San Francisco Circular 13 – A beautiful trip in Central California that includes the three national parks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains – Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, in addition to Route 1 and a visit to San Francisco. During extreme weather (in the beginning of spring or the end of autumn) carrying chains may be required.
Day 1 – Arrive to San Francisco and visit the city
Lodging location: San Francisco
Day 2 – Visit San Francisco
Lodging location: San Francisco
Day 3 – Drive to Monterey via the northern portion of Route 1 (through Capitola, Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay, Pacifica etc.) and visit Santa Cruz’s Boardwalk, 3 hours drive
Lodging location: Monterey
Day 4 – Visit Monterey
Lodging location: Monterey
Day 5 – Visit Monterey’s surroundings (Point Lobus State Park, 17 mile drive etc.)
Lodging location: Monterey
Day 6 – Drive and travel south along Route 1, 3 hours drive
Lodging location: Morro Bay or Cambria
Day 7 – Spend the morning along south route 1 and then drive east to the Sierra Nevada Mountains, 3 hours drive
Lodging location: Three Rivers or Visalia
Day 8 – Drive north on Highway 198 and visit Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, 1-3 hours drive (depending on the lodging location)
Lodging location: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
Day 9 – One more day in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, short drive
Lodging location: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
Day 10 – Visit Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park and then drive to Fresno, 1-3 hours drive (depending on the lodging location)
Lodging location: Fresno
Day 11 – Visit south Yosemite National Park (Glacier Point and Mariposa Grove – see opening dates here) and drive to the Yosemite Valley, 2.5 hours drive
Lodging location: near Yosemite Valley
Day 12 – Travel in Yosemite National Park’s valley
Lodging location: near Yosemite Valley
Day 13 – One more day in Yosemite National Park’s valley, during the summer and autumn you many drive back and forth in the scenic Tioga Pass road, 1 hour drive in each direction or less
Lodging location: near Yosemite Valley
Day 14 – Drive to San Francisco, 4 hours drive
(on the way you may to stop for a rafting trip here)
Lodging location: San Francisco
Day 15 – Enjoy one more day in San Francisco
Lodging location: San Francisco
Day 16 – Fly home
– In order to fill this route with content – see our California destinations page, where you can find articles that include suggestions what to do in various locations along this route.
