NorCal Coast Run Jason, Karen, Sierra & Christian · June 2026

Day 7 Road Guide

Date:Friday, June 12, 2026 Crew:Jason, Karen, Sierra, Christian Sleep:Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite (Fish Camp) — needs booking
Manteca → Yosemite (Big Oak Flat entrance) → Yosemite Valley → Glacier Point → Fish Camp (south side)
Book lodging ASAP. Yosemite-area lodging for June fills up fast. 2-3 weeks out is late for inside-park rooms; outside-park options (Tenaya Lodge, Yosemite View Lodge, Oakhurst chains) still have availability. See sleep section below.

Route Map

Open full route in Google Maps →

Drive: Manteca → Yosemite

~2 hr · Hwy 120 east via Groveland → Big Oak Flat entrance

The drive

  • Leave Manteca by 7 AM to beat parking issues in the Valley
  • Hwy 120 east through Oakdale → Groveland → Big Oak Flat entrance
  • Fill up gas in Groveland (last cheap stop)
  • Pack snacks + water — food inside the park is limited and pricey

Park entrance ($)

  • $35 per vehicle — valid 7 days
  • No entrance reservation required in 2026 ✅ (NPS confirmed)
  • Have ID + payment ready at the entrance kiosk
  • If you have an America the Beautiful pass ($80/yr) — free entry, worth it if you do 2+ NPs per year

Tunnel View

First major viewpoint after entering Yosemite Valley · free parking

Why this is the first stop

  • The classic Ansel Adams postcard view of Yosemite Valley
  • El Capitan on the left, Bridalveil Fall on the right, Half Dome center
  • Walk from car to viewpoint: 2 minutes, completely flat
  • Best morning light = best photos
  • Parking fills by mid-morning on summer weekends

Tips

  • Go BEFORE Yosemite Valley if entering from Big Oak Flat — Tunnel View is on Hwy 41 south side, requires driving past Valley
  • OR: Do it on the way to Glacier Point later in the day (same direction)

Yosemite Valley

The core experience — flat valley floor with all the iconic landmarks

Drive-through / walk-up stops (no hiking)

  • El Capitan Meadow — pull off and stare at the 3,000-ft granite wall, often spot rock climbers (bring binoculars)
  • Bridalveil Fall — 0.5 mi paved walk to the base, ~620 ft fall, often misty (yes you'll get wet)
  • Yosemite Valley Visitor Center — exhibits, gift shop, restrooms, ranger info
  • Lower Yosemite Falls — 1 mi flat paved loop to the base of North America's tallest waterfall
  • Cooks Meadow Loop — 1 mi flat boardwalk through a meadow with Half Dome views
  • Sentinel Bridge — best Half Dome reflection photo from the bridge over the Merced River
  • The Ahwahnee Hotel — historic 1927 grand lodge, walk through the Great Lounge (free), see if Karen wants lunch in the dining room

Things to do in the Valley

  • Drive the one-way Valley loop (slow, see everything)
  • Park at Yosemite Village or Curry Village and walk between sights
  • Ride the FREE Valley shuttle bus (every 10-20 min, stops at all major sights)
  • Picnic at El Capitan Meadow or Cathedral Beach
  • Watch climbers on El Capitan with binoculars (look for colored gear specks)

Food in the Valley (limited + pricey but iconic)

  • Degnan's Kitchen (Yosemite Village) — sandwiches, salads, quickest
  • The Ahwahnee Dining Room — historic grand setting, jacket suggested for dinner (but lunch is more casual)
  • The Mountain Room Restaurant (Yosemite Valley Lodge) — full menu, more casual than Ahwahnee
  • Curry Village Pizza Patio — outdoor pizza + beer, family-friendly

Glacier Point

30 min drive up from Valley · the BIG payoff view · open by June

Why you can't skip this

  • Best overall view in Yosemite — 3,200 ft above the Valley
  • You're at eye level with Half Dome
  • See Yosemite Falls, Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall, Half Dome, the entire Valley below
  • Drive-up access — short flat walk from parking to viewpoint
  • Sunset here is otherworldly if you have time (alpenglow on Half Dome)

Tips

  • Glacier Point Road is typically open by June (closed Nov-May)
  • Drive: take Hwy 41 south out of the Valley → Glacier Point Road east, ~30 min
  • It's on the way to Fish Camp/Tenaya Lodge for tonight — natural sequence
  • Bring layers — wind picks up at the overlook

Mariposa Grove (if time)

South end of Yosemite, near Hwy 41 — on the way to Fish Camp

Giant sequoias

  • 500+ ancient giant sequoia trees — different species from the coast redwoods you saw earlier
  • Free shuttle from the Welcome Plaza to the grove (parking at Welcome Plaza)
  • Grizzly Giant — 209 ft tall, 1,800+ years old
  • California Tunnel Tree — drive-through-style tunnel cut into a sequoia (you walk through, not drive)
  • Easy paved Grizzly Giant Loop Trail (1.6 mi flat) — but you said no hiking, so just the parking-area view of Fallen Monarch is the no-effort option

Worth it?

  • If kids are toast from the Valley + Glacier Point: skip, head to hotel
  • If you have energy: 1 hour stop, see Grizzly Giant from the shuttle area
  • Right next to the south entrance (Wawona) — adds basically zero detour

Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite (Sleep — recommended)

1122 CA-41, Fish Camp, CA 93623 · (559) 683-6555 · tenayalodge.com

Why this is the family pick

  • 2 miles south of Yosemite's south entrance — closest resort to the park
  • Full-service resort: 3 restaurants, indoor + outdoor pools, hot tubs, spa, fitness center
  • Family-organized activities (s'mores, archery, kid programs)
  • Sets up Day 8 home drive south via Hwy 41 → 99 → home
  • Rate: $400-550/night peak

Cheaper alternatives if Tenaya is too pricey

Inside-park lodging (try anyway)

  • travelyosemite.com — check Yosemite Valley Lodge, Curry Village tent cabins, Wawona Hotel for last-minute cancellations
  • Most likely fully booked, but cancellations happen daily

🚨 Book this TODAY if you haven't

  • Yosemite-area lodging in June is the tightest of the whole trip
  • Tenaya Lodge: book at tenayalodge.com or (559) 683-6555
  • Compare Costco Travel — they often carry Tenaya
← Previous Day 6 · Thu Jun 11 — SF → Berkeley → Manteca