Yosemite & Yellowstone Road Trip

Itinerary

3 Nights – San Francisco
2 Nights – Yosemite National Park
3 Nights – Lake Tahoe
1 Night – Elko
1 Night – Twin Falls
4 Nights – Yellowstone National Park

✈️ UK to San Francisco (3 nights):  San Francisco, on the California coast, is the perfect place to start your trip. There’s a unique mix of things to see, including visiting the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, the classic trams that climb the city’s steep hills, bustling Chinatown, the crazy hairpins of Lombard Street and the colourful Mission District.  Towards the end of your stay, we’ll deliver your hire car to your hotel, all set for your road trip through breath-taking landscapes and destinations.

🚗 San Francisco to Yosemite National Park (2 nights):  Leaving behind the energy of San Fran, a drive inland will take you to the serene wilderness of Yosemite National Park. You’ll pass through picturesque vineyards and rolling hills before entering Yosemite, where the scenery transforms dramatically into deep valleys, towering cliffs and giant sequoias. Designated a national park in 1890, its stunning landscapes span nearly 750,000 acres. Along with El Capitan, the huge granite monolith, other must-sees include Sentinel Bridge, offering stunning views of Half Dome; Tunnel View, which provides breath-taking panoramas of Yosemite Valley; and the impressive Yosemite Falls and Glacier Point. The park can be explored via walking or cycling paths, or a free valley shuttle bus that operates in peak season connecting many of the key attractions.

🚗 Yosemite National Park to Lake Tahoe (3 nights): After soaking up Yosemite’s wonders, you’ll head to Lake Tahoe, passing through scenic mountain roads, lush forests, and pretty valleys.  It’s the largest alpine lake in North America and renowned for its remarkably clear waters and stunning scenery. Take a walk along the Tahoe Rim Trail and take in the views of the lake and surrounding mountains.  There are a wealth of water activities in the summer months including kayaking, paddleboarding, and swimming, and skiing and snowboarding in the winter.  The lake’s south shore, including South Lake Tahoe and Stateline, has great restaurants and nightlife. The north shore, home to Truckee, Tahoe City and Tahoe Vista, offers a less-developed, quieter scene with beautiful sandy beaches such as Kings Beach.

🚗 Lake Tahoe to Elko (1 night):  The drive from Lake Tahoe to Elko takes you through the stunning Sierra Nevada mountains and into Nevada’s vast desert plains, offering a scenic mix of alpine beauty, wide-open valleys, rugged mountain ranges and small desert towns. Elko itself is famed for its mining history and proximity to the Ruby Mountains.  It’s a great place to get a taste of the wild west by visiting the ‘Western Folklife Center’ or heading to the local restaurants for hearty cowboy-style meals.

🚗 Elko to Twin Falls (1 night): The drive from Elko to Twin Falls takes you from Nevada’s desert through wide-open plains towards Idaho.  As you approach Twin Falls, you’ll notice the landscape becoming lusher and greener, with a dramatic view of the Snake River Canyon as you near your destination.  Major highlights of Twin Falls include Shoshone Falls, often referred to as the ‘Niagara of the West,’ where you’ll find various locations around the falls to enjoy the incredible views.  The Perrine Bridge is another iconic landmark where you can enjoy stunning views of Snake River Canyon. The canyon itself is a beautiful destination for walking and kayaking, while Twin Falls City Park offers lots of walking trails with great views of the waterfalls.

🚗 Twin Falls to Yellowstone National Park (4 nights): Your final stop is the legendary Yellowstone National Park, spanning an incredible 3,400 square miles, and home to a wide range of wildlife, including grizzly bears, wolves, elk, and bison. The park’s main attractions though are its geothermal features, with Old Faithful being the most famous geyser, shooting hot water about 150 feet into the air on average.  Other impressive geysers include the Great Fountain and Steamboat. Explore the fumaroles, hot springs, and mud pots, all heated by the Earth’s geothermal energy, while walking through incredible mountain scenery. Other key highlights include Yellowstone Lake, the largest high-altitude lake in North America, the petrified forest on Amethyst Mountain, and the stunning travertine formations at Mammoth Hot Springs.  Also visit the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, a canyon carved by the Yellowstone River, and featuring two impressive waterfalls: the Upper Falls and the Lower Falls.

✈️ Yellowstone/Bozeman To UK:  You’ll drive to Bozeman airport for your flight back to the UK, having experienced an incredible variety of iconic landscapes and natural wonders on your epic road trip.