Yosemite to Sequoia National Park: An EPIC 5 Day Itinerary

So you’ve decided you want to visit Yosemite AND Sequoia National Park? Perfect choice! Both of these parks are absolutely phenomenal and so different to each other.

The question is.. HOW in the world do you spend your time at each park?

There is so much to see and do in both Yosemite and Sequoia National Park that it makes the planning side of things quite overwhelming.

Dave and I spent 4 days in Yosemite before driving to Sequoia and spending 2 days there. We saw all of the obvious must-see spots in both parks with some somewhat “hidden gems” sprinkled on top. This blog post will provide you with the perfect Yosemite and Sequoia National Park Itinerary for 5 days and even factor in the driving time from Yosemite to Sequoia.

photo of wildflowers in Yosemite Valley with Upper Yosemite Falls in the background

couple standing amongst giant Sequoia Trees in Sequoia National Park

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Planning Your 5 Day Yosemite and Sequoia Itinerary

Table of Contents

📍 Where is Yosemite: California
✈ Where to Fly into: San Francisco International Airport (SFO) – Find FLIGHTS here!
📆 When to Visit: late Spring / Summer / Fall
🛌 Top Places to Stay in Yosemite & Sequoia
Yosemite National Park: The Ahwahnee ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8.6 rating
Sequoia National Park: Wuksachi Lodge ⭐⭐⭐ 8.2 rating
🚗 Rental Car: Discovercars is our go-to for the best rental car prices!
Park Permits: America the Beautiful Pass required
Park Hours: Yosemite is open 24/7, however certain restaurants and shops etc close during certain hours and parts of the park close during different times of the year.
Sequoia is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year unless a Winter storm causes road closures.

A Quick Summary & Map of Your 5 Day Yosemite to Sequoia Itinerary

Don’t have time to read the entire blog post? That’s okay! Here is a quick summary of everything I recommend doing and seeing in Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. You can use the map below while you are on your trip to make sure you don’t miss any of the spots I mention in this guide.

Click here to open the map in Google Maps!

Day 1 – Yosemite National Park

Arrive in Yosemite
Hike to Bridal Veil Falls
Do the Cooks Meadow Trail
Stop at Tunnel View for sunset

Day 2 – Yosemite National Park

Hike to Vernal Falls
Check out the Lower Yosemite Falls
Go for a swim
Stroll around Yosemite Village

Day 3 – Yosemite National Park

Sunrise at Glacier Point
Hike the Panorama Trail
Stop at Washburn Overlook
Sunset at Taft Point

Day 4 – Sequoia National Park

Hike the Big Trees Trail
Do a Crystal Caves Tour
Hike up Moro Rock for sunset

Day 5 – Sequoia National Park

Tunnel Log Drive Through – get there early to avoid the crowds
Visit General Sherman
Hike the Congress Trail
Visit the Giant Forest Museum

Things to Know Before Your Trip to Yosemite & Sequoia

📍 Where are Yosemite National Park & Sequoia National Park

Yosemite National Park is located in California, USA. It’s about a 3.5 hour drive from San Francisco Airport (which is the closest international airport) to Yosemite. From Yosemite to Sequoia, it is then about a 2.5 hour drive.

If you are flying domestically, you could fly into Fresno Airport (FAT) to cut down on your driving as it is only 2.5 hours drive from Fresno to Yosemite versus the 3.5 hours from San Francisco.

🎫 National Parks Pass

To visit Yosemite and Sequoia, you will need to obtain a National Parks Pass. As you are spending a few days in the parks, it is worth purchasing an annual America the Beautiful pass. This pass lets you visit as many USA national parks as you want for a whole year!

🌲👉 Get your America the Beautiful pass here!

👉 Yosemite Day Permits

2026 Update: Yosemite National Park announced it will no longer use a timed reservation system in 2026. The decision follows a comprehensive evaluation of traffic patterns, parking availability and visitor use during the 2025 season.

📆 Best time of the year to do a Yosemite & Sequoia trip

Summer

The most popular and busiest time to visit both Yosemite and Sequoia is during Summer which can be can be extremely hot. It’s also the time we decided to do our road trip. We were there smack bang in the middle of a heatwave and it was almost unbearable in the middle of the day.

The good thing about Summer is that if it does get too hot, there are plenty of places to jump into the water to cool off in Yosemite and trees to hike under in Sequoia.

Fall

Fall is a really beautiful time to visit both of these parks and great for photography! The weather can be a little less predictable than during the Summer though, with more rainy days.

Yosemite has big-leaf maples, black oaks and other trees that turn bright shades of orange, yellow and red during Fall. The best time to visit Yosemite to see the Fall colours is around mid-October.

Although the colours are stunning, the waterfalls will likely only be a trickle or completely dried up so if you are going to see the famous Yosemite Falls, I would recommend visiting during Spring or early Summer.

Fall also means less crowds in both Sequoia and Yosemite!

Winter

You could definitely do this trip during the Winter, however many parts of Yosemite do close during Winter.

Closed sections of the park include:

The road to Glacier Point
Tioga Road
The road to Mariposa Grove
The Yosemite Falls Trail just past Oh My Gosh Point
The Mist Trail

One of the exciting things about visiting Yosemite in Winter is that you can go iceskating at the rink at Curry Village! From the rink you have views of Half Dome.

Then in February, the annual Firefall happens which is a popular event amongst photographers.

Winter in Sequoia is absolutely magical! It can get very snowy in Sequoia, so you will need to be extra prepared with Winter tires and snow chains for your car and snow shoes and / or micro spikes to walk around in.

Spring

Spring is a pretty good time for this road trip because Yosemite’s waterfalls will be at their the best and the Summer crowds won’t have started yet. However, if you choose to visit Yosemite and Sequoia in the Spring, I recommend going in late Spring to try to get there after the snow has melted and the roads have all opened back up.

🛌 Where to stay in Yosemite & Sequoia National Parks

In both Yosemite and Sequoia, you can choose between camping and staying in a hotel. I highly recommend booking your accommodation as soon as you have dates set so that you don’t miss out because both of these places book out FAST!

Where to stay in Yosemite National Park

Okay let’s start with Yosemite. For Yosemite, I recommend staying in Yosemite Valley, because then you are smack bang in the middle of where all of the best sights are and also the restaurants.

Yosemite Valley Lodge is right in the middle of everything and is within walking distance to many of the trails and cafes and restaurants. The Ahwahnee is beautiful hotel but a little more pricey with an outdoor pool and onsite fine dining restaurant and a bar.

If you want to save some money and camp or just camp for the experience, the best Yosemite campgrounds to go for are North Pines, Lower Pines and Upper Pines because they are all in the same general area in Yosemite Valley. We made the mistake of staying in Wawona Campground which was a massive 1 hour drive every time we wanted to go anywhere in the park. You can book the Yosemite campgrounds on the recreation.gov website.

🚿 Campers Tip: There are no showers in any of the campgrounds, however, there is one located at the Curry Village Shower house.

Where to stay in Sequoia National Park

You can choose to stay either in Sequoia National Park or in Three Rivers, which is the closest town to Sequoia National Park (approx 1 hours drive from the main sights).

If you choose to stay inside the park, the Wuksachi Lodge is conveniently located only a 6 minute drive from the General Sherman Tree and the Congress Trail. The lodge has a lovely patio area with fire pits, a restaurant and overall super cozy forest vibes!

Alternatively, The Gateway Restaurant and Lodge are located in Three Rivers, making it more affordable. Being in Three Rivers, you also have access to lots more restaurants than if you were to stay in the park itself.

For my top options on where to stay in or near Sequoia National Park, read my where to stay guide here.

Yosemite and Sequoia National Park Itinerary

If you use this guide exactly, your 5 day road trip will start in Yosemite, however, you can always switch the parks around if you would prefer. I want to emphasise how busy Yosemite is and so you should aim to get into the park nice and early on your first day there by around 8am to beat the crowds and get a parking spot.

You might find it less stressful to park in one of the parking lots in Yosemite Valley and catch the shuttle so that you don’t get stuck without a parking spot at some point during the day. This happened to us a few times as we were silly and did not utilise the shuttles.

Day 1 – Yosemite National Park

Arrive in Yosemite and head to Bridal Falls

Distance: 1.3km / 0.8 miles | Elevation: 35m / 114 ft | Time: 20-30 minutes

Once you arrive in Yosemite, if you don’t need to grab food, head straight to Bridal Falls. If you need food, you can get it from Yosemite Village or Curry Village.

Bridalveil FAlls in Yosemite National Park

Bridal Veil Falls is a short and sweet walk to the waterfall viewpoint. It’s a super popular trail and was very busy when we were there but definitely worth it because the waterfall is huge! If you need to fill up your drink bottles, there is a bottle fill up station next to the Bridal Veil Falls Restrooms at the parking lot.

Take in the view on the Cooks Meadow Trail

Driving time from Bridal Veil Falls: 10 minutes

Distance: 1.6km / 1 mile | Elevation: Flat | Time: 30 minutes

Girl standing in Cook's MEadow with Yosemite Falls behind her

couple walking on the Cooks Meadow boardwalk in Yosemite

The Cooks Meadow Trail is an easy and very flat trail that takes you through Yosemite Valley where you will see views of Yosemite Falls, Glacier Point, Sentinel Rock and Half Dome. It is great for the whole family! You can start the trail from either the Yosemite Valley Visitors Centre or the Lower Yosemite Falls shuttle stop (shuttle stop #6).

If you are driving and cannot find parking at the above mentioned locations, you can park literally anywhere along the trail where there is a parking lot. We parked at the Sentinel Bridge Parking Area which is actually a really great spot for photos because you get a view of the meadows with Yosemite Falls in the background.

Stop at Tunnel View for sunset

Driving time from Cooks Meadow Trail: 15 minutes

couple sitting on wall looking out at tunnel view in Yosemite just after sunset

Tunnel View is one of the BEST viewpoints in Yosemite and probably the most photographed one. If you think of a postcard shot of Yosemite, it is Tunnel View. You can get to this incredible viewpoint by just pulling off the main road into the Tunnel View parking lot.

Dave and I cooked our Burrito dinner in the parking lot at Tunnel View and ate it watching the sunset at the viewpoint. CORE MEMORY RIGHT THERE. 😍

Day 2 – Yosemite National Park

Hike to Vernal Falls on the Mist Trail

Distance: 5km / 3.1 miles | Elevation: 345m / 1,131 ft | Time: 2-2.5 hours

Writing about this hike makes me sad because we missed it. The reason being was that the parking lot was already full every single time we tried to park there. Therefore, I recommend heading there FIRST thing in the morning so that YOU don’t miss out like we did.

You may be wondering why Vernal Falls is on this itinerary but Upper Yosemite Falls isn’t. It is simply because Vernal Falls is supposed to have better views.

Check out Lower Yosemite Falls

Driving time from Mist Trail Trailhead: 8 minutes

Distance: 1.9km / 1.2 miles | Elevation: 17m / 55 ft | Time: 25-30 minutes

Photo of Lower Yosemite Falls through the trees

I haven’t put upper Yosemite Falls in this itinerary but I have included Lower Yosemite Falls because honestly, you get more bang for your buck with regards to the views compared with the amount of hiking effort.

The downside to Lower Yosemite Falls is that it is literally always packed with people, but that is because it is one of the most accessible trails (wheelchair and stroller accessible) in the park. Dogs are also allowed on this trail.

Go for a swim in the Merced River

Driving time depends on where abouts you swim.

man doing a dive bomb into the Merced river where his wife is already in the water

Swimming in the Merced River was one of our favourite things that we did in Yosemite because it was so so hot! We swam at a few different swimming spots in Yosemite. You can also rent a raft from Curry Village Raft Rental and float down the River.

Stroll around Yosemite Village and grab dinner

In Yosemite Village, you will find a village store, a museum and art gallery and a deli. If you are looking for somewhere to have lunch, I recommend heading over to Curry Village or the Yosemite Lodge Food Court.

Day 3- Yosemite National Park

Watch the sunrise from Glacier Point

Distance: 800m / 2,624 ft | Time: 15 minutes

Get ready for THE BEST VIEW OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK! Apart from Taft Point, Glacier Point was my very favourite viewpoint in Yosemite. It is only a short walk from the parking lot to the view, where you will see Yosemite Valley, Half Dome and Yosemite Falls.

If you are used to getting up for sunrise on your travels, you are probably used to getting a lot of amazing views to yourself. In this case however, don’t expect to have the viewpoint to yourself. We went to Glacier Point for sunrise and there was loads of other people there. We were actually shocked at how busy it was! Probably the busiest sunrise I have ever experienced!

Hike the Panorama Trail

Distance: 14.6km / 9.07 miles | Elevation: 694m / 2,276 ft | Time: 5 hours

If you are feeling up to it I have heard that the Panorama Trail is really beautiful! The Panorama Trail Trailhead is located at Glacier Point so you won’t need to drive anywhere. Along the trail, you will pass Illilouette Falls and Panorama Point, which is a viewpoint along the edge of a cliff with beautiful views of Yosemite Valley.

Stop at Washburn Overlook

Driving time from Glacier Point: 4 minutes

Photo of Washburn Overlook in Yosemite during the day

On your way to Taft Point, you should definitely stop at Washburn Overlook because it is on the way. From the overlook, you can see Half Dome, Illilouette, Nevada and Vernal Falls. The viewpoint is right next to the parking lot too so you don’t need to even walk anywhere.

Hike to Taft Point for sunset

Driving time from Washburn Point: 4 minutes

Distance: 3.7km / 2.3 miles | Elevation: 108m / 354 ft | Time: 1-1.5 hours

Girl standing on rock edge at Taft Point in Yosemite at Sunset

Taft Point is one of the best sunset spots and best photo spots in Yosemite! It is a super popular spot for elopement photographers as well because of the epic golden light that you get at sunrise and sunset over the enormous valley.

📷 Read about hiking to Taft Point and its many incredible photo spots!

Day 4 – Sequoia National Park

Do the Big Trees Trail

girl standing amongst giant Sequoia Trees in Sequoia National Park

The Big Trees Trail is one of the easiest trails in Sequoia National Park. It is stroller and wheelchair accessible and great for the whole family. Most of the trail takes you around the forest on a boardwalk. I recommend getting up and doing this one first thing in the morning because it’s so magical with the morning light.

Explore Crystal Caves

Driving time from Big Trees Trail: 30 minutes

Crystal Cave is not something that we realised was located in Sequoia National Park, until we got there. In a nutshell, Crystal Cave is a marble cavern. The only way to see the inside of the cave is by joining a 50 minute tour.

Note: Tickets are not available for purchase at the cave and will need to be pre-purchased online before you arrive.

Hike up to Moro Rock for sunset

Driving time from Crystal Caves: 35 minutes

Distance: 0.5 miles / 0.8km return | Elevation: 250 ft / 76m | Time: 20-30 minutes

Girl sitting at viewpoint at Moro Rock at sunset

Moro Rock is one of the best sunset spots in Sequoia National Park. The hike takes you straight up a granite rock face using stairs which are built into the rock itself. From the top, you have amazing 360 degree views of the valley and surrounding mountains.

⚠ WARNING: Not recommended for people afraid of heights.

Day 5 – Sequoia National Park

Tunnel Log Drive Through

Tunnel Log is a sequoia that fell over in 1937 and rather than remove it, the workers decided to cut a hole through it for cars to get through, making it what it is today, a very popular tourist attraction and instagram photo spot.

If you are looking for the best photo spots in Sequoia National Park, you have just stumbled across one of them! It does get super busy here though which is why I have put it down as the first thing to do on your last day of the trip. I recommend getting up for sunrise if you can and heading straight to the photo spot.

If you cannot get there for sunrise, just make sure you get there before 8am, because the road closes to private vehicles after 8am so that the shuttles have full access of the road.

Marvel at General Sherman

Driving time from Tunnel Log Drive Through: 12 minutes

Distance: 1.2 miles / 1.9km return | Elevation: 196 ft / 60m | Time: 30-40 minutes

General Sherman tree in Sequoia National Park

General Sherman is the largest tree in the world (by width)! The trail is pretty short but uphill on the way back. It will take you around 15-20 minutes one way.

Hike the Congress Trail

Distance: 2.9 miles / 4.7km return | Elevation: 482ft / 147m | Time: 1.5 hours

The Congress Trail Sequoia National Park

The Congress Trail is located along the same trail as General Sherman so you won’t need to drive anywhere but instead, can just continue on along the trail.

The Congress Trail is one of the best trails in Sequoia National Park to see the most famous clusters of the Giant Sequoia Trees. You can also join one of the free park ranger tours which is what we did. You will learn SO much more about the Sequoia Trees than if you do the hike by yourself.

These tours run throughout the day and you don’t need to sign up. You can just join. Ask at the visitors centre to find out what time they are on.

Visit the Giant Forest Museum

Driving time from Congress Trail: 6 minutes

The Giant Forest Museum is a museum where you can learn facts and about the history of the Giant Forest area of Sequoia National Park, including its giant sequoias, meadows, and also the human history of the area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I pack for Yosemite and Sequoia National Park

Day backpack
t-shirts
shorts
leggings
jeans
Swim Suit
fleece
casual jumper
Towel
America the Beautiful Pass

Camera!
Tevas
Flip flops
Hiking boots or trail runners
Summer dress
Trackies for van life or camping pjs – if you are camping
Bug Spray
Sunscreen
Hat

How tall is Bridal Veil Falls in Yosemite?

Bridal Veil Falls is a whopping 617 ft / 188 metres!

Why is Tunnel View in Yosemite, called Tunnel View?

Tunnel View got its name from the tunnel that you enter just before you reach the viewpoint. The tunnel literally ends and opens up at the Tunnel View viewpoint, hence the name “Tunnel” View.

Can you do Yosemite and Sequoia in a day?

I would not recommend trying to see Yosemite and Sequoia in one day because after factoring in the 2.5 hour travel time from one park to the other, you are not left with much time in your day to see all of the best spots. There is SO much to see in each park that you would need AT LEAST 1 day in each.