3 Day Backpacking and Yoga Holiday in Yosemite National Park, California

You will enjoy two nights backcountry camping in the high alpine wilderness of Yosemite. If you travel solo, Lasting Adventures can supply you with a single-person tent. There is no single supplement fee. Yosemite National Park has 13 campgrounds. Some are reservable while others operate on a first-come, first-served basis. From about April through October, reservations can be very difficult to get and the first-come, first-served campgrounds often fill up early each day.

Driving directions from San Francisco Bay Area

• Take I-580 east to I-205 east.
• Then continue to Highway 120 east (Manteca) or Highway 140 east (Merced) into Yosemite National Park.

Driving directions from Sacramento

• Take Highway 99 south to Highway 120 east (Manteca) or Highway 140 east (Merced) into Yosemite National Park.

Driving directions from Reno and Lake Tahoe

• Take US 395 south to Lee Vining.
• Take Highway 120 west into Yosemite National Park (open late May or June through October, depending on conditions).

Or

• Take I-80 or I-50 west to Sacramento.
• Take Highway 99 south to Highway 120 east (Manteca) or Highway 140 east (Merced) into Yosemite National Park.

Driving directions from Los Angeles area

• Take I-5 north (or I-405 north to I-5) to Highway 99 north.
• Then head to Highway 41 north (Fresno) into Yosemite National Park.

Driving directions from San Diego area

• Take I-5 north to Highway 99.
• The head to Highway 41 north (Fresno) into Yosemite National Park.

Driving directions from Las Vegas

• Take US-95 North to Tonopah.
• Then US-95/US-6 west to Highway 120.
• Go west on Highway 120 into Yosemite National Park (open late May or early June through October, depending on conditions).

Or

• Take I-15 south to Barstow.
• Then go from Highway 58 west to Bakersfield.
• Take Highway 99 north to Fresno.
• In Fresno, take Highway 41 north into Yosemite National Park.

Driving directions from Death Valley National Park

• Take Highway 190 west to US 395.
• Take US 395 north to Lee Vining.
• Take Highway 120 east into Yosemite National Park (open late May or early June through October, depending on conditions).

Or

• Take Highway 190 west to US 395.
• Take US 395 south to its junction with Highway 14.
• Take Highway 14 south to Mojave.
• In Mojave, take Highway 58 to Bakersfield.
• From Bakersfield, head north on Highway 99 to Fresno.
• In Fresno, take Highway 41 north into Yosemite National Park.

Driving directions from San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

• Take the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) north towards Pittsburg/Baypoint.
• Exit at the 19th St/Oakland station, and transfer to the Fremont/Richmond line north towards Richmond.
• Exit at the Richmond Transit Station and take the Amtrak San Joaquin line southbound towards Bakersfield. Lines 712, 714,
• and 716 head to Yosemite.
• Exit at the Merced Amtrak Station.
• From the Merced Amtrak Station, take the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) to Yosemite.

Driving directions from Oakland International Airport (OAK)

• Take the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) AirBART shuttle to the Coliseum/Oakland Airport station.
• From the Coliseum/Oakland Airport station, take the Fremont/Richmond line north towards Richmond.
• Exit at the Richmond Transit Station and take the Amtrak San Joaquin line southbound towards Bakersfield. Lines 712,
• 714, and 716 head to Yosemite.
• Exit at the Merced Amtrak Station.
• From the Merced Amtrak Station, take the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) to Yosemite.

Driving directions from Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH)

• Take a private shuttle or taxi to the Mammoth Lakes Park and Ride - Corner of Tavern at Old Mammoth Road.
• Take the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) to Yosemite.

Driving directions from San Jose International Airport (SJC)

• Take the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) airport flyer or bus to the metro/airport light rail station.
• From the metro/airport light rail station, take the mountain view or Winchester light rail line south towards Winchester.
• Exit at the San Jose Diridon station.
• From the San Jose Diridon station, take the Amtrak California Thruway bus connection to the San Joaquin line southbound. Thruway buses 3912, 3914, and 3916 head to Yosemite. These buses connect to train lines 712, 714, and 716 respectively.
• Exit at the Richmond Station and board the Amtrak train on the San Joaquin line southbound towards Bakersfield. Lines 712, 714, and 716 head to Yosemite.
• Exit at the Merced Amtrak Station.
• From the Merced Amtrak Station, take the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) to Yosemite.

Driving directions from Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT)

• Walk to the Fresno Area Express (FAX) bus stop on East Clinton Avenue.
• Take Bus 26 towards Nees - Blackstone.
• Exit at the intersection of North Peach Avenue and East Tulare Avenue.
• Take Bus 22 towards West - Bullard.
• Exit at Tulare Steet and Q Street from the Fresno Amtrak Station.
• Take the Amtrak San Joaquin line northbound towards San Francisco.
• Exit at the Merced Amtrak Station.
• From the Merced Amtrak Station, take the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) to Yosemite.

Arrival by airplane

Lasting Adventures recommends flying into Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT), Sacramento International Airport (SMF), Oakland International Airport (OAK), or San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Many people choose to rent a car to make their way to the May Lake Trailhead to begin their backpacking trip, as public transportation is time-consuming and limited.

There is free parking throughout the parks Lasting Adventures operates in and at all their designated meeting locations. After meeting and running through an orientation with your guide on day one, the guide will advise of the best places to park your car for the duration of the trip. You can leave your other belongings secure in your car. If you arrived on public transit, you can leave your belongings secure in the guide’s car.

Arrival by bus

Bus service is available to Yosemite Valley (and, during summer, to some other areas of the park) from cities throughout California and the rest of the United States. Amtrak provides a combination of train and bus service to Yosemite Valley. Amtrak also provides limited service to White Wolf and Tuolumne Meadows daily during July and August (weekends only during June and September). Amtrak service beyond Merced (including Yosemite) is provided by YARTS.

Greyhound provides bus service to Merced, where you can transfer to YARTS to continue to Yosemite Valley. YARTS also provides limited service to Crane Flat, White Wolf, and Tuolumne Meadows daily during July and August (weekends only during June and September).