San Diego to Yosemite - route and stops

Question

I am planning to do 2 days in the middle of June in Yosemite. Trying to figure out Wed & Thur or Fri & Sat. I am leaning towards the middle of the week to avoid crowds. I will be driving from San Diego and am planning to visit SEKI & trying to figure out whether I should visit SEKI first or Yosemite first. (1) If I want to avoid the curvy roads at SEKI, which route should I take? (2) Planning to spend 1 or 2 days at SEKI, don't have a booking yet. (3) Planning to take a shuttle from Visalia to avoid the winding drive & also if I don't find a place to stay inside the park. (4) If I leave on Sat. from SD, I have 3 or 4 days before I reach Yosemite, any other places I can spend on the way. TIA.

Answer

Visiting Yosemite in mid-June is an excellent idea, and going mid-week will definitely help you avoid crowds compared to Friday or Saturday. Since you’re coming from San Diego and also want to visit Sequoia & Kings Canyon (SEKI), your routing, lodging availability, and preference to avoid winding mountain roads will shape the best plan.

Below is a detailed breakdown addressing your questions and offering itinerary suggestions for the days between San Diego and Yosemite.

(1) Best route to SEKI if you want to avoid the curviest roads

The most winding and difficult drive in SEKI is the Highway 198 entrance into Sequoia (through Three Rivers). If you want to avoid that, enter through Kings Canyon via Highway 180 instead. Highway 180 is significantly straighter, wider, and easier to drive than Highway 198. This route brings you first to Grant Grove Village and the General Grant Tree area before continuing farther into Kings Canyon or down toward Sequoia if desired.

From San Diego → take I-15 north → Highway 99 → Highway 180 east into Kings Canyon NP. This is the least curvy approach.
Avoid the Highway 198 (Three Rivers) entrance if winding roads bother you—the switchbacks are frequent and tight.
Once inside the park via Highway 180, most main areas (Grant Grove, Hume Lake, Big Stump) are easier to access without major winding roads.

(2) Spending 1–2 days in SEKI without lodging booked yet

June is popular but you still have options. If you can’t find lodging inside the park (Wuksachi Lodge, John Muir Lodge, Grant Grove Cabins), the easiest alternatives are in the town of Fresno or nearby communities along Highway 180. With 1–2 days, you can comfortably see both Sequoia’s giant sequoias and Kings Canyon’s viewpoints.

1-day plan: Enter via Hwy 180 → Grant Grove → General Grant Tree → drive partway into Kings Canyon Scenic Byway → overnight near Fresno or inside the park if you get lucky.
2-day plan: Day 1 explore Grant Grove and Kings Canyon. Day 2 drive toward Sequoia’s Giant Forest (General Sherman Tree, Congress Trail). The road between Grant Grove and Giant Forest is manageable though curvy in sections, but far less intense than entering from Three Rivers.
If “minimal winding roads” is crucial, stick mainly to Kings Canyon & Grant Grove and avoid the Three Rivers side entirely.

(3) Using the Visalia shuttle (Sequoia Shuttle)

The Visalia Sequoia Shuttle is a great way to avoid the most stressful road: Highway 198 into the Giant Forest. It drops passengers right at the Giant Forest Museum, and from there shuttle buses run to all major attractions. It does NOT go to Kings Canyon, so best used if your priority is the General Sherman Tree or Giant Forest.

Park in Visalia, take the shuttle → no need to drive the curvy 198 section.
Reserve seats in advance (they often fill on weekends).
If you stay in Visalia or Three Rivers without wanting to drive into the park, this is the best alternative.

(4) If leaving San Diego on Saturday with 3–4 days before Yosemite — where to stop?

You have excellent options depending on whether you want national parks, coastal towns, or mountain areas. Because Yosemite isn’t far from SEKI, you can structure the days flexibly.

Option A: San Diego → SEKI → Yosemite
- Sat: Drive SD → Visalia or Fresno.
- Sun–Mon: Explore SEKI (Grant Grove + Giant Forest). Use shuttle if avoiding roads.
- Tue: Drive north to Yosemite via Fresno → Highway 41 (easy, straightforward road).
Option B: Visit other places before SEKI/Yosemite
- Paso Robles / San Luis Obispo for wine country, hot springs, relaxed coastal towns.
- Santa Barbara — classic coastal city, easy stop between SD and Central CA.
- Big Sur & Monterey — beautiful but requires detouring west to Highway 1.
- Kings Canyon Scenic Byway (Hwy 180) — only open in summer; the canyon drive is stunning but has mild curving (nothing like Hwy 198).
Option C: Spend the days in SEKI slowly
- 1 day exploring Grant Grove & sequoias.
- 1 day exploring Kings Canyon Valley (Zumwalt Meadow, Roaring River Falls).
- 1 day optionally taking the Visalia shuttle to Giant Forest.
- Then head to Yosemite mid-week when crowds are lower.

Recommendation Summary

Mid-week Yosemite is best and worth planning around. Visit SEKI first so your transition from SEKI → Yosemite is an easy, low-stress drive via Highway 41. Enter SEKI through Highway 180 to avoid heavy winding sections. If you want to see Giant Forest without driving curvy 198, use the Visalia shuttle.

If you leave SD on Saturday, you have time for a relaxed 3–4 days exploring SEKI, some Central CA towns, or coastal stopovers before heading into Yosemite for your two main days.