To bypass Yosemite during California road trip?

[PissyDressingGown]

I know some of you are knowledgable on USA so I'm hoping to put forward my idea and ask if I'm being unreasonable to Miss off something that everyone raves on about.

We're flying to San Francisco in August. That's the only bit we have booked, the rest is still to organise.

Original idea was 4 nights in SF, 3 nights in Yosemite and then down to LA.

However I'm thinking now of scrapping Yosemite and just doing a straight line down - so it would be 3 nights in SF, 2 nights in Monterey, 2 nights in Big Sur and then on to LA.

I'm worried I'll be missing out if I don't do Yosemite though?!

Yosemite was the best bit of my American road trip. I wouldn’t skip it.

We did it the other way around and went from Yosemite to San Fran.....I wouldn't have missed it for the world. I loved every minute of its beauty and walks.

However this only works if you a) like walking, b) don't mind quite a few people around c) early morning starts (impossible to park after about 8.30am).

That's what I thought :-( so what kind of stuff can you get up there and are we likely to see bears?

No bears but there was a great bear walk where they told you all sorts of information.

What time of year are you going?

I’d happily skip Monterey but not Big Sur!

August, id love to see the wildlife, hoping to see whales/sharks in San Fran

I would definitely keep Yosemite in the schedule, but you could reduce to 2 nights.

Currently doing SF-Yosemite-Grand Canyon-Las Vegas-LA-Tijuana.

Yosemite was majestic, amazing waterfalls and an amazing river.

I'm not a trekker, so we just drove Yosemite valley (the river is amazing) and looked at the waterfalls.

I wouldn't have missed it. If you're not that into trekking/waterfalls/rivers then you may not be bothered by missing it?

We stayed in a town called Mariposa and then did the hour drive into Yosemite valley.

I've seen a momma bear and two cubs at Yosemite. But we were extremely lucky!

We love mountains, waterfalls, rivers and wildlife. DH like a good tree too, he's odd like that.

Yabu - go for two nights

Yes, two days was enough for us in Yosemite.

And you can take a bus to Yosemite from neighbouring towns (12 USD each) which also includes entry to Yosemite.

Entry to Yosemite for a car is 30 USD for a week.

We toured California for our honeymoon. Yosemite and Big Sur are unmissable. LA is meh.

Ok I'm convinced. So looking at airb&b and Yosemite prices are a bit on the high side, is it worth staying out of the park area or too much of a faff? We can pay it if it makes a big difference but if it's no nessassary it would be nice to save the dosh

OP then you should definitely go!

Been to LA before, wasn't overly keen but there is a lot we didn't do as we had stroppy teens with us. This time it's just the two of us so we're hoping to do the Hollywood sign trail, go to the bars etc

Yosemite is fantastic, I wouldn't have missed it for anything. Can you visit Big Sur at the moment? Last year it was closed due to landslides and you had to take a big detour inland. Monterey is meh, although the aquarium is fabulous.

yosemite was highlight of my trip. its like nothing you have ever seen, just beautiful.

If possible shorten L.A. visit and fit in Yosemite.

L.A. is really rather crap, Yosemite is amazing and not to be missed.

I speak as someone who lived in various parts of CA for a good portion of my life.

Agree Yosemite is fantastic and LA a bit meh.

Also to save time and get the most in I would absolutely recommend staying in the park or as close as possible. The daily traffic to get into the park is madness.

The bears tend to come out at night and break into people's cars if they've left any food inside.

The Yosemite park cabins are great but you definitely don't need to stay there.

Mariposa is a cute little town with hotels, motels, restaurants, shops, a typical American diner. We stayed in an inn that was $90 per night (plus tax) that had two huge beds.

Inside Yosemite, there is a great (but expensive) hotel called The Majestic, where you can have lunch and drinks by the fire. (Great in March when it's snowing!)

Don't miss Yosemite, you'll remember it forever.

Yosemite is stunning well worth keeping as part of your trip. 2 nights in San Fran and 1 night in Monterey are probably enough and then include Yosemite. How long are you planning to stay in LA? I hated it there so wouldn't even bother with it!

i read thereof comments about Yosemite and think I must not have been to the same place. I mean, I liked it but not anywhere near as much as other folk clearly did.

Personally I found Muir near SF much more awesome and the Grand Canyon. Loved Big Sur too.

With LA, stay in Santa Monica and stick round that neck of the woods whist just visiting LA itself is my tip.