Viewpoint · 54 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
Day Trippin' › California › From Oakhurst
Day trips from Oakhurst
From Oakhurst, Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is about 25 minutes away, Tunnel View under an hour, and Glacier Point under an hour and a half. The best day trips from Oakhurst, by drive time.
94 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
10 day trips from Oakhurst
- Tower District 53 min south
- Tunnel View 54 min north
- El Capitan Meadow 1 hr north
- Yosemite Falls 1 hr 7 min north
- Kingsburg 1 hr 12 min south
- Glacier Point 1 hr 13 min north
- Columbia State Historic Park 1 hr 49 min northwest
- Kings Canyon Scenic Byway 2 hr 10 min southeast
- Calaveras Big Trees State Park 2 hr 33 min northwest
- Pinnacles National Park 2 hr 59 min southwest
Within an hour from Oakhurst 11 spots
Landmark · 1 hr 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
Food town · 53 min south
Tower District
A lively Fresno neighborhood with restaurants, theaters and shops.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
Zoo · 56 min south
Fresno Chaffee Zoo
A friendly zoo with African savanna, Asian elephants and a kids' play area.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Small town · 36 min northwest
Mariposa
The gateway to Yosemite, with old Gold Rush buildings, the county courthouse and cafes.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
Lake · 48 min south
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
Waterfall · 57 min north
Bridalveil Fall
A short paved path leads to the mist of this 620-foot fall near the valley entrance.
- 30 min-1 hr · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Museum · 34 min northwest
California State Mining and Mineral Museum
A big mineral and gold collection in Mariposa, including a large piece of gold in quartz.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Hours vary; check before going (confirm before you go)
- See the official site for current fees
1 to 2 hours from Oakhurst 25 spots
Historic site · 1 hr 49 min northwest
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
Waterfall · 1 hr 7 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
Viewpoint · 1 hr 13 min north
Glacier Point
A big overlook 3,200 feet above the valley, facing Half Dome and Yosemite Falls. One of the best views in the Sierra.
- Half day · Easy
- Road usually open late May-Oct; closed in winter
- See the official site for current fees
Small town · 1 hr 12 min south
Kingsburg
A Swedish-themed town with painted buildings and cafes.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
Wildlife · 1 hr 44 min west
Great Valley Grasslands State Park
A rare tract of native grassland near San Luis Reservoir with birds and wildflowers.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Best Mar-May
- See the official site for current fees
Swimming · 1 hr 3 min north
Sentinel Beach
A sandy river beach on the Merced River with meadow views. Good for a wade or a lazy float in summer.
- 1-3 hrs · Easy
- Summer; water safe only late summer (confirm before you go)
- See the official site for current fees
Hike · 1 hr 4 min north
Cook's Meadow Loop
An easy, flat loop in the heart of the valley with views of Half Dome and Yosemite Falls.
- 1 hr · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Scenic drive · 1 hr 7 min south
Blossom Trail
A self-drive route through orchards in Fresno County when fruit trees bloom in late winter.
- Half day · Easy
- Best mid Feb-mid Mar
- Free
2 to 3 hours from Oakhurst 55 spots
State park · 2 hr 33 min northwest
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)
National park · 2 hr 59 min southwest
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
Scenic drive · 2 hr 10 min southeast
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 · 2 hr 28 min southeast
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
Hike · 2 hr 35 min southeast
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
Aquarium · 3 hr west
Monterey Bay Aquarium
World-famous aquarium with kelp forest, jellyfish and sea otters, right on the water.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Theme park · 2 hr 35 min west
Gilroy Gardens
A family theme park with gardens, rides and shaded play areas.
- Full day · Easy
- Open on select days; closed in winter (confirm before you go)
- See the official site for current fees
Town · 2 hr 36 min northwest
Sutter Creek
A small, well-kept Gold Rush town with balconied buildings, antique shops and wine tasting along Highway 49.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
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Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 93644 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.