Category: Yosemite

One Day Trip To Yosemite From Fresno

The Fresnan Leave a comment

Best Options For a One-Day Trip To Yosemite From Fresno!

You’re in Fresno and loving it I am sure *wink*. But sometimes you want to visit one of the most beautiful places on the planet, Yosemite, but still want to get back to Fresno by the end of the day. What do you do?

What to Do During Your One-Day Trip to Yosemite

Even though your time in Yosemite will be limited, you can still visit some of the park’s most iconic attractions.

First, remember that it currently costs $30 to get into Yosemite. And reservations are also required to get in during busier times of the year. Check this site for Yosemite entrance reservations.

With that, here are a few must-see one-day spots you should aim for if you’re runnin’ up that hill from Fresno (linked to Google Maps location):

tunnel-view-1024x768 One Day Trip To Yosemite From Fresno

1. Tunnel View
Start your day by taking in the breathtaking panoramic view of Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View. This lookout provides an incredible vantage point of El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, and Half Dome. It’s a great place for photos and a perfect introduction to the park’s grandeur.

2. Yosemite Falls
Yosemite Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in North America, and it’s especially impressive in the spring when snowmelt fuels its flow. You can take a short walk to the base of the falls or enjoy the view from several points around the park.

3. Glacier Point
If time permits, head to Glacier Point for some of the most stunning views in Yosemite. From this viewpoint, you can see the entire Yosemite Valley, including Half Dome, El Capitan, and the High Sierra peaks. It’s a bit of a drive, but the view is worth it.

Heads up: Glacier Point Road (the way in) is often closed during the Winter.

Check Yosemite road conditions by calling 209-372-0200 and by checking this page.

4. Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
If you have extra time, consider visiting the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, home to some of the oldest and largest trees in the world. The Grizzly Giant and the California Tunnel Tree are particularly popular.

This is also the best option if you have very little time but want to see something significant in Yosemite, as it is the first thing you can do after you get through the South Gate entrance on 41. Worth noting, this is closed in the Winter often, check here to see when – pretty sure you can always hike in though, but there is a shuttle that brings you in the rest of the time.

How to Get to Yosemite from Fresno

merced-river-1024x768 One Day Trip To Yosemite From Fresno

To make the most of your one-day trip, planning your route is important. That said, I am a wing-it kind of person and since you’re coming from Fresno, you have some freedom to wing. Anyway, here’s a quick guide to getting from Fresno to Yosemite:

  • Route: The most direct route to Yosemite is Highway 41 (aka “up the hill”), which will take you through the South Entrance (also known as the Arch Rock Entrance). This is the easiest and quickest way to reach the park from Fresno.
  • Drive Time: The drive is 1 to 2 hours, depending on traffic, where in Fresno you’re coming from, and weather conditions, so plan it out to get your full day in the park; leave early. Be sure to check the road conditions before your trip, especially in the winter months. Side note: Yosemite is big so drive time estimates are loose.
  • Best Time to Visit: While Yosemite is beautiful year-round, spring and fall are considered the best times for a day trip, due to pleasant weather and fewer crowds. However, early summer is popular for visitors who want to experience the park’s waterfalls and hiking trails at their fullest. But that means it is packed most Summer days, especially holiday weekends.
half-dome-1024x768 One Day Trip To Yosemite From Fresno
I took this of Half Dome in August of 2024

Tips for a Successful Day Trip to Yosemite

Arrive Early: Since you’ll have limited time, getting an early start is key. Arriving early ensures you have a full day of exploration and gives you the best chance to avoid the busiest crowds.

  • Pack Essentials: Even if you’re just going for a day, pack a backpack with water, snacks, sunscreen, and a camera. Layers of clothes too, as temperatures can vary throughout the day. Thunderstorms can even pop up when you think there is no way.
  • Be Mindful of Time: With so much to see, it’s easy to get caught up in the beauty of Yosemite. However, remember that you’ll need to head back to Fresno in the evening. Set a time to leave the park so you’re not rushed on your way home. You can even have time to stop for dinner in Oakhurst at one of my favorite places, South Gate Brewing.

Stay The Night Instead!

I know you’re trying to get back to Fresno (hey, I don’t blame ya) but you may want to stay, the top three suggestions on where to stay inside Yosemite for the night:

  • Yosemite Valley Lodge – Great for families, my go-to. Worth noting, there is no AC so it does get hot in the Summer trying to sleep.
  • The Ahwahnee – Good if you’re trying to impress your date.
  • Curry Village – When you want it cheap and can rough it slightly.

More options for booking a place to stay in Yosemite can be found here.

Get Stoked, You’re Going To Yosemite!

A one-day trip from Fresno to Yosemite offers a convenient escape to one of the most stunning national parks in the world. Whether you’re admiring the view from Tunnel View, hiking to Yosemite Falls, or marveling at the ancient giant sequoias, the memories you create will last a lifetime. While a single day doesn’t allow for an in-depth exploration, it’s the perfect way to experience Yosemite’s highlights without straying too far from home. Start planning your adventure today, and let the beauty of Yosemite take your breath away.

Why Did Amtrak Do Fresno Like That?!

The Fresnan
amtrack-sun-912x1024 Why Did Amtrak Do Fresno Like That?!

Man, are you seein’ what I’m seeing there?

Amtrack went on their Instagram and decided to drag us.

Every city got its own emoji to represent the town. And what did Fresno get?: The fucking Sun.

That is messed up. What is Fresno’s best feature? The Sun blasts your ass.

You couldn’t have given us almond, or grape, or taco, or Kopi? Well, maybe there isn’t a taco or almond emoji, whatever…but the Sun!? Fuckers.

Side note: Can you get to Yosemite via an Amtrack bus or something because why youz got Yosemite up there?… OH SNAP, I almost forgot about Yarts! The Yarts bus comes by Fresno Yosemite International and the Fresno Amtrak station and it will take ya right on up.

Although the Fresno info on the Yarts schedule seems to be a moving target at the moment, but cool reminder for YARTS.

Whenever I see the Yarts bus going through town I yell out “YARTS!” like a big dipshit because I think it’s cool and I know those people are going into Yosemite.

Fresno As A ‘Basecamp’ For Stuff, Put To The Test

The Fresnan 2 Comments
b6845aa5-9c3a-4bc7-a921-c1727bdeb113 Fresno As A ‘Basecamp’ For Stuff, Put To The Test
Downtown Fresno shots by Nick Pisano at the Road Goes On Forever

I have always said that Fresno is a great basecamp for visiting the Sierras, most notably our three nearby National Parks: Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Sequoia. But I had never really known of someone that actually did it – someone not from here anyway.

A dude named Nick Pisano is spending a year traveling (sounds like a sweet gig if you can get it) with his partner and recently spent a couple weeks using Fresno as a basecamp.

This long blog post by Nick documents his use of Fresno as a base for visiting our nearby parks and … Bakersfield ?‍♀️ -that is actually a cool part to me, but anyway.

https://twitter.com/npisano/status/1532132868310282240?s=21

It is a overall good blog post illustrating how a tourist can use Fresno as a basecamp, I want to make that clear. 

Buuuuut.

He gave us several shots throughout the post. He tried to be nice about it, but definitely didn’t pass up on chance to deal in digs:

“Not a lot going on here”

“I’ve gone out in search of Fresno, as it were, multiple times here and come up relatively empty each time.”

“relatively sleepy”

“The key to enjoying this city is lowering your expectations”

“a kinda bad city next to some very good things”

“I say this with the utmost respect, but there’s just not a terrible lot going on here. In some ways, it’s the least-happening place we’ve been.”

Woah. Pretty rough.

I will give him credit for going to a Fresno Grizzlies game, the Tower District, and bonus points for visiting the Underground Gardens. He seemed to enjoy those, as he should.

He certainly didn’t do all the things though.

In fact, one major mistake: He did not seem to have much (if any) Mexican food – most notably no mention of tacos:

Yep, you KNOW Mike Oz is taking that dude on the taco tour of his life next time.

Speaking of food, going out to eat is a feature for Fresnans. Part of our culture is eating out. When someone visits us, we plan on eating places. It is a “thing to do”. 

You can make fun of that if you like but I think it’s cool. It’s a Fresno feature that is underrated. 

Also, this guy seemed to not be familiar with the concept of a small city. A working class city. A city for living a life.

Not every town is built to give a shit about tourists. Fresno is one of them.

We don’t have a beach. We don’t have Disneyland. There are no longer any cable cars. A Hollywood sign doesn’t loom over the town. We don’t have a Vegas Strip. We have no plan for someone hanging out for two weeks.

What our “sleepy town” has is people working their ass off and living a life.

Fresno: California’s Base Camp

The Fresnan
C6BDDD8F-E38F-4B82-8516-D586CB9870DF Fresno: California’s Base Camp
Yosemite Valley Pic by @markian.b on Instagram

People can shit on this and I get it, you shouldn’t brag about things not technically in your city, but hey man: it’s pretty fucking cool we can get to everything rad in California by lunch time.

  • Tahoe
  • Yosemite
  • San Diego
  • Your Mom’s
  • Monterey
  • Las Vegas (ok it’s Nevada, but still)
  • San Francisco
  • Disneyland
  • Shasta (a late lunch)
  • Russian River Brewery

ALL BY LUNCH!!

1C97256F-FC5E-412E-A25C-7D9BBC5FCA6C Fresno: California’s Base Camp
Zachary’s Deep Dish Pic by @restaurantgroupie on Instagram

I can go have a pizza at Zachary’s in Berkeley right now, FUCKING WATCH ME.

Then go have some beers at Faction and look at this view:

F36DCC5B-CCED-45E2-AF86-A37E55CF54D4 Fresno: California’s Base Camp

Then have some sucker drive my buzzed-ass back home for tacos in downtown Fresno, LIKE. A. KING!

AE2C9DD4-D608-4F84-9943-E9C56A44CB75 Fresno: California’s Base Camp

Can Austin say that? Fucking Kansas City? Chicago? Atlanta? Boston? Pittsburgh? Either of the Portlands?

NO! They cant say these things! Cities don’t talk.

But if they could? Well, they would say “I wish I was where Fresno is.”

How Are We Going To Make Fresno “Cool”, Yo?

The Fresnan 19 Comments

Phoenix-rootop-bar How Are We Going To Make Fresno "Cool", Yo?

We have a problem here. A problem I bounce around in a post from time to time but never take on directly.

What will it take for Fresno to be considered a cool city?

If you’re thinking “Hey, but wait, I already think it’s cool!” I don’t disagree with you, but we both have to acknowledge that we are in the minority, chief.

How do we make Fresno appear cool to an outsider? This is what I’m talking about. To a Fresno State grad, we lost to brain drain? What can we do to win that person back? It’s a question that Fresno creatives have been wrestling with for many years.

First. The Immovable Object.

We are land locked, no getting around that. Except that we are not as landlocked as Denver, or Boise, or Dallas, or Every City Not On The Ocean. We can go to the beach for a morning surf session and be back in town for a late lunch.

So while this is tough, we have workarounds, it could be a lot worse.

The air sucks. It does. But, the past couple years, it feeeeels like it has gotten better?  And if California can (continue?) to lead in clean air…stuff and things? Maybe I’m being naive but I feel like future technology and regulations will make the terrible air a thing of the past. But we definitely need to be a lead-city on clean air initiatives.

Booze May Be An Answer.

Here might be a cool city suggestion we can work on:

Rooftop whiskey bars, eh? I definitely like the idea of rooftop things – like the pic at the top of the post from a Phoenix rooftop bar. And adding a niche element like whiskey is the kind of thing that pushes something from being “Oh that, you can find that in every city.” To “Oh that is rad, I wish we had one of those in our city.”

That unique, “can’t put my finger on it why it’s cool but I just know it’s cool” thing is really what we need to get at here in Fresno.

Touting our agriculture backbone. Being sunny almost every damn day. Embracing our sports, like the soccer community that gets bigger every year:

We’re just spitballing here.

The Cool Roots Are Taking Hold.

We have things already going for us. Not many cities can boast that they are a “basecamp city” to three National Parks. One of which, Yosemite, is considered by many to hold the most beautiful place in the world, Yosemite Valley – and I am in complete agreement with that.

There are other signs of coolness brewing as well. Bitwise pushing Fresno into the tech and startup scene is a big one. The rising craft beer and coffee scene. Branding ourselves as the Capitol of Tacos. These are the kind of things to ride into the cool town sunset.

So let’s tally up some of the cool stuff we got and the stuff we can do more of:

  • Agriculture.
  • Craft Beer – even more breweries.
  • Bitwise and tech.
  • Tacos.
  • Sports – including soccer.
  • Diversity.
  • Leader In Clean Air.
  • Outdoor city – more trails, parks, and owning the Sierra Nevada closeness.

This is but a humble start of a list by a blogger that only went as far as Fresno City College – a great community college, btw. I know only bits and pieces of things. So I choose you to comment and help.

What are some of your suggestions? Leave a comment! On the August episode of Flowing With Famous, myself and Joshua Tehee will parse them out and talk about them on the podcast.

Cool? Cool.