Family fun · 43 min southeast
Mooney Grove Park
A county park near Visalia with a lake, oaks, an old museum and shaded picnic spots.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Day Trippin' › California › From Fresno
Day trips from Fresno
From Fresno, Forestiere Underground Gardens is about 10 minutes away, Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias under an hour and a half, and General Sherman Tree under two hours. The best day trips from Fresno, by drive time.
167 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
10 day trips from Fresno
- Mooney Grove Park 43 min southeast
- Millerton Lake State Recreation Area 44 min north
- Kaweah Oaks Preserve 48 min southeast
- Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias 1 hr 14 min north
- Kings Canyon Scenic Byway 1 hr 21 min east
- General Sherman Tree 1 hr 39 min east
- Tunnel View 1 hr 44 min north
- Columbia State Historic Park 2 hr 11 min north
- Pinnacles National Park 2 hr 31 min west
- Winchester Mystery House 2 hr 32 min west
Within an hour from Fresno 5 spots
Lake · 44 min north
Millerton Lake State Recreation Area
A big lake with boating, camping and an old courthouse nearby.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Hike · 48 min southeast
Kaweah Oaks Preserve
A small preserve of valley oak forest with easy trails near Visalia.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
Small town · 51 min north
Oakhurst
The southern Yosemite gateway with shops, diners and a museum. A good stop before Bass Lake or Fish Camp.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
Zoo · 56 min northwest
Applegate Park Zoo
A small, friendly zoo and park in Merced with train rides.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Hours vary (confirm before you go)
- See the official site for current fees
1 to 2 hours from Fresno 41 spots
Hike · 1 hr 14 min north
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
Walk among huge sequoias including the Grizzly Giant. A shuttle or short hike runs from the welcome plaza.
- Half day · Easy to moderate
- Shuttle usually runs spring-Nov; check
- See the official site for current fees
Scenic drive · 1 hr 21 min east
Kings Canyon Scenic Byway
A dramatic drive into one of the deepest canyons in the US.
- Full day · Easy
- Usually open late spring-fall
- See the official site for current fees
Landmark · 1 hr 39 min east
General Sherman Tree
The largest tree on Earth by volume, reached by a short paved trail.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Viewpoint · 1 hr 44 min north
Tunnel View
The classic first look at Yosemite Valley, with El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall and Half Dome in one frame. Pull off right on the way in.
- 30 min-1 hr · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Hike · 1 hr 46 min east
Moro Rock
A short granite staircase climb to a sweeping view of the Great Western Divide.
- 1 hr · Moderate
- Road usually open; winter closure possible
- See the official site for current fees
Landmark · 1 hr 51 min north
El Capitan Meadow
Pull over and watch climbers on the granite face with binoculars. A flat walk by the Merced River.
- 30 min-1 hr · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Waterfall · 1 hr 58 min north
Yosemite Falls
The tallest waterfall in the park, with an easy paved walk to the base of the lower fall. Spring flow is biggest; it can run dry by late summer.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round; best Apr-Jun
- See the official site for current fees
Family fun · 1 hr 4 min north
Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad
A steam train ride through the pines near Fish Camp, in the style of an old logging line.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Seasonal; check train days (confirm before you go)
- See the official site for current fees
2 to 3 hours from Fresno 115 spots
Historic site · 2 hr 11 min north
Columbia State Historic Park
A whole Gold Rush town kept as it was, with stagecoach rides, gold panning, old saloons and costumed shopkeepers.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
National park · 2 hr 31 min west
Pinnacles National Park
Spires and talus caves from an ancient volcano, plus condors and good hiking trails.
- Half day · Moderate
- Year-round; best Oct-May
- See the official site for current fees
Landmark · 2 hr 32 min west
Winchester Mystery House
A huge odd mansion in San Jose with stairs to nowhere and doors that open to walls.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy to moderate
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Theme park · 2 hr 35 min west
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Classic seaside amusement park with a wooden coaster, arcade and a wide beach next door.
- Half day · Easy
- Open daily in summer; limited days in winter (confirm before you go)
- See the official site for current fees
Observatory · 2 hr 39 min west
Lick Observatory
Historic hilltop telescopes above San Jose with a long winding road and big views.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Grounds open daily; visitor center hours limited (confirm before you go)
- See the official site for current fees
Historic site · 2 hr 41 min northwest
Old Sacramento State Historic Park
A riverfront district of Gold Rush and railroad-era buildings with wooden sidewalks, under Tower Bridge.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
Theme park · 2 hr 46 min south
Six Flags Magic Mountain
A big park known for roller coasters, in Valencia.
- Full day · Easy
- Open select days; check calendar
- See the official site for current fees
State park · 2 hr 55 min north
Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Giant sequoias in the North Grove on an easy, mostly flat loop, where the big trees first became famous in the 1850s.
- 2-4 hrs · Easy
- Year-round (best May to October)
- California State Parks day-use fee (per vehicle)
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Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 93721 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.