A Family Road Trip · California 2026

THE GREAT
CALIFORNIA
ADVENTURE

Granite peaks. Pacific shores. Open road in between.

May 31 – June 6 · 2026
May 31 · Sun
Travel Day
STL → SFO → Yosemite
Jun 1–2 · Mon–Tue
2 Full Days
Yosemite National Park
June 3 · Wed
Drive Day
Leave Yosemite → South
June 4–5 · Thu–Fri
Big Sur + Pajaro Dunes
Highway 1 · The Coast
June 6 · Sat
Fly Home
SFO → STL · WN3858

Flight Intel · Southwest Airlines

Your Trip at a Glance

✈ Outbound · WN 1469
Boeing 737-800 · 4h 25m · WiFi Available
STL St. Louis, MO 9:45 AM
———→
SFO San Francisco, CA 12:10 PM
Sunday, May 31, 2026
Michael Menne — Seat 19C, Aisle Olivia Menne — Seat 17F, Window
🚗
Then Drive
~4 hrs
SFO → Yosemite
187 mi via Hwy 120
Arrive ~5 PM
✈ Return · WN 3858
Boeing 737-800 · 3h 50m · WiFi Available
SFO San Francisco, CA 10:25 AM
———→
STL St. Louis, MO 4:15 PM
Saturday, June 6, 2026
Michael Menne — Seat 24C, Aisle Olivia Menne — Seat 23F, Window
⚠ Pajaro Dunes → SFO ~1.5 hrs — depart by 8:00 AM
Road Trip Route · SFO → Manteca → Oakhurst → Yosemite Forks → Valley → Big Sur → Pajaro Dunes → SFO
May 31Sunday
Travel Day → Yosemite Forks
WN1469 departs STL 9:45 AM · Lands SFO 12:10 PM · Rental car · Drive CA-99 S → Hwy 41 N · Grocery stop Oakhurst ~3:30 PM · Arrive Yosemite Forks ~5 PM
✈ WN1469 🛒 Manteca: Costco + Walmart 🛒 Oakhurst: Fresh top-up 🚗 Arrive ~5 PM
June 1Monday
Day 1 — Valley Orientation
8 AM Tunnel View · 9 AM Welcome Center · Lower Yosemite Falls · Mist Trail to Vernal Fall footbridge (expect to get SOAKED) · Curry Village afternoon
June 2Tuesday
Day 2 — Split Day Adventures
8 AM Glacier Point Trail · Curry Village bikes · 2 PM Mariposa Grove shuttle · Big Trees Loop or Grizzly Giant Loop · Junior Ranger badges
June 3Wednesday
Drive Day · Leave Yosemite
Pack up early · Tunnel View on the way out · Coffee in Groveland · Drive south to Big Sur via Hwy 120 → 99 → 1
🚗 Head to Big Sur
June 4Thursday
Big Sur — Highway 1
Bixby Bridge · McWay Falls · Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park · Arrive Pajaro Dunes
🌊 Coastal Highway 1
June 5Friday
Pajaro Dunes — Full Day
Monterey Bay Aquarium · Cannery Row · Carmel-by-the-Sea · Point Lobos · 17-Mile Drive
June 6Saturday
Fly Home — SFO → STL
Depart Pajaro Dunes by 8:00 AM · Drive ~1.5 hrs to SFO · WN3858 departs 10:25 AM · Land STL 4:15 PM
✈ WN3858 ⚠ Depart Pajaro Dunes 8:00 AM

Logistics · Grocery Plan

Stock Up Smart

Flying in = no cooler. Here's the plan — buy one on the way.

~12:30 PM · Depart SFO
SFO
  • ✈Pick up rental car. Head east on I-580 → I-205 → CA-99 S. Manteca is your first stop — right at the junction.
Route: SFO → I-580 → CA-99 S → Manteca → CA-99 S → Madera → Hwy 41 N → Oakhurst → Yosemite Forks
→
~2:30 PM · Big Chain Stop
Manteca, CA
  • 🏬Costco — 629 E Yosemite Ave (Hwy 120 junction, Exit 3 off CA-99). Large dedicated gluten-free section. Bulk GF snacks, pasta, bread, bars.
  • 🛒Walmart Supercenter — 1205 S Main St. Buy the cooler + ice here. Wide GF product range at the best prices.
💡 Best spot for gluten-free needs — chain store scale means reliable GF labeling and dedicated sections. Pre-order Walmart pickup for 2:30 PM the night before your flight.
→
~3:45 PM · Fresh Top-Up
Oakhurst, CA
  • 🛒Vons — 40044 Hwy 49 (at Hwy 41). Open 5 AM–midnight. Good for fresh produce, deli, and any GF items Manteca didn't have.
  • 🥦Raley's — Directly across the intersection. Strong natural/organic selection with GF options.
Your local store for the whole stay — only 15 min from Yosemite Forks. Easy to pop back any morning.
→
~5:00 PM · Arrive
Yosemite Forks
  • 🏠Check in, unpack, stock the fridge. 10 miles from the South Entrance.
  • 🦌Bass Lake is minutes away for a quick sunset walk.
No in-park delivery (bears + park rules). Oakhurst is your resupply point throughout the stay.
🌾
Gluten-Free Strategy
Do your main GF haul at Manteca Costco or Walmart — both have large, clearly labeled gluten-free sections with the best selection and prices. Restock specifics at Oakhurst Raley's (strong natural foods) during your stay. Avoid relying on in-park stores — limited and expensive.
🧊
The Cooler Plan
Buy a $25–35 hard cooler at Walmart Manteca on arrival day — best price on the route. Grab 2 bags of ice. Since you're at a house/rental you'll have a fridge too, so the cooler is mainly for packed lunches on park days.
🍽️
Oakhurst Eats
Oakhurst has real restaurants at non-park prices — great for arrival night dinner and morning coffee before early park days. When eating out, call ahead about GF options; Oakhurst restaurants are generally accustomed to dietary requests.

Chapter One · May 31 – June 3

YOSEMITE

2 Full Days in the Park · Based in Yosemite Forks · 10 mi from South Entrance · Depart June 3

May 31 · Sunday · Travel Day
Yosemite Valley arrival

Arrival Day · Land 12:10 PM · Two Grocery Stops En Route

Settle In, Rest Up

From SFO, head east on I-580 → CA-99 south. First stop: Manteca for the big haul — Costco or Walmart for gluten-free supplies and your cooler. Then continue south on CA-99 to Hwy 41 north through Oakhurst for any fresh items before landing at Yosemite Forks around 5 PM.

  • Stop 1: Manteca (~2:30 PM) — Costco or Walmart, GF haul + buy cooler
  • Stop 2: Oakhurst (~3:45 PM) — Vons or Raley's for fresh produce
  • Arrive Yosemite Forks ~5 PM — check in, unpack, stock fridge
  • Sunset walk at Bass Lake — just minutes away
  • Early to bed — heading into the park by 8 AM tomorrow

Visual Itinerary · Park Navigation

Your Yosemite Day-by-Day

Day 1 · Monday, June 1

Valley Floor Exploration · Total Walking: ~4 miles

8:00 AM
30 min

Tunnel View

Start with the iconic valley overlook. Arrive early for parking. Perfect family photo op.

🚶 5 min walk from parking
9:00 AM
45 min

Valley Welcome Center

Get Junior Ranger booklets, maps, and shuttle info. Park here and use the free shuttle system.

🚶 Minimal walking
9:45 AM
1 hr

Lower Yosemite Falls

Easy loop trail, mostly paved. In June the falls are thundering — expect mist on the bridge!

🚶 1.0 mile loop · Easy · Paved
11:00 AM
1 hr

Picnic Lunch

Designated picnic area near the visitor center. Great views while you eat.

🍽️ Rest & refuel
12:30 PM
2 hrs

Mist Trail to Vernal Fall Footbridge

The trail is SOAKED in June — wear rain shells! Footbridge is a good turnaround point.

🚶 1.6 miles RT · Moderate · 400ft gain
3:00 PM
1 hr

Curry Village

Ice cream, pizza, and tacos. Well-deserved treats after the hike!

🍦 Snack break
Map Key
Starting point
Activity stop
Food/Rest
Walking route
~4 mi
Total Walking
Easy
Difficulty
6-7 hrs
Total Time
All Ages
Suitable For

Day 2 · Tuesday, June 2

Giants & Views · Flexible Options · Total Walking: 2-5 miles

8:00 AM
2 hrs

Glacier Point Road

Drive up for spectacular views. Multiple viewpoints along the way. Washburn Point and Glacier Point are must-sees.

🚗 Drive + short walks to viewpoints
10:00 AM
30 min

Curry Village Break

Coffee and snacks. Bike rental station if you want to explore the valley floor on wheels.

☕ Rest stop
10:30 AM
2 hrs

Valley Floor Activities (Choose Your Adventure)

Option A: Rent bikes for valley loop. Option B: Mirror Lake walk. Option C: Relax at Swinging Bridge.

🚴 Biking or 🚶 1-3 miles walking
1:00 PM
1 hr

Lunch & Junior Ranger

Complete Junior Ranger badges. Kids can turn them in at the visitor center for their official badge!

🏆 Badge ceremony!
2:00 PM
2.5 hrs

Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias

Take shuttle from Welcome Plaza. Choose Big Trees Loop (0.3 mi, flat) or Grizzly Giant Loop (2 mi).

🌲 0.3-2 miles · Easy to Moderate
Map Key
Morning start
Activity stop
Scenic viewpoint
Drive route
2-5 mi
Flexible Walking
Variable
Choose Difficulty
~8 hrs
Full Day
All Ages
Family Friendly
June 1 · Monday · Full Park Day
Yosemite Falls

Day 1 · Valley Orientation — Everyone Together

Valley Floor Highlights

Start early at Tunnel View for the iconic shot, then spend the day exploring the valley floor's most accessible wonders. June waterfalls are at their thundering peak — expect to get misted! End with a scenic drive or bike loop.

  • 8:00 AM · Tunnel View — arrive early for parking, iconic valley shot
  • 9:00 AM · Valley Welcome Center — Junior Ranger booklets, maps, shuttle info
  • 9:45 AM · Lower Yosemite Falls — easy 1-mile loop, expect mist on bridge
  • 11:00 AM · Picnic lunch at designated area
  • 12:30 PM · Mist Trail to Vernal Fall footbridge (1.6 mi RT) — SOAKED in June!
  • 3:00 PM · Curry Village — ice cream, pizza, tacos break
  • Late afternoon · Scenic drive back to Yosemite Forks
June 2 · Tuesday · Full Park Day
Giant Sequoias Mariposa Grove

Day 2 · Split Options — Choose Your Adventure

Giants & Views

Start with Glacier Point Trail, then split based on energy levels. Option for more hiking or a relaxed afternoon with bike rentals and easier activities. Mariposa Grove in the afternoon offers giant sequoias just 15 minutes from your base.

  • 8:00 AM · Glacier Point Trail — start early for cooler temps
  • 10:00 AM · Curry Village — snacks, coffee break
  • Late morning · Bike rentals at Curry Village for valley exploration
  • 1:00 PM · Lunch and finish Junior Ranger badges
  • 2:00 PM · Mariposa Grove — free shuttle from Welcome Plaza
  • Big Trees Loop (0.3 mi flat) or Grizzly Giant Loop (2 mi) options
  • Return to base for evening relaxation
June 3 · Wednesday · Drive Day
Yosemite departure morning

Departure Day · Yosemite Forks → Big Sur

Goodbye Mountains

Check out of Yosemite Forks and head south on Hwy 41 — you're already pointed the right direction. A quick stop at Tunnel View on the way through the park is the greatest goodbye in the national park system. Then it's Fresno → the 99 → and eventually the Pacific.

  • Check out, pack the car — early morning
  • Optional: Tunnel View on the way through the valley
  • Drive south via Hwy 41 → Fresno → CA-99 → coast
  • Lunch stop in Fresno or along the way
  • Arrive Big Sur area by evening
"The mountains are calling and I must go."
— John Muir

June 3 · The Road Between

HIGHWAY 1

The world's most spectacular coastal road connects your mountains to the sea. Big Sur cliffs plunge into the Pacific. Pull over constantly. You'll want to.

Yosemite → Merced → Carmel → Big Sur → Pajaro Dunes

Chapter Two · June 4–5

MONTEREY

The Pacific · Cannery Row · Carmel-by-the-Sea

June 4 · Thursday
Big Sur coast

Arrive · Big Sur → Pajaro Dunes

Hello, Pacific

Trade your trail dust for sea salt. Drive the legendary Highway 1 through Big Sur before rolling into Pajaro Dunes — a quiet beach community right on the Monterey Bay. Drop the bags, hear the waves, and start exploring.

  • Bixby Bridge overlook on Highway 1
  • McWay Falls — waterfall straight into the ocean
  • Arrive Pajaro Dunes · walk to the beach at sunset
  • Fisherman's Wharf — clam chowder bread bowl
June 5 · Friday
Carmel-by-the-Sea

Full Day · Carmel & Beyond

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Your one full day on the Pacific. Start at the Aquarium, then lose yourselves in Carmel's storybook streets. End with the golden light along 17-Mile Drive. It's the kind of day you talk about for years.

  • Monterey Bay Aquarium — world class, don't skip it
  • Carmel Beach — stunning white sand
  • Point Lobos State Reserve — seals & sea otters
  • 17-Mile Drive through Pebble Beach at golden hour

Activities · Brainstorm

What Will You Remember?

Whale watching

Whale Watching

Monterey Bay · Best in June

Sea kayaking

Sea Kayaking

Kelp Forests · Sea Otters

Campfire

Campfire Nights

S'mores · Stories · Stars

Wildlife

Sea Otter Watch

Moss Landing · Elkhorn Slough

Sunset photography

Sunset Cliffs

17-Mile Drive · Golden Hour

Aquarium

Monterey Aquarium

World's Best · Open Ocean Exhibit

"The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever."
— Jacques Cousteau

May 31 – June 6 · 2026

Let's Make it Real

The family's excited. Now it's time to lock in the itinerary.

Build the Itinerary Share with Family