Tuolumne Travel Tips

Tuolumne (rhymes with “follow me”) County is accessed by three main highways from Northern California areas such as San Francisco and Sacramento. The main highways leading to the picturesque drive from San Francisco and East Bay Area are Highways 108 and 120 from the west and Highway 49 from Sacramento toward the north. The Highway 120 entrance to Yosemite National Park is considered the “front door” of the park for the San Francisco Bay Area.

• Reservations to drive into the park may be required May through September. Check the website at nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/reservations.htm
• Go early in the morning (avoid park entrance traffic between 10am and 12pm).
• Visit the park October through April when it is much less crowded, and you’ll get the best of fall colors and beautiful winter scenes.
• In the busy summer months, try taking alternate transportation like YARTS, local transportation, or tour guide providers.
• 95% of visitors only see 5% of Yosemite. Explore the less visited and uncrowded areas outside the Valley Floor – like Hetch Hetchy and the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias.

• Using GPS to get around Tuolumne County is not recommended, especially in the mountains. Use maps or stop by a Tuolumne County Visitors Center or ranger station for directions.
• If visiting in winter, be prepared for winter driving.
• When hiking, stay on marked trails.