Yosemite is one of the country's oldest national parks and one of the most
popular. It's unfortunate these days that the park's beauty threatens to be its
downfall, with the valley overcrowded in summer and the campgrounds so packed
that you may feel like you're in the middle of a freeway at rush hour. Go to the
valley off-season or head for locales outside the valley any time, and you'll
have a lot more room.
Ready to Go? Use our Yosemite Weekend Getaway Planner and you'll be ready in no time.
Yosemite is Popular For: Family outings, romantic getaways, outdoor recreation, driving tours, hiking, fishing, doing nothing, wine and cuisine, the arts
How Far? Check the map at the beginning of this gallery to see which getaways are closest to your starting point. Most weekend-trippers limit their adventures to about three hours' travel time and most drive there. If you're going by car, Yosemite is Within 200 Miles of Bakersfield, Fresno, Reno/Tahoe, Sacramento, San Francisco and San Jose.