101 Guide: Drive From LA to Yosemite National Park

Surfboards leaning against the fences, glittering white sand beaches, palm tree-lined streets. It’s the classic images of coastal California that popped up in our heads when we decided to drive from LA to Yosemite National Park. However, when we drove from the Mojave desert landscapes of Los Angeles and along the western coast, we discovered that there was so much more to California than just beach culture and Hollywood glam. Not only did we get to see absolutely alluring oceanside towns, but we also got to see other inner small Cali towns that we wouldn’t have seen had we not made this road trip. And, of course, Yosemite, with its majestic cascading waterfalls and towering sequoia trees, is the ultimate destination awaiting at the end of what was a classic Californian road trip. 

Plus, the drive was the perfect way to escape our busy LA itinerary and unwind a bit. Here’s a detailed guide to driving from Los Angeles to Yosemite National Park.

Planning our trip

Visiting Los Angeles was great, but we were itching to get away from the city during our holiday. That’s how we came up with the idea to drive from LA to Yosemite. The second-oldest national park in the US, Yosemite is perfect to visit at all times of the year, including the end of summer, when we were there. Since the weather inside the park can change dramatically, we wanted to be prepared for everything. So, we packed everything from eco-friendly travel sunscreens and road trip snacks to lightweight travel base layers and even hiking rain jackets. Renting a car in Los Angeles was easy, especially since we were to drive back to the city.

A road trip from LA to Yosemite is less than 300 mi (428 km) and can be driven in just 5-6 hours. However, we took 2-3 days to cover the same route as we made many wonderful pitstops along the way. When traveling from LA, the south entrance is the best (and closest) entrance. This gave us easy access to our place of stay, the gorgeous Ahwahnee Resort, and Yosemite Falls.

Are you flying into LA? The distance from LAX to Yosemite National Park is roughly the same since the airport is located in the city’s center.

This is what our journey looked like:

• Drive from Los Angeles to Charlie Browns Farms
• Make a stop at Lake Isabella
• Spend the night in Pismo Beach
• Stop and explore Fresno and stock up on supplies at Yosemite Lakes
• Spend three nights in Yosemite
• Drive back to LA

Starting from Los Angeles

Ah, the City of Angels. For us, Los Angeles was the star of our West Coast itinerary. Since we’re laidback beach people, staying near the ocean calms us! That’s one of the main reasons that we stayed at Hotel Erwin, right on the Venice Beach coast. In fact, it’s Venice Beach’s only beachfront boardwalk hotel, and our oceanview room had sweeping views of the Pacific. Not only that, but the cocktail bar also had unparalleled sunset views, cocktails, and DJs spinning tunes. And, of course, ending the day with freshly baked cookies and the sea stretched out in front of us was a memory we won’t forget so soon. It’s no wonder it’s one of Los Angeles’ best boutique hotels.

We wanted to pack lunch from the famed Charlie Browns Farms in Little Rock outside the city, which was 1.5 hours from our hotel. So, we left really early, around 6:45 am, arriving just as they opened around 8 am. Pro tip: It’s very easy to get lost in their vast collection of food options, so don’t dawdle! We packed shakes, sandwiches, and burgers and set out for Lake Isabella.

If you want to stay somewhere closer to the route along Charlie Brown Farms and not necessarily on the beach, you might want to check out the best cheap hotels in Hollywood. The Adler, a Hollywood Hills Hotel, is especially a favorite, as it not only sits near top attractions around but is stylish and affordable. Plus, it’s themed after Hollywood!

If you’re looking to explore Los Angeles and don’t know where to start, here’s a quick guide to the top things to do in Los Angeles.

Stopping at Lake Isabella

Our stop for the day before we spent the night at Pismo Beach was the utterly gorgeous Lake Isabella in the Kern River Valley mountains. We drove for less than 3 hours, taking Exit 55 towards Edwards Air Force Base and then driving along Highway 14 and California State Route 178 to arrive at this picturesque lake. We found a nice little spot to spread our picnic blanket, stretch our legs, and enjoy a wonderfully delicious packed lunch. 

Since we had the time, we also popped into Silver City Ghost Town, a historic, semi-preserved town just south of the lake. It’s the perfect representation of how a California town might have looked during the Gold Rush era. In fact, there are even items and artifacts from the time, and there’s even a rustic general store, a saloon, and miner’s cabins. It was the perfect way to spend a wonderful mid-morning and afternoon before we started towards Pismo Beach to catch the sunset.

California Dreamin’: Spending the night at Pismo Beach

When we arrived in Pismo Beach, it was how we’d dreamt a California beach town would be. The birthplace of California’s surf culture is the vibrant Pismo Beach, which has an iconic (and revamped) pier, beach bars/restaurants, and a thoroughly laidback vibe. Since we arrived well before sunset, we even had time for surfing lessons with an instructor! The thrilling 1.5-hour lesson had us trying to ride waves, falling in the water (a lot!), and enjoying the wonderful waters. It was one of the highlights of our drive from LA to Yosemite National Park.

After an exciting surfing lesson, we headed to the pier to watch the brilliant hues of a red-orange sky and click some of the best sunset pictures of our lives. After the perfect sunset swim, we didn’t have to go far to check into our hotel for the night; we didn’t have to get off the pier at all! That’s because we were staying at the Inn at the Pier, a wonderful craftsman-style stay from Hilton’s Curio Collection. Plus, it also happens to be one of the best oceanfront hotels in Pismo Beach!

We weren’t surprised, considering the well-appointed digs, many of which had private patios/balconies with partial/complete ocean views. Moreover, all of them, including our fully sea-facing room, had amazing mod-cons for a comfy stay, including luxe bathrooms with rain showers and flatscreen TVs. The best bit? The hotel’s rooftop bar is the only one in the entire area, where we enjoyed drinks with wonderful views of the coast.

Not for nothing is Pismo Beach known as one of the best beaches in California!

Staying alternative

For a no-frills stay, try the Dolphin Cove Motel. Don’t fret about the “motel” in the title, for this hotel has a lot going for it. Firstly, it sits right on the sand and is one of the only two Pismo Beach hotels to do so. Secondly, it boasts nautical-themed rooms and most of them have partial ocean views, with the best feature being sweeping ocean vistas. Nevertheless, they all come with comfy beds, TVs, and private modern bathrooms.

Fantastic finds at Fresno and Yosemite Lakes

After an early start, we set out along Highway 101 and State Route 46 towards Fresno and the Forestiere Underground Gardens, around 3 hours away. It’s a single attraction, but it was so worth the stop along the way. Basically, this manmade attraction was designed by Sicilian immigrant Baldassare Forestiere. He painstakingly hand-built this jaw-dropping subterranean complex of garden courts, grottoes, and patios, all featuring exquisite stonework. In fact, each garden and space was created with specific Italian and Roman architectural elements like catacombs and arches. We were thrilled to be touring this gorgeous and truly mind-bending manmade marvel with trees thriving underground!

Fresno made for the perfect stop between Pismo Beach and Yosemite. After exploring the gardens and grabbing some lunch, we journeyed around the world at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. The incredible zoo has award-winning interactive habitats from Australia, Africa, and more and more than 200 species. We also visited the stunning Shinzen Friendship Gardens, a serene and traditional northwestern American-Japanese garden. It was built by the local Japanese-American community and features a koi pond, a teahouse, and lots of greenery.

From Fresno, it was a 30-minute drive along State Route 41 to Yosemite Lakes, the perfect pitstop to pick up anything you might have forgotten to pack for your road trip. We loved the striking greenery all around the Yosemite Lakes Park Recreation Area at the foot of the Sierra Nevada range. Since we did have some more time, we even stopped by the Coarsegold Historic Village, 10 minutes away. Just like Silver City Ghost Town, it offered us a look at California’s gloriously rich past.

Reaching and exploring Yosemite National Park

From Yosemite Lakes, we continued driving down State Route 41 to enter the park’s south entrance at Mariposa just 50 minutes later. Our stay at the gorgeous Ahwanee Resort lay in Yosemite Village in the Yosemite Valley, deep in the heart of the park. So, we continued driving for another hour along the same road, now the Wawona Road, to arrive at our home for the next three days.

This grand hotel is a Yosemite institution dating back to 1927. We chose it for its location; it boasts sensational views of some of the most famous destinations in the park, including Yosemite Falls, Glacier Point, and Half Dome. The sugar pine logs exterior holds a luxurious yet traditional interior with Persian rugs, art deco flourishes, and Native American design motifs. Our freestanding cottage was as magical as it was comfortable and spacious, with modern bathrooms, bathrobes, and even turndown service, which is standard here. Elsewhere, the hotel also has an impressive dining room, one of the most beautiful in all of California. Wrapping things up is a quiet, contemplative air that envelopes the property.

What we loved about the Ahwanee was its location, as some of the most worthwhile attractions were a stone’s throw away. For instance, Yosemite Falls, one of the world’s most amazing waterfalls and one of the world’s largest waterfalls, was a mere five-minute drive! Not only that, but El Capitan, one of the world’s most breathtaking monoliths, is less than a 10-minute drive away. It lies at the end of a hiking trail, which begins in the parking lot on Northside Drive just outside the valley. In fact, it’s a favorite with experienced climbers and hikers. So, we could dedicate two entire days to exploring these natural treasures, leaving the evenings free to explore the amazing Yosemite Village.

Here’s a detailed guide to enjoying a 3-night Stay at Ahwahnee Lodge at Yosemite.

Staying alternative

Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite is a serene and luxurious retreat if you don’t mind staying outside the park. Tucked among towering pines, the lodge still sits just five minutes from the south entrance, which means you aren’t far off from the park’s attractions. You also have a bevy of accommodation options, ranging from regular hotel rooms to standalone cottages for more privacy. What blew us away was the profusion of amenities here, which included multiple restaurants, a decadent spa sanctuary, and a pool complex with multiple pools. Did we mention the activity roster that had everything from yoga to archery? Yes!

Here’s more about staying at Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite.

Until next time

After three unforgettable days in Yosemite, the direct drive back from Yosemite National Park to LA was a quick six-hour one. Staying in the heart of the Yosemite Valley was a memorable and mesmerizing experience, especially since we also got to see the park’s many amazing natural wonders. If you love the outdoors even abit, we recommendg this amazing drive through the heart of California.

Tips for an unforgettable experience

Here are some important tips to make your road trip from LA to Yosemite comfortable, easy, and hassle-free.

• If you’re planning to stay inside the park, the sooner you book, the better. Lodging within the park is limited and can also get expensive. 
• While you can do the road trip at any time, Yosemite will be covered in snow as early as October. Also, some roads will be closed in winter, which will mean lower accommodation prices and fewer crowds, but that isn’t applicable to the holiday period.
• Travelers need to buy a “park pass” to enter Yosemite. The pass costs USD 35 and is valid for 7 consecutive days. However, with the “America The Beautiful” pass, you can also visit nearby national parks like Sequoia and Kings Canyon (or any other federal recreation sites, for that matter) within a year. The pass costs USD 80 and will give you access to more than 2,000 recreation sites during the 1 year period.

What is the best time to do a road trip from Los Angeles to Yosemite National Park?

Thanks to California’s beautiful climate, you can do the drive any time of the year. However, there will be marked differences in prices, driving conditions, and activities, which might not be open in the middle of winter.

Do you need a car to go to Yosemite?

While a car makes moving around much easier, there are shuttle buses, tour buses, and even trams running around Yosemite Mariposa County. Check out Yosemite’s public transportation details.

Do you need a permit to drive into Yosemite?

Usually, no. However, reservations are required to drive through or into the park from April 13th-October 27th, 2024, from 5 am-4 pm. Check out the details here.