by Ljrack » Tue Mar 01, 2011 2:44 pm
Harold,
It's about a 4hr drive from San Francisco to Yosemite Valley, depending on which way you go. I guess depending on air fares, My first choice would be Oakland, then San Jose, then SF. Of course if you can get a good rate to Fresno, that's much closer.
Getting to Yosemite from any of the Bay Area airports you basically have 3 choices once you get to the foothills. The shortest miles is HW120. The most direct and just a few miles longer is HW140 through Mariposa. A great drive and a beautiful one following the Merced River all the way in to the valley. This is also the route that El Portal and the closest motels are outside the park. The third route is HW41 out of Fresno and thru Oakhurst. Depending on the time of year, this brings you right by the Mariposa grove and Glacier point as well. A longer and more mountainous route, but a worthy sightseeing drive. There is lodging at the Wawona hotel (almost as pricey as Ahwahnee) but also in Oakhurst and near the park border, but you're a good 45min from the Valley at that point.
You did make a point, "An in-room internet connection will, alas, be necessary. " That basically rules out Yosemite Valley lodging in terms of in-room wifi. As mentioned, I believe there is wifi in the lounges or lobbies, but I'm not 100% sure.
If that is absolutely necessary say to keep an eye on work/business, then I would recommend the Yosemite View Lodge or Cedar Lodge in El Portal that has already been mentioned. YO View Lodge is just 2.5 miles from the Arch Rock entrance and just 15-20 from the Valley Floor. I think it's a great hotel/motel with a decent restaraunt, small store for groceries, etc. A good pizza/bar place, but it closes up for the winter, not sure when. Can't recommend a "River View" room enough. Standing on the patio with the Merced roaring below you is just awesome. There will be water flowing in Sept/Oct, just not the volume of spring and early summer.
Cedar Lodge is 5 miles further west and quite reasonable lodging in terms of quality, price and access to the park.
Check lodging for these here: yosemite-motels dot com (I can't post hot links yet, to new!)
El Portal isn't really a town with any restaurants to speak of, it's more just a small community that you can't even see from the Highway. No expectations of any activities there. A gas station is about it.
Lodging in the Valley here: yosemitepark dot com slash Accommodations dot aspx
As far as timing goes, I guess it all depends. Depends on how patient you are with crowds vs. what you want to see and do. Personally, the crowds are atrocious between Memorial and Labor Day weekends; kids out of school, summer vacations, tours for all over the world, etc.
Don't let the picture discourage you though. It is very easy actually to get away from the big crowds, especially since you mentioned you liked hiking. And if you start out early enough, you can do the guided open-car bus tour of the valley since you mentioned that. Just don't get stuck around Yosemite Village during mid day.
A drive up and over Tioga Pass to the high country would also be highly recommended. And if still open, keep going, spend the night in Lee Vining and visit Mono Lake. That would be a great overnighter.
Do some internet searching for hikes along Tioga Pass, you can get away. Within the valley, you can do the Mist trail up to Vernal and Nevada falls. You can also take a shuttle bus to Glacier point and hike DOWN to valley floor with great vistas of the Valley.
Timing wise, after Labor day the crowds will start to thin especially once School starts. I come at it from a photography point of view and so September is just a dry, hot and unphotogenic month. However, not a bad time for hikes in the high country. Fall color doesn't actually kick in til late in October and actually the beginning of November.
But the later in the year you get, the more unsettling the weather gets and it begins to get cooler. Tioga Pass has closed early in October on many occasions, but just as likely to be open well in to November, you just never know. There's a crispness in the air later in October...
The only drawback is the lack of roaring waterfalls. But to me, the immense geology and granduer of the place is magical even without the waterfalls. Personally I would avoid the valley in June. If you want to catch the falls, go BEFORE Memorial weekend.
Hope this helps and have a great trip.
Lon