Yosemite National Park: Full Day Tour from San Francisco
4.5
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About
Getting to Yosemite from San Francisco can be quite a challenge unless you rent a car, and even then you must navigate unfamiliar roads. This Yosemite tour from San Francisco takes you to the national park with round-trip transport, so you can relax on the long drive. Plus, once there, take a guided bus tour before exploring independently at your own pace.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99, max of 45 per group
Duration: 14h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Highlights
- Round-trip transport to Yosemite lets you relax on the drive
- Spend a day exploring a national park during this Yosemite tour
- Take a guided bus tour and enjoy independent time to explore
- Don’t worry about the entrance fee—it’s included
- Transport by air-conditioned luxury motor-coach
- Driver-guide and commentary in English
- Yosemite National Park entrance fees
- Guided bus tour of Yosemite Valley and free time in Yosemite Valley
- Choose from two departure locations in San Francisco: Fisherman's Wharf or Union Square
- Entry/Admission - Tunnel View
- Entry/Admission - Bridalveil Fall
- Entry/Admission - Yosemite Valley
- Entry/Admission - El Capitan
- Entry/Admission - Yosemite Falls
What's not included- Gratuities
- Additional food and drinks
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- This Yosemite tour starts with a pickup from central San Francisco. Get comfortable aboard your luxury vehicle for the ride to the US national park. Once you arrive, take a guided bus tour of the valley then, explore independently. You can visit the Ansel Adams Gallery, grab lunch at Ahwahnee (own expense), stroll along the Merced River, or rent a bike to ride around (own expense). Your time in Yosemite National Park ends when you board your vehicle for the ride back to San Francisco. Your day concludes with drop-off at the original departure point.
- Start:Multiple meeting point options.
- Option 1478 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94102, USAUnion Square Departure Location 478 Post St. Arrive by 6:25 AM to check-in Bus Departs at 6:40 AM Although there is no physical location, you'll find Encore Café situated right next door. For boarding the bus, simply head across the street to meet our representative and board the bus.
- Option 22805 Leavenworth St, San Francisco, CA 94133, USAGray Line Fisherman’s Wharf Departure Location 2805 Leavenworth St. Arrive by 6:10 AM to check-in Bus Departs at 6:20 AM Although there is no physical location, you'll easily spot Pomegranate Café directly across the street. Simply wait there, and our representative will meet you.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 2660SFOYOS- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- The Yosemite tour takes all day. We recommend wearing comfortable clothes and bring a pillow to sleep on the drive back.
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 45 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 2660SFOYOS
From $215.00
$199.95
per adult
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Similar experiences
Itinerary
- Pass byFinancial DistrictSan Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6Pass byLower Yosemite Fall TrailValley Visitor CenterSentinel bridge
- 7
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- chris s0 contributionsHighly recommendGreat trip. Driver Danny was fantastic. He was very informative and knowledgeable. Highly recommend this trip. A must seeWritten February 10, 2025
- rickl6730 contributionsGolden gate to Muir Woods to SausalitoThe trees are amazing ! Pick up timely, narration was good. Stopped at Golden Gate to take pictures then on to Muir Woods. Road to Muir was very curvey, I'm glad I wasn't driving. Sausalito was great. We took the ferry back to SF. That was a great way to finish the trip. Highly recommend !Written February 9, 2025
- LightPacker5495500 contributionsGreat day. Great tour guideGreat day. Danny was a fantastic tour guide. The wineries visited were great. The wines were mostly good but some were shockers...Written February 8, 2025
- LightPacker5495500 contributionsGreat but bus safety is a concernGreat experience. Danny the tour guide was great. But.... the Bus seat belts on a number of seats were broken and we were told the Company are very slow in fixing them. This is a concern and the company should fix themWritten February 8, 2025
- margaretf3520 contributionsHighly recommend wine tourA very good tours. Stopped for view of Golden Gate Bridge and then 2 wineries who provided generous tastings. A lunch stop in Sonoma town and then another winery in the afternoon before heading back to San Fran.Written February 6, 2025
- R1266ZAalisonr0 contributionsRoad trip by the coastGreat trip with a great guide giving CA history. Trip is all day. I would not recommend for children or teens. It’s a lot of travel on bus. It’s definitely an adult trip.Written January 29, 2025
- Julie S0 contributionsExcellent experience!Amazing experience! Got me right where I needed to go. The guide was friendly and all the wineries were beautiful. Would do again!Written January 19, 2025
- ginabV7325BT0 contributionsKudos to Don!Don was informative and a delight. He connected with all the passengers and made the experience that much better. We visited 3 vineyards, Roche. Artesa and Madonna. Do yourself a favor, get a bottle at each location.Written January 17, 2025
- NorthStar620724419410 contributionsAmazingOutstanding views, some of the best ever seen, every site you'd want in San Fransisco is covered, and plenty of time to use restrooms and go exploring. Highly reccomend, even for the price.Written January 16, 2025
- Chris S0 contributionsThe park was great but the tour was not value for moneyThe Redwoods in Muir Woods were amazing and definitely worth a visit however for $233 USD for two people this tour was really lacking in value for money. After a pickup downtown at 7:40am you get a brief overview of some San Francisco facts, which were good then 15 minutes at a viewing location of the Golden Gate Bridge, however given the early morning time we were staring directly into the sun making photo opportunities almost impossible. We than made it to Muir woods and only had an hour and a half, not enough time to really soak up the place and do a number of their trails. This was all self paced and no additional information from the tour company. We then got driven to Sausalito and the driver advertised all the other tours the company does for the full half hour drive. The company and driver were fine but given essentially the tour is transportation and if you were to enter the park yourself it would cost $15 USD per person plus if you factor an Uber/taxi from downtown ie $60 each way, for two people it would be $150 USD for travel and park entry and you could spend longer in the woods. Bear in mind that there is no phone signal but the visitor center can help you book a car.Written January 13, 2025
- willjS3700CX0 contributionsGreat to see the Redwoods ! 😉Really Nice trip across the Golden Gate Bridge Muir Woods was a great experience ! The second part of the trip into Sausalito Was just ok Had dinner. It was night time and not many shops open. Maybe if you arrive in mid day and summer season the town is more attractive. Good history lesson by our drummer who safely got us to and fro. Thank YouWritten January 11, 2025
- Thomas L0 contributionsWonderful Bus Tour To a SF Hidden GemTour Guide: A+ Charles was a knowledgable and friendly tour guide with a multitude of stories and factoids. He kept us entertained the whole trip, and was a very safe driver (see Route below) Route: A* The Route from Fisherman's Wharf to the woods was a great way to see other things like the golden gate bridge/park, and beautiful views of the bay. * The winding and treacherous roads into and out of Redwood Canyon were expertly navigated by Charles, but can cause nausea for those prone to motion sickness or are spooked by heights. We recommend bringing gravol. Timings: A- We personally would have liked more time in the woods, but we also understand that the tour has to balance the length for different types of traveller. NOTE: if you have a group BE ON TIME BACK TO THE BUS. Charles was very clear from the start that timings have to be closely met. He also gave great recommendations on ways to see everything while staying on time. When someone had thought they left their phone behind after we had departed, they asked Charles to turn back, but he politely told them he couldn't because all the other passengers also had places to be (super reasonable and professional). However this means you gotta make sure your group stays disciplined and on-time, also double check your bags before you get back on the bus.Written January 9, 2025
- S5351IPdianas0 contributionsAwesome ExperienceEvery winery had something to offer, and all were generous with their pours. The driver was an awesome tour guide and the area is beautiful. Highly recommend!Written January 8, 2025
- javierlU3096LX0 contributionsLove, love, love this tour!The winery tour was amazing. So many great opportunities for beautiful photos and of course, you will be able to try so many great wines! Even though there was only about an hour allocated to visit each winery, it felt like plenty of time to get to know the places and the wine-making process at each location. Every guide at each location were lovely, friendly, and just outright awesome. Prepare to try many great wines. The actual tour guide person was also professional and experienced.Written January 7, 2025
- Mikayla B0 contributionsLove!The perfect tour to the red woods! We had 90 minutes in the red woods to hike and explore and then an hour in salsalito where we grabbed some lunchWritten January 4, 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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Sailorsgirl
Springfield, MO5,920 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
We have visited many of the National Parks, but Yosemite is the king of parks. We visited in early May because after researching online it was suggested that May was a great time to visit before the crowds of summer. That turned out not to be the case at all. The first problem was that despite the thousands of visitors, there were no Park Rangers at the entrance collecting fees or passing out the park newsletter or brochures. National Parks are not well funded so we didn't understand why they would pass up an opportunity with so many paying customers. Also, if we had received the newsletter which always lists closing or delay areas, we would have turned around and left. Our plan was to visit the Valley then drive across and exit the Lee Vining East entrance. Our plan was to spend the night in Mammoth Lakes then on to Utah. When we arrived at Bridal Veil Falls and then the Valley, my husband went to the visitor center there and was told the road across the Park to Lee Vining was closed.
Construction at the tunnel paused our progress for almost 40 minutes while they let one side of the traffic through and held the other side. A sign warned people to stay in their vehicles but quite a few people paid no attention to the sign and the road worker had to continuously chase people back into their vehicles. We could see the line of vehicles behind us getting longer and longer.
We stopped at the Gift Shop, Market and Restaurant to find something to eat. The Gift Shop and Restaurant were closed and only open certain hours for each meal. Again, had we had a brochure or newsletter, we would have been aware of that. The entire area was packed with tourists, buses and RV's. Parking was very limited.
We did eventually make it to the Valley and got a photo of El Capitan. There was no room to park anywhere so we could only view it from the road. We turned back to exit the park which was another nightmare of lines of vehicles trying to do the same thing. I have a beautiful video of Bridal Veil Falls but was unable to download it here.
If May is the slow month for Yosemite, I would hate to see what it's like in summer.
Construction at the tunnel paused our progress for almost 40 minutes while they let one side of the traffic through and held the other side. A sign warned people to stay in their vehicles but quite a few people paid no attention to the sign and the road worker had to continuously chase people back into their vehicles. We could see the line of vehicles behind us getting longer and longer.
We stopped at the Gift Shop, Market and Restaurant to find something to eat. The Gift Shop and Restaurant were closed and only open certain hours for each meal. Again, had we had a brochure or newsletter, we would have been aware of that. The entire area was packed with tourists, buses and RV's. Parking was very limited.
We did eventually make it to the Valley and got a photo of El Capitan. There was no room to park anywhere so we could only view it from the road. We turned back to exit the park which was another nightmare of lines of vehicles trying to do the same thing. I have a beautiful video of Bridal Veil Falls but was unable to download it here.
If May is the slow month for Yosemite, I would hate to see what it's like in summer.
Written May 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mood88
Perth, Australia2 contributions
Nov 2024 • Couples
We enjoyed a wonderful tour of Yosemite National Park with our guide - Don!
The journey was comfortable, and Don was very knowledgeable. The itinerary and the rest of the participants were well organised and we had good amount of time to take in the wonderful sceneries, we would however preferred more time at bridal veil falls so we had sufficient time to get to the base of the falls.
All in all, it was a pretty enjoyable trip and would recommend this tour. It makes it easier not having to worry about parking, as even in this off-season, the park/parking was busy!
The journey was comfortable, and Don was very knowledgeable. The itinerary and the rest of the participants were well organised and we had good amount of time to take in the wonderful sceneries, we would however preferred more time at bridal veil falls so we had sufficient time to get to the base of the falls.
All in all, it was a pretty enjoyable trip and would recommend this tour. It makes it easier not having to worry about parking, as even in this off-season, the park/parking was busy!
Written December 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Mood88! Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re so glad you enjoyed the tour and Don’s guidance. We appreciate your suggestion about spending more time at Bridal Veil Falls and will keep it in mind for future trips. We’re happy to hear the tour made your Yosemite experience easier and more enjoyable. Hope to welcome you again soon!
Written December 30, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Yoosik Ethan Oum
Vancouver, Canada222 contributions
The positives are that the tour bus service was good, punctual and organized. The tour bus driver was friendly and very knowledgeable of the history of the city. Usually at the end of the day, the bus gets back into SFO around 830pm but he got us back by 7:30 pm which is a big plus because it is a long bus ride.
The negatives, none of which Gray LIne is at fault for. It is a four hour ride to Yosemite. And that includes the last half hour, at least, up this long and winding hill that curves and curves. This would be a huge problem for anyone with motion sickness. If I didn’t take gravol beforehand, this would’ve killed me. When we got there , we had three hours. The weather was scorching, and i tried a trail or two and got nervous about getting lost. I eventually found a trail that looked easy enough to get back from so i walked and took a few good pics, but with the hot weather, i just felt like going back and staying in the lounge and restaurant. Overall, I felt Yosemite is overrated. The few sights I saw are beautiful but is it worth a nauseating 4 hour ride? The Grand Canyon tour is better in my opinion. It would be hard to get lost, and everything is right there to see; you don’t have to hike through the forest and get lost to see the canyon. Overall, I’m glad I did it, but I would never come back. If I’m in SFO again, though, I will definitely be open to seeing Alcatraz again, which was a much better more unique experience.
The negatives, none of which Gray LIne is at fault for. It is a four hour ride to Yosemite. And that includes the last half hour, at least, up this long and winding hill that curves and curves. This would be a huge problem for anyone with motion sickness. If I didn’t take gravol beforehand, this would’ve killed me. When we got there , we had three hours. The weather was scorching, and i tried a trail or two and got nervous about getting lost. I eventually found a trail that looked easy enough to get back from so i walked and took a few good pics, but with the hot weather, i just felt like going back and staying in the lounge and restaurant. Overall, I felt Yosemite is overrated. The few sights I saw are beautiful but is it worth a nauseating 4 hour ride? The Grand Canyon tour is better in my opinion. It would be hard to get lost, and everything is right there to see; you don’t have to hike through the forest and get lost to see the canyon. Overall, I’m glad I did it, but I would never come back. If I’m in SFO again, though, I will definitely be open to seeing Alcatraz again, which was a much better more unique experience.
Written July 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Korean! Thank you for your detailed feedback! We’re glad you found our bus service and driver to be great. We appreciate your thoughts on the tour experience and are happy to hear you’d be open to exploring Alcatraz with us again! 😊
Written July 23, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Gavin B
Dunfermline, UK6 contributions
Sep 2024 • Couples
We booked a day trip to Yosemite National Park, departing from Post Street, San Francisco, September 8th 2024.
There was no welcome and no run down of itinerary when we got on the coach. It started off with the driver shouting at some guests telling them to move seats and muttering under his breath that the guests he was speaking to had “no common sense”. He should have been very aware that the majority of the guests on the coach were not native English speakers and his tone was unacceptable.
After discussing, what he called, the “gay flag” history, he then said “now it’s all about the transvestites” which raised a lot of eyebrows. This again is completely unacceptable and he should be a bit more knowledgable about the community, considering his home city of San Francisco has one of the largest LGBTQ+ populations in the world and significant history.
The driver also gave the guests the responsibility of making sure everyone was on the coach. I would think as a tour guide looking after and transporting a full coach of people, it would be HIS responsibility to do a head count at every stop. When he failed to hear us from the back of the coach that some people were missing at the first stop, he drove off before seeing the missing guests run over the parking lot. The driver then proceeded to scald us like school children for not telling him there were people missing (even though we did). He then proceeded to complain about this incident a further 3 times through the trip. Again, treating us like children for his lack of responsibility.
He also had a serious road rage problem that made a few guests uncomfortable. Never have I heard a coach driver use the horn more than he did and verbally abuse other drivers (all while being heard over the PA system). Speeding on corners on the inbound trip while in Yosemite with a high altitude and sheer drop also made us dread the return trip.
He was not very informative about the park either. He was more a fan of sharing personal anecdotes, people he knew, HOW MUCH HE EARNS and how he isn’t happy with only working 3 days a week.
This man should not be a tour guide with the type of attitude he has. Upon departure at the first stop at the end of the tour at Fisherman’s Wharf, he closed the door before all guests who were intending to get off, actually got to the door (because the gangway was being blocked by other guests). Instead of apologising and not making a scene about it, he shouted at us for not getting off quickly enough.
I will not be recommending this company and will certainly not be using them again on any return trips to San Francisco. For the amount of money we paid, we wish we hired a car and did the drive ourselves. Very very disappointing, and the attitude of the driver ruined the trip. We never got his name. All we know is he’s 75 and has a white beard.
I have left a review on another site and have also emailed the company directly, with no response.
There was no welcome and no run down of itinerary when we got on the coach. It started off with the driver shouting at some guests telling them to move seats and muttering under his breath that the guests he was speaking to had “no common sense”. He should have been very aware that the majority of the guests on the coach were not native English speakers and his tone was unacceptable.
After discussing, what he called, the “gay flag” history, he then said “now it’s all about the transvestites” which raised a lot of eyebrows. This again is completely unacceptable and he should be a bit more knowledgable about the community, considering his home city of San Francisco has one of the largest LGBTQ+ populations in the world and significant history.
The driver also gave the guests the responsibility of making sure everyone was on the coach. I would think as a tour guide looking after and transporting a full coach of people, it would be HIS responsibility to do a head count at every stop. When he failed to hear us from the back of the coach that some people were missing at the first stop, he drove off before seeing the missing guests run over the parking lot. The driver then proceeded to scald us like school children for not telling him there were people missing (even though we did). He then proceeded to complain about this incident a further 3 times through the trip. Again, treating us like children for his lack of responsibility.
He also had a serious road rage problem that made a few guests uncomfortable. Never have I heard a coach driver use the horn more than he did and verbally abuse other drivers (all while being heard over the PA system). Speeding on corners on the inbound trip while in Yosemite with a high altitude and sheer drop also made us dread the return trip.
He was not very informative about the park either. He was more a fan of sharing personal anecdotes, people he knew, HOW MUCH HE EARNS and how he isn’t happy with only working 3 days a week.
This man should not be a tour guide with the type of attitude he has. Upon departure at the first stop at the end of the tour at Fisherman’s Wharf, he closed the door before all guests who were intending to get off, actually got to the door (because the gangway was being blocked by other guests). Instead of apologising and not making a scene about it, he shouted at us for not getting off quickly enough.
I will not be recommending this company and will certainly not be using them again on any return trips to San Francisco. For the amount of money we paid, we wish we hired a car and did the drive ourselves. Very very disappointing, and the attitude of the driver ruined the trip. We never got his name. All we know is he’s 75 and has a white beard.
I have left a review on another site and have also emailed the company directly, with no response.
Written September 13, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Gavin! We’re deeply sorry to hear about your experience and sincerely apologize for the unacceptable behavior and lack of professionalism from the driver. This is not reflective of our standards. We appreciate your detailed feedback and will address these issues urgently to ensure they are corrected. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
Written September 16, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
sindy
Arizona11 contributions
Jerry was our driver and at first he was fine but after he was caught off by a bus he became enraged and he was at full ROAD RAGE MODE he became very aggressive and followed the bus and would cut him off . It was scary . He knew he did wrong because he was silent the whole way. He also demanded $20 per person for his gratuity ? Who does that , and worst after the way he risked the life’s of all onboard the bus. I have never been so afraid. After seeing. Such a beautiful place it was ruined by the was he risked us all. He should not be driving, I’m sure that I’m not the only one who will complain about his poor judgment and behavior.
Written June 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Curiosity! We sincerely apologize for the distressing experience you encountered with Jerry during your trip. Ensuring the safety and comfort of our guests is our utmost priority, and we deeply regret that Jerry's behavior fell short of these standards. We take your concerns very seriously and will be addressing this issue promptly with our team.
Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. We appreciate your feedback as it helps us improve our services for all our guests. If there's anything further you'd like to discuss or if you have any additional details to share, please feel free to contact us directly.
Written June 24, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Syimyk K
1 contribution
Sep 2024 • Friends
I recently purchased a tour of Yosemite National Park, which, as stated in the description, was supposed to include: transportation in a comfortable coach, services of an English-speaking driver-guide, park entrance fees, and a guided tour of Yosemite Valley with free time in the park. Expecting a full tour, I was extremely disappointed when the actual itinerary turned out to be significantly limited and did not meet my expectations.
The tour description suggested a much more comprehensive experience of the park, but in reality, we only visited Yosemite Valley, which did not align with my expectations of a "guided park tour." Considering that I paid for a complete tour, and the services provided did not match what was advertised, I kindly request a full refund for this tour.
I hope for your understanding and prompt resolution of this issue. I look forward to your response and confirmation of the refund.
The tour description suggested a much more comprehensive experience of the park, but in reality, we only visited Yosemite Valley, which did not align with my expectations of a "guided park tour." Considering that I paid for a complete tour, and the services provided did not match what was advertised, I kindly request a full refund for this tour.
I hope for your understanding and prompt resolution of this issue. I look forward to your response and confirmation of the refund.
Written September 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vinita S
2 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
The Grayline day trip to Yosemite was simply amazing. Our guide Joseph and driver Jack had a huge role to play in the success of the trip. The pickup process was seamless. The drive to Yosemite is extremely long but Jack's driving throughout the day was just perfect. Joseph ensured that he gave just the right kind of information along the way: history, geography, places to see, small anecdotes all with a touch of humour. He had a number of helpful suggestions and was always happy to answer any questions.
Yosemite itself is really beautiful though it was extremely hot and therefore uncomfortable. Nature reigns supreme and El Capitan, Half Dome, Cathedral rock are majestic and live upto their reputation. Both Bridal Veil Falls and Yosemite falls did not disappoint. We had 3 hours to explore the valley floor and in that time we could visit the lower Yosemite falls, cross the meadow and see the quaint, old charming church on the other side before we had to trace our return. Perhaps one should plan in advance the places one can cover, on foot, in the limited time available. We were so preoccupied with the natural beauty of Yosemite that we had no time to see the museum. The staff in the restaurant was helpful but maybe because of the crowds, the washrooms were not exactly the best. Overall, a trip which is to be strongly recommended.
Yosemite itself is really beautiful though it was extremely hot and therefore uncomfortable. Nature reigns supreme and El Capitan, Half Dome, Cathedral rock are majestic and live upto their reputation. Both Bridal Veil Falls and Yosemite falls did not disappoint. We had 3 hours to explore the valley floor and in that time we could visit the lower Yosemite falls, cross the meadow and see the quaint, old charming church on the other side before we had to trace our return. Perhaps one should plan in advance the places one can cover, on foot, in the limited time available. We were so preoccupied with the natural beauty of Yosemite that we had no time to see the museum. The staff in the restaurant was helpful but maybe because of the crowds, the washrooms were not exactly the best. Overall, a trip which is to be strongly recommended.
Written July 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Vinit! Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that Joseph and Jack made your Yosemite trip memorable. We appreciate your tips about planning your visit and will work on improving the facilities. Thanks for recommending us, and we hope to see you on another adventure soon!
Written July 25, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sh T
Prague, Czech Republic1 contribution
Jul 2022
The one way to get there from downtown San Francisco takes a three hours bus drive but it's worth enough for the one-day trip to check fantastic panorama views and have three hours of hiking at the Yosemite valley.
I need to visit there again to spend a much longer time/days.
The tour guide and bus driver are excellent, nothing to complain about.
The worst thing was the bus's air-conditioner was broken from the early morning to the end of the tour, just like staying in a sauna during a round trip. I was afraid of getting heatstroke because all the windows are fixed and cannot open at all, only emergency exits on the ceiling could open small spaces.
Besides the air-conditioner issue, everything was fantastic.
I need to visit there again to spend a much longer time/days.
The tour guide and bus driver are excellent, nothing to complain about.
The worst thing was the bus's air-conditioner was broken from the early morning to the end of the tour, just like staying in a sauna during a round trip. I was afraid of getting heatstroke because all the windows are fixed and cannot open at all, only emergency exits on the ceiling could open small spaces.
Besides the air-conditioner issue, everything was fantastic.
Written July 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, Sh T!
I really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with us. I'm glad to hear that you had a great time in Yosemite (which is so incredible that deserves to be visited over and over again:) ).
I'm sorry about the air conditioning issue, I'll pass your comment on this to our Operations department.
We hope you'll come and see us again soon!
Isabela Vieira
Gray Line of San Francisco
Written July 18, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Biggles1966
Ponteland, UK20 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
Whilst I cannot deny the beauty and splendor of Yosemite National Park, the day was marred by the journey there and back.
The "Luxury" transport was anything but. The fact that most of the plug sockets didn't work wasn't really a problem. What was, was the fact that the bus door did not close properly. That meant 10 hours of excess noise as the wind whistled through the gaps.
This meant we could not hear the tour guide whenever she made an announcement, we could not hold a conversation with each other, and after 10 hours, led to a bad headache.
I would indefinitely recommend a visit to the park, but I would recommend finding a tour operator with better transport.
The "Luxury" transport was anything but. The fact that most of the plug sockets didn't work wasn't really a problem. What was, was the fact that the bus door did not close properly. That meant 10 hours of excess noise as the wind whistled through the gaps.
This meant we could not hear the tour guide whenever she made an announcement, we could not hold a conversation with each other, and after 10 hours, led to a bad headache.
I would indefinitely recommend a visit to the park, but I would recommend finding a tour operator with better transport.
Written June 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Biggles! Thank you for your feedback. While we're glad you enjoyed the beauty and splendor of Yosemite National Park, we're very sorry to hear about the issues you encountered with the transport. This is certainly not the standard we aim to provide. We'll address the problems with the bus immediately to ensure they are resolved. We understand how the noise and lack of proper communication from the guide negatively impacted your experience and we apologize for the discomfort and inconvenience caused. Your input is invaluable as we work to improve our services. Thank you for sharing your experience, and we hope you'll consider giving us another chance in the future.
Written June 12, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Su S
16 contributions
It was a beautiful day and our driver, Jerry, gave us historical info on the ride out there. He also maneuvered those crazy switchbacks with ease. He maximized our experience with a few scheduled stops at " must see locations" and gave excellent recommendations for our free time. This was a bucket list trip I hadn't been able to do with my dad decades ago, so I opted for the small group trip. I truly loved it!
I also want to note that our small Mercedes bus did start to lose power on the Bay Bridge on our way back. Our driver was amazingly calm, explained to us the situation, and expertly steered us (even without power steering) to Harrison Street by the Embarcadero before we had to disembark. I still tipped him because he was fantastic!! (Ironically, I was headed to Gott's at the Ferry Building before going back to my hotel, anyway.) A truly perfect and memorable day!!
I also want to note that our small Mercedes bus did start to lose power on the Bay Bridge on our way back. Our driver was amazingly calm, explained to us the situation, and expertly steered us (even without power steering) to Harrison Street by the Embarcadero before we had to disembark. I still tipped him because he was fantastic!! (Ironically, I was headed to Gott's at the Ferry Building before going back to my hotel, anyway.) A truly perfect and memorable day!!
Written April 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, Around what time does the bus return to the departure point?
Written July 3, 2023
Also wanted to know if you would see the giant sequoias on this tour?
Written July 3, 2023
Hi, do you offer an option which allows me to stay 1 or 2 nights in Yosemite (arranged by myself), then going back with your bus? Thanks!
Written April 10, 2023
Is there a lot of smoke in the park which would be not good for photos?
Written August 29, 2022
I was there the second week of August 2022 and skies were as blue as can be.
Written August 30, 2022
How much time will we have in the park?
Where would we park in union square?
Written January 19, 2020
Hi, we had 3 hours to ourselves to explore the park. We were actually staying on Union Square so i'm afraid i can't help you regarding parking but as somebody said previously the Bart tops just down the road from the pick up point
Written January 19, 2020
We will be visiting San Francisco in the middle of February. What is the typical weather for Yosemite at that time of the year?
Written December 1, 2019
Some of the park may be closed because of snow. However the scenery in the parts you will be able to access will be stunning
Written December 2, 2019
we will be staying in oakland and planning this trip to Yosemite, from your schedule I can see the departure is 7am at union square. What time must we be at union square?
Written July 29, 2019
You need to be at the bus stop about 6:45. If you have brochures, you need to exchange them for tickets in the office (across street from the bus stop).
Written July 29, 2019
Hi! Does the tour include a stop to the Yosemite National Park Visitors Center. Would like to get our park stamp while there. Thanks
Written July 19, 2019
There is some free time in the afternoon to walk around by ourselves and the tour guide encouraged us to stop by the Visitor Center. We did stop by there. So the answer is yes.
Cathy
Written July 20, 2019
Would it be possible to purchase just a one-way ticket to ride the coach to Yosemite? I'm a solo traveller who is unable to rent a car, so I'm looking for alternative ways to reach the park. I'm simply looking for a one-way transport option, nothing more. Thank you in advance!
Written July 10, 2019
we are interested to book a day tour to Yosemite national park from grayline.
i have a few question
1) is there any promo discount that i should enter to get cheaper price?
2) from the booking website, it is asking for only traveller information and payment details, how about pick up location?
3) do they pick up people from Oakland hotels which is only a 15mins ride away. if they don't pick up there, where are we suppose to meet for pick up.
4) where is the starting point of pick up
thanks in advance.
Written July 10, 2019
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