Last minute itinerary suggestions & help

Question

Hello all, Looking for suggestion for our last minute trip , just done with all the booking - trying to plan out the itinerary. Came up with below plan , please pour in ur suggestion n recommendation ..

● Day 1: saturday : 24 may

Sfo flight lands 1.30 pm--> take car rental --> reach fresno night halt

Visit - anything ??? Can be done in the afternoon ??

Eod Stay - fresno

● Day 2: sunday : 25 may

Check out early morning -- kings canyon full day

-->check in visalia

▪︎ things to do :

>>General Grant Tree and walk the half-mile to a mile loop trail.

Take a short hike up to Panoramic Point Overlook

Start driving down to Roads End, stop at Hume Lake

Explore Zumalt Meadows hikr and Roaring River Falls..

■?? Should we do part of mist fall trail , not full is it worth it ?

?? Should we visit boyden cavern ?

● Day 3: monday : 26 may

Start about 8 am -->full sequioa np --> night stay visalia

▪︎ things to do :

Enter Sequoia National Park via the South Entrance

Views along Generals Highway

Hike to Moro Rock

Tunnel Log

Hike Crescent Meadows

Visit General Sherman Tree

Hike the Congress Trail

More Views Along Generals Highway

Exit via Kings Canyon Entrance Station

■?? Anything I am missing need to add or should exclude anything ?

Day 4: tuesday : 27 may

Visalia check out early morning by 8 am--> enter yosemite via south entry --> spend day in glacier pt route + hike ---> check in night at mariposa

▪︎ things to do :

Park - take shuttle - mariposa grove trail -drive & visit - Washburn pt , then glacier pt ,

Do 5 mile tarf pt + sentinel dome trail n sunset from there .

■ ??? - Is there any food option available in the route ? Anything else to be done in this day ?

Tunnel view on this day ?

Which point better for sunset ?

Since its 27th , don't need the entrance ticket , right ?

Day 5: Wednesday : 28 may

Start morning 8 am from mariposa - yosemite park at curry village--do mist trail -- spend time in valley -- night stay mariposa

▪︎ things to do :

Mainly mist trail today

■??? - its in the holiday week , would it be hard to get parking in curry village if we reach by 9/9.30 ?

We r young couple but not avid hiker but in good health , really interested in doing mist trail. Alltrail showing as hard and strenuous hike - looking for suggestions- should we skip it or do it ..( i know first part is relatively ok - that one definitely doing but what about the last part ?)

Good food option in the valley ?

What can be done and covered in the day - if we do the complete hike ?

Good sunset place ?

Day 6 : thrusday: 29 may

Hv Mariposa stay in hotel till 2.30 due to offce --> yosemite valley area --> night stay mariposa.

▪︎ things to do : ???

■What can be done in this day we will from late afternoon period ???

Day 7 : friday : 30 may

Mariposa Office work till 1 pm -- > visit tioga rd area -- night stay mariposa.

▪︎ things to do :

Omstead pt , tenaya lake , tuolumne valley

■?? Can we still cover all of it even if we start after 1 pm ?

Day 8 : saturday : 31st may

Start from mariposa 9 am (flexible on time)--> reach san Francisco-- flight 11.30 pm

▪︎ things to do :

?? Should we do the anything in sfo this day or anything in yosemite side ??

Thanks in adv .

Answer

Your itinerary looks packed with amazing activities, but there are a few suggestions and tips I can offer to make your trip even better and more manageable, especially considering you're visiting during a busy holiday week.

Here's my feedback and some additions based on your current plan:

Day 1: Saturday (May 24)

Arriving at 1:30 pm gives you a good amount of time to get to Fresno. If you're looking for something to do in the afternoon before checking into your hotel, consider:

Fresno Chaffee Zoo – A small but nice zoo if you're looking to stretch your legs after the flight.
Woodward Park – A beautiful park with walking trails and a nice spot to relax before heading to the hotel.

After your arrival, relax in Fresno and enjoy your night there. Nothing too strenuous for Day 1, especially after a flight.

Day 2: Sunday (May 25) – Kings Canyon National Park

Your plan for Kings Canyon is great, and the sights you’ve mentioned are wonderful. For the Mist Falls Trail, the first section (to the footbridge) is an easy and beautiful hike. The full Mist Falls Trail, though, can be a bit challenging and is considered strenuous. Since you're in good health, you could consider doing part of it, but the full hike might take more time than expected, so it’s worth deciding based on your energy levels.

If you enjoy caverns, Boyden Cavern is worth a visit, but keep in mind it’s a bit off the main path, so it might add extra time to your day.

Check out the General Grant Tree and spend some time walking in the area—it's a nice way to experience the park without much effort. The Panoramic Point Overlook is also fantastic!

Day 3: Monday (May 26) – Sequoia National Park

Your Sequoia day is well-planned, but here are a couple of other things to consider:

General Sherman Tree – Be sure to take your time to marvel at this massive tree.
The Crescent Meadow hike is nice and easy, perfect for stretching your legs after a long drive. You can also consider hiking around the meadow to the Tharp’s Log, an old cabin inside a fallen tree.

As for the Congress Trail, it’s a relatively easy trail that loops through the Giant Forest. Since you're not avid hikers, it should be an enjoyable addition to your day.

Day 4: Tuesday (May 27) – Yosemite National Park via South Entrance

For the Glacier Point and Mariposa Grove day, this is a good plan. But as it’s a bit of a packed day, I recommend prioritizing a couple of hikes:

Sentinel Dome – The 5-mile round trip hike is a nice balance of challenge and incredible views. It's also a fantastic spot for sunset if you're still up for it.
Mariposa Grove – The shuttle system is useful here, so take advantage of that. The Grizzly Giant and California Tunnel Tree are must-sees.

If you're short on time or prefer not to hike, you can skip some shorter hikes like the Tarf Point, but definitely aim for Sentinel Dome or Glacier Point for views of Yosemite Valley.

Day 5: Wednesday (May 28) – Yosemite Valley and Mist Trail

For the Mist Trail, the first part (to the bridge) is totally manageable and worth the experience. If you’re in good health and want a challenge, I recommend continuing to the top of Vernal Falls. However, this last part is strenuous and might take you 3-4 hours round trip depending on your pace. Since you're not avid hikers, consider stopping after the bridge or going up to Vernal Falls but not pushing to Nevada Falls.

Good food options in Yosemite Valley include the Yosemite Valley Lodge for a scenic meal with views of the falls, or the Degnan’s Kitchen for something more casual.
Sunset at Glacier Point is stunning, but if you’re in the valley, you could also try Cook’s Meadow for a sunset view.

Day 6: Thursday (May 29) – Yosemite Valley in the Afternoon

If you have the afternoon free, consider these options:

Lower Falls Trail – A short and easy walk to the base of Yosemite Falls, perfect for a quick scenic stop.
Bridalveil Fall – This is a great option for an easy hike with stunning views.
Mirror Lake – Another easy hike if you want some more quiet time by the water with reflections of Half Dome.

Since you're arriving late in the afternoon, it's best to keep things simple and relaxed.

Day 7: Friday (May 30) – Tioga Road Area

If you’re starting after 1 pm, it’s going to be tight to explore the entire Tioga Road area. However, you can still enjoy the highlights:

Tenaya Lake – It’s beautiful and worth a stop for a walk or picnic if you have time.
Tuolumne Meadows – If you’re short on time, focus on this area, as it offers great views and easy hiking options.

If you only have a few hours, try to enjoy the scenic views and short stops around Tuolumne Meadows before heading back to Mariposa.

Day 8: Saturday (May 31) – San Francisco

If you’re starting from Mariposa at 9 am, you’ll need about 3.5-4 hours to drive to San Francisco. Depending on how much time you have left, consider stopping in:

Berkeley – A quick stop in downtown Berkeley or near the university could be interesting.
Point Reyes – If you want a detour for scenic views, this could be a nice spot on the way to the city.

In San Francisco, if you’re short on time, focus on Fisherman’s Wharf or a quick visit to the Golden Gate Bridge for some iconic photos.

Overall Suggestions: Your itinerary is very ambitious, but it's doable. The most strenuous hike you'll do is likely the Mist Trail, so make sure to be well-prepared with plenty of water and snacks. Also, check on parking availability, as Yosemite can get crowded, especially on holiday weekends.

Have a great trip, and enjoy the beauty of Yosemite and the surrounding areas!