San Francisco to yosemite, back to san fran and down route 1 to san diego

[cedric]

Hi I am intending to take this trip with my girlfriend at the end of april/beginning of may we are 26/27 years old. A lot of the topics on these forums are very helpful, just trying to find out more specifics for my trip.

The plan is;

Arrive PM in San Fran,
Three days later, rent a car and set out for Yosemite in the afternoon, overnight near the park in Merced or Mariposa.
Next day early start have a full day in Yosemite valley and maybe Mariposa grove (snow permitting). Late afternoon or early evening set off back to San Fran, overnight in or around San Fran.
Next morning start out on route 1, Santa cruz, Monterey, Carmel, big sur etc. overnight stay in San simeon/Cambria/San luis obispo.
Next day continue south with detour to Solvang, through Santa barbara and into LA.
Spend two days in LA.
Continue down route 1 through Newport, Laguna to San diego.
Drop off car in San diego and stay three days before flying back to the UK.

1. Is the side trip to Yosemite feasible/sufficient as planned?
2. Is two days long enough for the San Fran to LA leg?
3. Any recommendations for what not to miss along the route? (apart from the obvious)

Thanks for any help/advice you can give,

Cedric

[Midwest Michael]

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

You've got a workable but pretty rushed trip. If it were me, I'd want at least a full day inside Yosemite, which you really can't do if you are planning to make the 4-5 hour drive back to SF on the one and only day you'll be in the valley. If it were me, at the very least, I'd spend a 2nd night around mariposa, and then drive directly towards Monterey rather than backtrack to SF. And I'd even give some consideration to shortening one or your city days so you can have more time either at Yosemite or a little more time on the coast.