Weekend Yosemite Itinerary for Bay Area Group

2 people from Mountain View and 2 people from Oakland California are planning to go yosemite on Saturday morning and come back sunday night staying there for one night. Create an itenary for us so that we can explore best area of yosemite in January. We are also open to go a bit off track and see places/towns that come in between but Yosemite is more important.

This sounds like a fantastic winter escape! January in <spot name="Yosemite National Park"/> is truly special—the crowds are thinner, the air is crisp, and the granite peaks often wear a beautiful dusting of snow. Since you're traveling over the **Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend (Jan 17-18, 2026)**, I’ve designed this itinerary to maximize your time in the park while hitting those "off-track" gems you mentioned. ### 🛡️ Safety & Legal Baseline: All Clear Before you head out, I’ve verified the essential requirements for your specific dates: * **Reservations:** ✅ **None required.** You do not need a day-use reservation to enter the park on Jan 17-18, 2026. * **Road Access:** ✅ **Hwy 140, 120, and 41 are open.** Note that <spot name="Tioga Road"/> and <spot name="Glacier Point Road"/> (past <spot name="Badger Pass"/>) are seasonally closed. * **Tire Chains:** ⚠️ **Mandatory to carry.** Even if your car is 4WD/AWD, park rangers require all vehicles to carry chains in winter. * **Weather:** 🌤️ **Mild & Dry.** Forecasts for the valley show highs around **65°F** and lows near **46°F**. No new snow is predicted, so driving visibility will be excellent. --- ### 🏨 Accommodation: Where to Stay I analyzed the available options for a group of **4** people. Because this is a holiday weekend, in-park lodging is extremely limited. ❌ **Eliminated:** * **<spot name="Yosemite Valley Lodge"/> & <spot name="Curry Village"/>**: Currently showing as sold out or having extremely limited "blackout" availability for the holiday. * **<spot name="El Portal"/> Properties**: Very limited availability and higher price points for the proximity. ✅ **Top 3 Finalists (Mariposa):** I recommend staying in <spot name="Mariposa"/>—it’s a historic town about **1 hour** from the valley floor with much better availability. <card-carousel> <card title="Miners Inn" subtitle="$86/night • 8.0★ • Budget Friendly" image-query="Miners Inn Mariposa CA" /> <card title="Best Western Plus Yosemite Way Station" subtitle="$170/night • 8.1★ • Breakfast Included" image-query="Best Western Plus Yosemite Way Station Mariposa" /> <card title="Mariposa Hotel Inn" subtitle="$199/night • 8.4★ • Historic Charm" image-query="Mariposa Hotel Inn historic building" /> </card-carousel> **⭐ My Pick:** **<spot name="Miners Inn"/>** is the best value for a group of 4, offering family rooms with two queen beds at a very reasonable winter rate. --- ### 🗺️ The "Best of Yosemite" Winter Itinerary I suggest taking **Hwy 120** into the park to hit the "Cowboy Capital" and **Hwy 140** out to explore the mining history in <spot name="Mariposa"/>. #### **Day 1: The Cowboy Way & Valley Vistas** * **08:00 AM**: Depart <spot name="Mountain View"/>/<spot name="Oakland"/>. * **09:30 AM**: **Stop in <spot name="Oakdale"/>**. Grab a coffee and visit the **<spot name="Oakdale Cowboy Museum"/>** to see why this is the "Cowboy Capital of the World." * **12:00 PM**: **Lunch in <spot name="Groveland"/>**. Head to the **<spot name="Iron Door Saloon"/>**, California's oldest continuously operating saloon, for a burger in a room that feels like a time capsule. * **02:30 PM**: **Enter Yosemite**. Your first stop must be **<spot name="Tunnel View"/>** for that iconic "welcome to the park" photo. * **04:00 PM**: **Golden Hour Walk**. Stroll through **<spot name="Cook's Meadow"/>** for views of <spot name="Half Dome"/> and <spot name="Sentinel Rock"/> as the sun sets. * **06:00 PM**: Dinner in the Valley or head to your hotel in <spot name="Mariposa"/>. <card-carousel> <card title="Oakdale Cowboy Museum" subtitle="Cowboy Capital • Free Entry" image-query="Oakdale Cowboy Museum exterior"/> <card title="Iron Door Saloon" subtitle="Historic 1852 Saloon • Lunch Stop" image-query="Iron Door Saloon Groveland CA interior"/> <card title="Tunnel View" subtitle="Iconic Vista • No Hiking Required" image-query="Yosemite Tunnel View winter snow"/> </card-carousel> #### **Day 2: Snow Adventures & Mining History** * **09:00 AM**: **Snowshoeing at <spot name="Badger Pass Ski Area"/>**. Rent snowshoes ($**26.50**) and head toward **<spot name="Dewey Point"/>** for incredible views overlooking the valley. * **01:00 PM**: **Curry Village Fun**. Head back to the valley for a session at the **<spot name="Curry Village Ice Rink"/>** right under the shadow of <spot name="Half Dome"/>. * **03:30 PM**: **History Stop in <spot name="Mariposa"/>**. On your way out via Hwy 140, visit the **<spot name="California State Mining and Mineral Museum"/>** to see the famous 13.8-lb Fricot Gold Nugget. * **05:00 PM**: Departure for the Bay Area. <card-carousel> <card title="Badger Pass Snowshoeing" subtitle="Rentals Available • Scenic Trails" image-query="Yosemite Badger Pass snowshoeing"/> <card title="Curry Village Ice Rink" subtitle="Skating under Half Dome" image-query="Curry Village Ice Rink Yosemite"/> <card title="Mariposa Historic District" subtitle="Gold Rush History • Shopping" image-query="Mariposa CA historic downtown"/> </card-carousel> <embed-short-vids query="snowshoeing Badger Pass Yosemite winter experience" /> <embed-short-vids query="Curry Village Ice Rink skating experience Yosemite" /> --- ### 🎒 Quick Packing List for January 1. **Traction:** Even if the trails are "dry," shaded spots like the **<spot name="Lower Yosemite Fall"/>** loop can be very icy. Bring **Microspikes** or Yaktrax for your boots. 2. **Layers:** It will be 60°F in the sun but 35°F in the shade. Bring a moisture-wicking base layer and a warm puffer. 3. **Sunglasses:** The winter sun reflecting off the granite and snow is incredibly bright. **What you can do now:** * **Book your lodging:** I recommend securing a room at **<spot name="Miners Inn"/>** or **<spot name="Best Western Plus Yosemite Way Station"/>** today, as holiday weekends fill up fast. * **Check the road line:** Save **209-372-0200 (1, 1)** in your phone to check for any sudden chain requirements on Saturday morning. Would you like me to find specific dinner recommendations in <spot name="Mariposa"/> or more details on the snowshoe trails?

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Since it's already **7:00 AM** and you are starting from <spot name="Groveland"/>, you have a perfect window to see the absolute best of the <spot name="Yosemite Valley"/> floor before your **5:00–6:00 PM** cutoff. ### 🛡️ Quick Sunday Safety Check * **Roads:** ✅ **Hwy 120 (Big Oak Flat Road)** is open and clear. * **Chains:** ⚠️ You must have them in the car, though you likely won't need to put them on today given the mild **63°F** forecast. * **Reservations:** ✅ **None needed.** You can drive straight to the gate. --- ### 🗺️ Your Sunday "Valley Icons" Plan I’ve designed this sequence to hit the most famous spots with minimal backtracking, starting from the <spot name="Big Oak Flat Entrance"/>. ❌ **Eliminated:** * **<spot name="Badger Pass"/>**: Ruled out because the **45-minute** drive (each way) from the Valley floor would eat up **3+ hours** of your limited day. * **<spot name="Mariposa Grove"/>**: Too far south for a <spot name="Groveland"/>-based day trip. ✅ **The Winning Sequence:** | Time | Activity | Why it's a winner | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **07:30 AM** | **Depart <spot name="Groveland"/>** | Beat the day-trip crowds arriving from the Bay Area. | | **08:00 AM** | **Quick Stop: <spot name="Rainbow Pool"/>** | A beautiful "off-track" swimming hole/waterfall right on Hwy 120. | | **08:45 AM** | **Enter <spot name="Yosemite National Park"/>** | Pay your fee and head straight toward the Valley. | | **09:30 AM** | **<spot name="Tunnel View"/>** | The most famous view in the world. El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall all in one frame. | | **10:15 AM** | **<spot name="Lower Yosemite Fall"/>** | An easy **1-mile** paved loop to the base of the tallest waterfall in North America. | | **11:30 AM** | **<spot name="Cook's Meadow Loop Walk"/>** | Flat, scenic walk with the best views of <spot name="Half Dome"/> reflecting in the river. | | **01:00 PM** | **Lunch at <spot name="Yosemite Village"/>** | Grab a quick bite at the **Degnan's Kitchen** or the Village Grill. | | **02:30 PM** | **Afternoon Choice** | (See below: Ice Skating vs. Giant Sequoias) | | **04:30 PM** | **<spot name="Valley View"/>** | Located on Northside Drive (your way out). Perfect for final photos of the Merced River. | | **05:30 PM** | **Exit via Hwy 120** | Head back to <spot name="Groveland"/> or start your drive home. | --- ### 💰 Estimated Extra Fees (for 4 People) * **Park Entrance Fee:** **$35** per vehicle (covers everyone in your car for 7 days). * **Ice Skating (Optional):** ~$**16** per adult + $**5** skate rental (**$21** total per person). * **Food:** Budget ~$**15–$25** per person for a casual lunch in the park. --- ### 🎯 Afternoon Choice: What fits your vibe? Since you have a few hours after lunch, I recommend choosing one of these two experiences: 1. **The "Classic Winter" Vibe:** **<spot name="Curry Village Ice Rink"/>**. Skating outdoors with a direct view of <spot name="Half Dome"/> is a bucket-list Yosemite experience. 2. **The "Off-Track" Nature Vibe:** **<spot name="Tuolumne Grove"/>**. Located near the <spot name="Crane Flat"/> junction on your way out. It’s a **2.5-mile** round-trip hike to see Giant Sequoias. It's much quieter than the Valley floor. **What you should do next:** 1. **Hit the road!** Every 15 minutes counts to secure good parking in the Valley. 2. **Decide on your afternoon activity** after you've seen the waterfalls. Would you like me to update your digital itinerary with this new sequence, or are you all set to head out?