YOSEMITE BUG BUS TOUR: The easiest and most reliable way to get from San Francisco to Yosemite Bug and Yosemite National Park attractions. Picks up from San Francisco Hostels, Hotels and Homes Mondays (10am), Wednesdays (10am) and Fridays (7pm) for two day and two night tours returning same times of day. Includes seasonal activities like swimming and snowshoeing, campfires, seasonal hikes, sightseeing and accommodations. Options from $245 with Dorm Bed to $590 with Private Room with Bath double occupancy. Look at www.yosemitebugbus.com

YARTS : is a bus system centered out of Yosemite Valley and has a large, safe stop at the Yosemite Bug. There are five buses each day that pass each way that do or can stop here. The ROUND TRIP COST OF TICKETS TO YOSEMITE VALLEY IS ONLY $12.00 per person!! A perfect price for the budget and environmentally conscientious that includes the Park Entrance Fee. This system has been introduced to reduce congestion and pollution within Yosemite Valley. We also recommend it for convenience and safety. Why drive after a long day hike? YARTS better connects the Bug with Amtrak (as VIA, see below) and Greyhound in Merced, Mariposa ($1 ride from the Bug), and Yosemite Valley. We recommend all guests who drive to park their cars at the Bug and take YARTS into Yosemite National Park. Our busstop is a quarter mile from the complex at the end of our road. Bring a flashlight.

GREYHOUND : Buy a ticket going to Merced Transportation Station, arriving before the last YARTS bus picks up at the Merced Transportation Station at 4:55pm. Generally layovers waiting in Merced are up to four hours. There is a HI home hostel in Merced if you get stuck. Use YARTS (see above) from Merced to the Bug, and then into Yosemite Valley. The Yarts stops at our bus stop where you can walk up our driveway a quarter mile (bring flashlight).

AMTRAK : Buy a ticket all the way the Yosemite. This includes the transfer from train to bus at Merced. The bus (a YARTS bus) will stop at the Yosemite Bug, just ask. From our bus stop where you can walk up our driveway a quarter mile (bring flashlight).

 

Check out an article one us at Best California Travel , Here Best California Travel

WINTER NOTE: Highway 120 from Lee Vining on the East Sierra closes after the first major snowstorms generally from early November though late May. Use the alternative routes listed below as Winter routes. Hetch Hetchy road and Glacier Point Road past Badger Pass Ski Area, and Mariposa Grove Road all close as well over the course of the winter and reopen in good weather conditions.

Highway 140, 120 and 41 within the Park all close occasionally due to heavy weather (140 is open 95% of the time as it is the all-weather low elevation entrance route). Bring chains every trip by car in winter in case required. There is plenty to do and see in Winter and Yosemite Valley is at it's most beautiful.

DRIVING TIPS: Just before you enter the Sierra foothills note that the speed limit is policed well into Yosemite National Park. The rockslide last year along Highway 140 is now a small detour between us and the Park. Large coach busses over 23 feet cannot make it through the detour.

From San Francisco: Take the Bay Bridge to 580 East, before Stockton bear right towards Los Angeles on 580 East (not forward onto 205 East), take 132 East to Modesto where you will find 99 South to Merced. Take 140 East towards Yosemite. Nine and a half miles after the town of Mariposa look for the address at Yosemite Bug Hostel & Lodge and Restaurant sign & turn left. Follow signs up road. 3-3.5 hours.

From Northern California: Make your way to Sacramento and then 99 South going towards Merced. Take 140 East towards Yosemite. Nine and a half miles after the town of Mariposa look for the address at Yosemite Bug Hostel & Lodge and Restaurant sign & turn left. Follow the signs up road. 3.5 hours from Sacramento.

From Southern California: Make your way to Bakersfield and take 99 North to Merced. Take 140 East to Yosemite. Nine and a half miles after the town of Mariposa look for the address at Yosemite Bug Hostel & Lodge and Restaurant sign & turn left. Follow the signs up road. 5.5 hours from LA.

From Lake Tahoe in Summer: Take 207 East from South Lake Tahoe to Gardnerville and then 395 South to Lee Vining. Go into Yosemite on 120 West. Follow the signs into Yosemite Valley itself. Take 140 West out of the Yosemite National Park. 20 miles after the town of El Portal at edge of Park, make a right hand turn just before the Yosemite Bug Host & Lodge and Restaurant sign. 4.5 hours from South Lake Tahoe

From Lake Tahoe in Winter: (Mid-October thru Mid-May): Take 50 East from Tahoe to Placerville, and then 49 South to Mariposa. Take 140 East to Yosemite. Nine and a half miles after the town of Mariposa look for the address at Yosemite Bug Hostel & Lodge and Restaurant sign & turn left. Follow the signs up road .

From Las Vegas in Summer: (through Death Valley): take 160 West just south of Vegas to 372 West (Tecopa) to 178 West in California. This goes through Death Valley to 190 West to 136 West to Lone Pine. From there take 395 North to Lee Vining. Go into Yosemite on 120 West. Follow the signs into Yosemite Valley itself. Take 140 West out of the Yosemite National Park. 20 miles after the town of El Portal at edge of Park, make a right hand turn just before the Yosemite Bug Hostel, Lodge and Restaurant sign. 12 hours

From Las Vegas in Winter: (mid-October thru mid-May) or faster way : take 15 West from Vegas to Barstow, 58 West to Bakersfield and 99 North to Merced. Take 140 East towards Yosemite. Look for the Yosemite Bug Hostel & Lodge and Restaurant sign 9.5 miles past Mariposa. Make a left hand turn. 9 hours.