. Andy was very informative. Andy always had a story to share about Yosemite. Not a boring time and worth the money spent
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your fantastic review! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the trip and Andy’s stories — glad it was a memorable and worthwhile experience.
Melissa_K, Dec 2025
Excellent driver, really knowledgeable and enjoyable trip. Well thought out and kept on schedule and have us enough breaks and free time
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hi Melissa! Thank you for the great feedback! We’re glad you enjoyed the trip and that the driver made it informative, well-paced, and enjoyable. We hope to see you again soon!
Edward_E, Dec 2025
Everything was what was described in the tour package, except for one important point highlighted in the very first bullet point of the tour description:
3 hours of free time to walk, hike, and explore Yosemite Valley's highlights
Unfortunately, we did not get 3 hours of free time, nor even 2 and a half hours, but only a little over 2 hours, which was very hard to even just see some of the other interesting sights in Yosemite valley… :(
Our driver which was also our guide was nice, helpful and pleasant. However, if the 3 hours (as stated) is a stretch to provide the tourists with free time, due to traffic or other factors, I suggest stating in a more realistic and accurate way:
between 2-3 hours of free time to walk, hike, and explore Yosemite Valley’s highlights (actual availability time may vary due to traffic and other uncontrollable factors)
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi Edward! Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed our driver/guide and appreciated their helpful and friendly service. We sincerely apologize that the free time in Yosemite Valley was shorter than expected and understand how disappointing that can be. Your suggestion regarding setting clearer expectations is very helpful, and we’ll be sharing it with our team as we continue to improve our tour descriptions and guest experience. We truly appreciate your insights.
Ray_C, Sep 2025
Booked for the Tuesday but got cancelled so had to choose Monday instead. The tour was operated by GrayLine who also cancelled and rescheduled our other trip this week.
The tour guide Jerry was great & Yosemite was AMAZING but there was no aircon on the bus. California is really hot!! It was upper 90’s today and we were packed on a sweat box for 5 hours straight driving back from Yosemite. It was hellish and everyone onboard was miserable and complaining. Poor Jerry got hardly any tips because he bore the brunt of everyone’s frustrations but the fault lies with Gray Line cutting corners and packing us on to a bus too small to be comfortable for that long a trip with no air con. That bus shouldn’t have gone out. Absolutely ruined the experience for everyone on the tour.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hi Ray! Thank you for your honest feedback. We’re glad you enjoyed Yosemite and Jerry’s guidance, but we sincerely apologize for the bus and scheduling issues. Your concerns about comfort and service are important, and we’ll work to address them to improve future tours.
James_F, Sep 2025
Joe with Teton Floats was the best tour guide we have ever had as he was an expert in everything such as ther animals, waterfalls, ecology and the mountains!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hi James! Thank you for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear Joe made your tour so memorable with his expert knowledge. We’ll be sure to pass along your compliments!
Christianne_B, Aug 2025
The bus drive is a longer duration than actual time spent in the park. Itinerary scheduled “stops” were basically a drive by. Our bus had multiple issues; first a “mechanical issue” when entering the park causing a delay. The second was a flat tire which the driver was ill prepared for; it took over two hours to obtain a “rescue bus”. We didn't arrive back to start area until of 4 hours late! Be prepared for bus driver that talks non stop, some information regarding the National Park and other just babbling on. I would recommend an alternative tour for the Sequoias and Nation Park
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hi Christian! Thank you for sharing your experience — we're truly sorry to hear it didn’t meet your expectations. We understand how frustrating delays and mechanical issues can be, and we’re actively reviewing what happened to ensure it doesn’t occur again. Your feedback is valuable and helps us improve. We appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts.
Hazel_H, Aug 2025
Our tour guide Don was very knowledgeable and gave lots of information. He gave us time to stretch out. The only thing i can complain was on our way back the door of the bus was acting up not latching fully so it was kinda loud and was worried that the door fly away.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hi Hazel! Thank you for your feedback! We're glad to hear you enjoyed the tour and found Don informative and accommodating. We appreciate you bringing the issue with the bus door to our attention — safety is our top priority, and we’ll be sure to follow up with our maintenance team. Thanks again for joining us!
Andrew_A, Aug 2025
My family member and I loved how vast and beautiful the mountains are. The bus ride was okay, but there was a setback in which there was no lavatory on the bus. I had to be mindful about needing to use the restroom.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Hi Andrew! Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re glad you loved the stunning mountains and appreciate your feedback about the bus facilities. We’ll take this into consideration to improve future tours.
Valerie_A, Jul 2025
I am sorry to say my birthday trip with 4 of my friends were a disaster. We went to the boat and was told we would not see redwood trees. My booking # is 1284357653. We did not go on the tour because we thought we were on the wrong bus. When I booked the tour I wanted the redwood Forest and Yosemite tour and I thought that is what I was getting. I found out later that I had the wrong booking. My family and friends did not go on the tour and we are here this week to see the redwoods and Yosemite but I am being told there is nothing that Can be done. I paid for 5 people and did not go so are you guys telling me that I can’t be set on another tour since it is already paid for? If not I am requesting my money back. Thank you
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Dear Valerie_A
Thank you for your feedback, and we're truly sorry to hear that you and your group chose not to join our Yosemite National Park Full Day Tour. We understand how disappointing this experience must have been, especially for such a special occasion like a birthday trip.
However, we would like to clarify that our Yosemite tour does not include a visit to the redwood or sequoia forests. The journey to Yosemite takes over four hours each way, and our priority is to ensure that our guests have enough time to explore and enjoy the incredible Yosemite Valley.
Our tour is designed to focus on the highlights of Yosemite National Park. It includes:
Three hours of free time for hiking and exploring Yosemite Valley, including Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and Cook’s Meadow.
A one-hour guided driving tour with photo stops at Tunnel View, Bridalveil Fall, and El Capitan.
This itinerary is clearly described in our tour listing, and at no point do we advertise redwoods or sequoias as part of this experience. For guests specifically interested in seeing redwood trees, we always recommend our Muir Woods & Sausalito tour instead.
We’re very sorry for the confusion regarding your booking and that you missed the tour entirely.
Thank you
Andrew_H, Jul 2025
Tour guide was excellent, the whole thing was really well run. Only thing to mention is that depending on traffic etc timings can go over so I wouldn’t book anything for the night.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Hi Andrew! Thank you for your great feedback! We're glad you enjoyed the tour and had a great experience with your guide. You're right — traffic can occasionally affect timing, so we always recommend keeping plans flexible afterward. Hope to see you again soon!
Parul_P, Jul 2025
Driving was good but bathroom not working and was beeping may be due to mechanic issue or engine getting hot
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Hi Parul! Thank you for your feedback! We're glad the driving was smooth, and we apologize for the bathroom and mechanical issues. We’ll have our maintenance team look into it to prevent this in the future.
Nicole_A, Jul 2025
Driver and Yosemite were great, bus was an old heap, no working toilet and over heating light came on.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Hi Nicole! Thank you for your feedback! We're glad you enjoyed Yosemite and your driver, but we apologize for the bus issues. We’re addressing this with our team to ensure a better experience moving forward.
David_L, Jul 2025
During summer like June or July, the water is nice to swim on. Crisp and clean water to dip on . bringing swim wear is a plus. Fyi only
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Hi David! Thanks for the helpful tip! Swimming in the crisp summer waters sounds refreshing—great advice to bring swimwear!
Jeremy_L, May 2025
Although the bus was new, it was not a typical comfortable coach. The driver/tour guide in no way was a tour guide. She was a capable driver but shared NO information about our destination which was Yosemiti National Park. The Park was wonderful and the one-day tour would have been better had the tour company trained their driver/tour guide and provided a microphone for the driver and appropriate background information.
Response from Host, May 2025
Hi Jeremy! Thank you for your feedback. We're glad you enjoyed Yosemite, but we're sorry to hear the tour didn’t meet your expectations. We take your comments seriously and will review them to improve both our vehicle comfort and guide training.
Virginia_M, Apr 2025
Request Dave as you tour guide. You’ll thank me later. He was so so knowledgeable about the Yosemite Park and the surrounding area, San Francisco. I learned more on that bus in a day than I did in any history classes in school. Thank YOU Dave for making our trip memorable!!!
Response from Host, May 2025
Hi Virginia! Thank you for the amazing review! We're thrilled to hear Dave made your trip so memorable—he truly is a fantastic guide!
Elizabeth_N, Mar 2025
The tour itself was fine, however the tour guide drove like a MANIAC. He was speeding up the mountains, taking sharp turns, passing cars on the highway nearly hitting cars, and almost hit a biker driving downtown. There is NO reason to put us and an entire bus of people in a compromising and unsafe position driving like that up a mountain.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Hi Elizabeth! Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're glad to hear you enjoyed the tour itself, but we're truly sorry to hear about your concerns with the driving. Safety is our top priority, and we take your comments seriously. We will review this with our team to ensure a safer experience for all future tours. We appreciate your input and hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again.
Colleen_W, Jan 2025
Beautiful, just beautiful . So much to gaze at and imagine native American people there.. Also John Muir and President Roosevelt....... awesome.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Hi Colleen! Thank you for your kind words! We're glad you enjoyed the beauty and rich history of the area
Karen_J, Nov 2024
This was the most unprofessional, unkind, tour company I have ever had an experience for travel. I have traveled all over the world , tons of tours never have I had a problem.
I experienced the company giving me an incorrect address for pick up location, demands to were to book an uber. We booked an Uber literally four blocks over to the updated location. We were told to stay put where we were as I verified with the tour agent by phone.As we were pulling up to the tour bus in the Uber and I was texting we arrived the tour bus left on purpose.
So if you enjoy spending five hundred dollars to see a bunch of drug addicts, drug needles, protestors, homeless in a dark street at 5:30 am this is the your for you. I paid five hundred dollars not to see Yosemite but to be told off by the tour guide, and left in danger, and a ruined trip. I would give a triple review of miserable.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Hi Karen! I’m truly sorry to hear about your negative experience. This is certainly not the service we strive to provide, and I sincerely apologize for the confusion and frustration you faced. We take your feedback seriously and will investigate the situation to ensure it doesn’t happen again. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
Bree_G, Nov 2024
Glenda was absolutely wonderful and enhanced the whole experience. Didn’t feel rushed. Great sights to be had! Thank you!
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Hi Bree! Thank you for your lovely feedback! We're so glad Glenda made your experience special and that you enjoyed the sights. We hope to welcome you back soon!
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