Hi.
Were you planning on spending ALL that time in Yosemite?
Well, probably people have a mixed bag so early in the season due
to the fact that Tioga Road (the road to Tuolumne Meadows) and
Glacier Point Road will still be closed.
If you have never been to Yosemite before this MAY not make much
of a difference to you. There is still plenty to do and see.
You may have to deal with some snow here and there and it may
even still rain and snow at that time of year.
If the weather cooperates there is a number of hikes you can still do.
- Nevada Falls, Yosemite Falls, Mirror Lake, Bridalviel, Old Inspiration Pt.
The cables to Half Dome won't be up yet so...
You should be able to hike into the Groves of Sequoias without tooo
much problem... (again, snow...)
If you are staying so long then you may run out of things to do in
Yosemite but California is pretty big...
To get there from Oakland Airport head south 880 to 238 towards Livermore.
From there you will be dumped on 580 east and that will turn
into 205. From then on follow the signs to Yosemite via 120.
You'll be on 99 and 5 for a very short time.
There's a bunch of turns but it is well signed. From Oakland figure 3 1/2-4 hrs to the east entrance.
No idea how wickett got head south to 5. Just a mistake...
You'll end up something like this : 880->238->580->205->5->120
(ok, you better have a map ...)
Where to stay? Well, there isn't really much on 120. Groveland
is still pretty far away and so is Buck Meadows... the only 2 places I
can think of that have "hotels".
So that leaves you with 140 ... El Portal or 41 ... Oakhurst.
I'd go with El Portal for 2 nights and check out the Valley and then
head over to Oakhurst after spending an entire day in the
Sequoia Grove in Wawona.
Look into the Yosemite Lodge and also The Wawona... they may fit
into your budget.
So you want to look at:
nps.gov/yose website for HUGE amount of info
El Portal
Oakhurst
Lodging inside the park (I'd try Yosemite Lodge or The Wawona if hotel-ing)
Good luck. I understand it can be a little daunting... went thru the
same thing on trip to Glacier National Park. Really use the nps website.
It really has sooo munch info.