Places within 3 hours of Fresno

Under 1 hour from Fresno 5 places

Photo: Dbecker52, CC BY-SA 4.0

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
• Year-round
• See the official site for current fees

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Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Kjkolb assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY 2.5

Lake · 44 min north

Millerton Lake State Recreation Area

A big lake with boating, camping and an old courthouse nearby.

• Half day
• Year-round
• See the official site for current fees

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Photo: Mychemicalromanceisrealemo, CC0

Hike · 48 min southeast

Kaweah Oaks Preserve

A small preserve of valley oak forest with easy trails near Visalia.

• 1-2 hrs
• Year-round
• Free

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Photo: Guywelch2000, CC BY-SA 4.0

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
• Year-round
• Free

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Photo: MaryConverse, CC BY 3.0

Zoo · 56 min northwest

Applegate Park Zoo

A small, friendly zoo and park in Merced with train rides.

• 1-2 hrs
• Hours vary (confirm before you go)
• See the official site for current fees

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1 to 2 hours from Fresno 41 places

Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0

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
• Shuttle usually runs spring-Nov; check
• See the official site for current fees

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Photo: Guywelch2000, CC BY 4.0

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
• Usually open late spring-fall
• See the official site for current fees

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Photo: Eric Kilby from Somerville, MA, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0

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
• Year-round
• See the official site for current fees

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Photo: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0

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
• Year-round
• See the official site for current fees

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Photo: chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0

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
• Year-round; best Apr-Jun
• See the official site for current fees

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Photo: Bobtalbot61, Public domain

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
• Seasonal; check train days (confirm before you go)
• See the official site for current fees

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More 1 to 2 hours from Fresno, by type

History

Castle Air Museum (1 hr 3 min), Wawona Covered Bridge and Pioneer Yosemite History Center (1 hr 18 min), California State Mining and Mineral Museum (1 hr 20 min), McHenry Mansion (1 hr 32 min), Buck Owens Crystal Palace (1 hr 35 min), Hospital Rock (1 hr 36 min), Giant Forest Museum (1 hr 42 min), Tunnel Log (1 hr 46 min) and 3 more

Hikes

Grant Grove (1 hr 4 min), Boyden Cavern (1 hr 31 min), Tokopah Falls (1 hr 39 min), Moro Rock (1 hr 46 min), Zumwalt Meadow (1 hr 50 min), Cook's Meadow Loop (1 hr 55 min), Taft Point (1 hr 57 min), Mirror Lake (2 hr)

Wildlife

Great Valley Grasslands State Park (1 hr 20 min), Merced National Wildlife Refuge (1 hr 40 min), Kern National Wildlife Refuge (1 hr 51 min), Tule Elk State Natural Reserve (1 hr 56 min)

Beaches & lakes

Bass Lake (1 hr 2 min), Lake Kaweah (1 hr 4 min), Sentinel Beach (1 hr 53 min)

Small towns

Three Rivers (1 hr 14 min), Mariposa (1 hr 23 min)

Food & wine

Bakersfield Basque Food (1 hr 36 min), Paso Robles Wine Country (1 hr 54 min)

Waterfalls

Roaring River Falls (1 hr 47 min), Bridalveil Fall (1 hr 48 min)

Scenic drives

Highway 140 Merced River Canyon (1 hr 54 min), Mineral King (2 hr)

Biking

Kern River Parkway Trail (1 hr 35 min)

2 to 3 hours from Fresno 115 places

Photo: Chris Krylov, CC BY 3.0

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
• Year-round
• Free

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Photo: Brocken Inaglory, CC BY-SA 3.0

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
• Year-round; best Oct-May
• See the official site for current fees

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Photo: The wub, CC BY-SA 4.0

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
• Open daily in summer; limited days in winter (confirm before you go)
• See the official site for current fees

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Photo: MARELBU, CC BY 3.0

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
• Year-round (best May to October)
• California State Parks day-use fee (per vehicle)

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Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0

Aquarium · 2 hr 32 min west

Monterey Bay Aquarium

World-famous aquarium with kelp forest, jellyfish and sea otters, right on the water.

• Half day
• Year-round
• See the official site for current fees

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Photo: Karl98007, CC BY-SA 3.0

Small town · 2 hr 5 min north

Sonora

The Gold Country hub with old brick streets, shops and eateries. Good for a slow afternoon.

• 2-3 hrs
• Year-round
• Free

Plan my day Official site

More 2 to 3 hours from Fresno, by type

History

Haggin Museum (2 hr 1 min), National Steinbeck Center (2 hr 17 min), Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa (2 hr 21 min), Madonna Inn (2 hr 23 min), The Tech Interactive (2 hr 27 min), Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum (2 hr 29 min), Monterey State Historic Park (2 hr 29 min), Monterey Fisherman's Wharf (2 hr 29 min) and 22 more

Hikes

Crystal Cave (2 hr 3 min), Mist Trail to Vernal Fall (2 hr 3 min), Mount Madonna County Park (2 hr 16 min), Merced Grove (2 hr 25 min), Tuolumne Grove (2 hr 26 min), Bishop Peak (2 hr 26 min), Moaning Cavern (2 hr 28 min), The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park (2 hr 36 min) and 13 more

Beaches & lakes

Fort Ord Dunes State Park (2 hr 21 min), Marina State Beach (2 hr 23 min), Avila Beach (2 hr 29 min), Pismo Beach Pier and Monarch Grove (2 hr 30 min), Moonstone Beach Cambria (2 hr 30 min), Lake Isabella (2 hr 32 min), Asilomar State Beach (2 hr 36 min), Natural Bridges State Beach (2 hr 41 min) and 8 more

Wildlife

Micke Grove Park and Zoo (2 hr 7 min), Elkhorn Slough (2 hr 15 min), Monarch Grove Sanctuary Pacific Grove (2 hr 36 min), Point Lobos State Natural Reserve (2 hr 37 min), Oakland Zoo (2 hr 39 min), Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery (2 hr 46 min), Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge (2 hr 50 min), Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (2 hr 50 min) and 1 more

Mountains & views

Glacier Point (2 hr 4 min), Hakone Estate and Gardens (2 hr 34 min), Lick Observatory (2 hr 39 min), Bixby Creek Bridge (2 hr 48 min) and 4 more