San Francisco to San Diego through Yosemite Sequoia and King parks - Trip Plan and Map
This route combines a visit to the three largest and most famous cities in California, with a trip to its three most famous national parks.
Route Map: Inside California (2)
♦ Link to the Google map with the route 2
Recommended days of stay:
|
Place |
|
Rec. Days of stay |
|
San Francisco |
2-3 |
|
|
Yosemite National Park |
|
2 |
|
Sequoia and King parks |
1-2 |
|
|
Los Angeles |
3-4 |
|
|
San Diego |
|
3-4 |
Total travel days: 11-15 days.
Route length: 680 miles. Total travel time without stops: about 16 hours.
Places to visit and stay along the route:
San Francisco
San Francisco is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is very different in appearance and character from the other large cities in the USA. It is the third largest city in California. It is a very diverse and colorful city. In the center are modern skyscrapers and next to them is a completely Chinese city with a low construction style. Its houses are painted in many colors and its quarters are very different from each other. The city has several Many ethnic groups: Chinese, Japanese, Hispanic, Italian, Russian, etc. Thanks to this diversity, San Francisco is a very cosmopolitan city, known as the "Paris of the West".
♥ Article: Guided tours in San Francisco
Recommended hotels in San Francisco:
The most recommended place to stay in San Francisco is the "Fishermen's Wharf". It is of course also one of the more expensive areas.
The most recommended hotels in this area:
Argonaut, a Kimpton Hotel
The Fairmont Heritage Place Ghirardelli Square
Cheaper but still good hotels in this area:
Holiday Inn
Fisherman's Wharf
Best Western PLUS The Tuscan
Courtyard by Marriott Fishermans Wharf
It is more convenient and cheaper to stay near the San
Francisco airport.
Recommended 3-star suite hotels
suitable for families of up to 6 people:
♦
Embassy Suites San Francisco Airport – Waterfront
♦
Embassy Suites San Francisco Airport - South San
Francisco
Good motels near the airport:
♦
Holiday Inn Express San Francisco Airport South
♦
Hampton Inn & Suites San Francisco-Burlingame-Airport
South
Please note that in the city center, especially in the "Civic Center" area, but also in other areas, there are a lot of homeless people, so it is recommended to choose your place of residence carefully, especially if you arrive at the hotel after dark.
Guided Tours in San Francisco
♦
San Francisco Deluxe Half-Day City Tour
Guided
tour of several main attractions and beautiful
viewpoints (including pickup from several hotels, lasts
about 3.5 hours).
♦
San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito Bike Tour
Guided bicycle trip to the Golden Gate Bridge and
Sausalito (for an additional fee you can get an electric
bicycle, lasts about three hours).
♦
San Francisco Food Tour: Ferry Building and Ferry Plaza
Farmers Market
Food tour of the farmers market
and the ferry building.
♦
Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Tour
Wine
tasting tour in wineries in Sonoma and Napa Valley
(including the cost of wine tasting and pickup from
selected hotels in the city):
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite is a large national park with forests with huge trees, alpine scenery and a charming valley with impressive waterfalls, cliffs and rocks of special shapes. The most traveled and famous area in the park with a large concentration of wonderful natural sights is the Yosemite Valley. It is visited by over 4 million visitors a year.
♥ Article: A trip to Yosemite National Park
Recommended hotels in Yosemite park area:
It is recommended to book accommodations in Yosemite
well in advance (preferably many months in advance!)
because the demand far exceeds the supply, both inside
the park (where it is advisable to book even a year in
advance) and outside the park.
♦
Best Western Plus Yosemite Way Station
3 star
hotel with breakfast. Pool (in season), internet and
free parking.
♦
Mariposa Hotel Inn
3 star hotel with breakfast.
Internet and free parking.
♦
Yosemite Nights Bed & Breakfast
3 star hotel
with breakfast. Internet and free parking.
♦
5th Street Inn
3 star hotel. Internet and free
parking.
♦Quality Inn Yosemite Valley Gateway
2 star hotel with breakfast. There are also family
suites with a fully equipped kitchen. Pool and jacuzzi
in season. Internet and free parking.
♦
Family vacation cabins and apartments:
Yosemite Gateway Rentals
Guided Tours to Yosemite park:
Sequoia and Kings Canyon parks
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are two beautiful nature reserves with a common border that is usually seen as one park. Sequoia is the southernmost park among them. Huge redwood trees grow in Sequoia Park, among them: "General Sherman" Tree which is the largest tree in the world. In Sequoia are also the highest mountains in the USA outside of Alaska. In addition to the huge groves of trees, the park has many caves, rivers, lakes and waterfalls.
♥ Article: A trip to Sequoia and Kings National Parks
Recommended hotels in Sequoia and Kings parks area:
For a trip to the northern part of the park, you should
spend the night in Fresno:
Excellent suite hotel:
♦
Homewood Suites by Hilton Fresno
Hotel suites for 4-8 in a suite. Kitchen, breakfast
included, internet and free parking.
or cheaper:
♦
Wyndham Garden Fresno Airport
Hotel suites and rooms, indoor and outdoor pool,
restaurant, free parking.
For the
southern and central part, you should stay at Three
Rivers:
♦
Comfort Inn & Suites Sequoia Kings Canyon - Three Rivers
Rooms for 2-5 guests, seasonal outdoor pool,
breakfast included, free parking and internet, jacuzzi
and gym. Self-service washing machines for a fee.
or inside the park:
♦
Montecito Sequoia Lodge
Rooms and cottages for 2 - 6 guests, seasonal
outdoor pool, buffet restaurant, parking and free
internet.
Los Angeles
Tourism is the largest source of income in Los Angeles. All members of a traveling family have a lot to do and see there. Besides Orlando, it is the city with the largest number of amusement and entertainment sites in the USA. In addition, it has interesting museums, beautiful beaches and nearby snowy mountains (in winter). Los Angeles is also an excellent starting point for trips to many National Parks in California.
♥ Article: Amusement parks in the Los Angeles area
♥ Recommended hotels in a central location in Los Angeles:
♦
Best Western PLUS Hollywood Hills
A 3-star hotel located 4
minutes' drive from the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The
hotel has 86 spacious and well-equipped rooms that
include a microwave and a refrigerator. The hotel has a
diner restaurant and a swimming pool. Free internet.
Private parking for an additional fee.
♦
Holiday Inn Express Hollywood Walk of Fame
A 3-star hotel located 8 minutes' walk from the
Hollywood Walk of Fame. The hotel has 94 spacious rooms
with a small refrigerator in each room. The hotel has a
swimming pool and a gym. Free internet and free
breakfast. Private parking for an additional fee.
♦
Residence Inn by Marriott Beverly Hills
A suite hotel in Beverly
Hills less than a mile from Rodeo Drive. The hotel has
186 suites ranging from double studio apartments to
suites with two bedrooms and a living room designed for
5 people. Each suite has a well-equipped kitchen. Free
internet and free breakfast. The hotel has a jacuzzi and
a gym. Private parking for an additional fee.
♦
Hilton Los Angeles-Universal City
A quality 4-star hotel located 2 minutes' walk from
Universal Studios. The hotel has 495 rooms. The hotel
has a restaurant, business center, gym, swimming pool
and jacuzzi. A small fridge in each room. The hotel
rooms have a view of the amusement park or the city.
Internet and parking for an additional fee.
♥ Hotels in the Universal or Anaheim area (near Disney)
AApartment hotels:
♦
Springhill Suites by Marriott Anaheim Maingate
♦
Clementine Hotel & Suites Anaheim
or the following hotels that are also suitable for families:
♦
Staybridge Suites Anaheim At The Park
♦
Best Western Plus Pavilions
Guided Tours in Los Angeles:
San Diego
San Diego is a charming city whose residents claim that it is the most successful place to live in USA. It is the second largest city in California and has a successful blend between a large, modern city and a popular year-round resort. It is excellent for a fun family trip.
San Diego Attractions includes: zoo, safari, sea world, spacious parks, many museums, pleasant shopping centers and lovely beaches.
Recommended hotels in San Diego:
Hotels in the excellent neighborhood La Jolla:
♦ Residence Inn San Diego La Jolla
♦ Inn
by the Sea, at La Jolla
♦
Holiday Inn Express and Suites La Jolla
♦ Embassy Suites by Hilton San Diego - La Jolla
♦ More expensive and highly recommended:
Pantai Inn
In the Mission Valley area:
♦ Homewood Suites by Hilton San Diego Mission Valley/Zoo
Guided Tours in San Diego: