The Perfect Yosemite Day
In by one road, out by another, home for a second sunset.
The short answer
The Perfect Yosemite Day is our family's two-night plan for seeing Yosemite without rushing, using Mariposa Highlands in Coulterville, CA as base camp. Arrive early on day 1 and enjoy the land before check-in. On day 2, drive in on Hwy 120 through Groveland, spend the whole day in Yosemite Valley (El Capitan, Half Dome, the waterfalls, and Glacier Point when its road is open), then leave along the Merced River toward Mariposa, stop for barbecue, and get back while the sun is still up for a second sunset. On day 3, join Coffee with the Cows at 9 AM and stay on the land after check-out at no extra cost. Two nights on the ridge make Mariposa Highlands an easy base camp for Yosemite.
- Length
- 2 nights, 3 days
- Park time
- One full day in Yosemite Valley
- Cost
- Your stay (check dates for current rates); park entry fee separate
- Who it's for
- First-time visitors, couples, families, international guests
- Season
- Year-round; Glacier Point Road is seasonal
- Route
- In on Hwy 120 via Groveland, out on Hwy 140 via Mariposa
The itinerary, step by step
- Day 1 · Afternoon
Arrive early, before check-in
Mariposa Highlands, CoultervilleCome before 3 PM and enjoy the land at no extra cost. Hike, bike, watch the Highland cows, or just sit back and relax. Your Airstream is ready at 3 PM. Go to bed early; tomorrow starts early.
- Day 2 · Early morning
Drive in on Hwy 120 through Groveland
Groveland, CAMake a cup of coffee on us before you go: every Airstream has a Nespresso machine. Leave early and head north to Hwy 120, then east through the small Gold Rush town of Groveland. There are lots of breakfast options in Groveland and along the way, so look a few up ahead of time. Fill up on gas here; there are few stations past Groveland.
- Day 2 · Morning
Enter at Big Oak Flat and drop into the valley
Big Oak Flat entrance, Yosemite National ParkEnter the park at the Big Oak Flat entrance and follow the road down to Yosemite Valley. Your first big view of El Capitan comes as you reach the valley floor.
- Day 2 · All day
A full day in Yosemite Valley
Yosemite ValleySee El Capitan, Half Dome, and the waterfalls (Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Fall flow strongest in spring and early summer). If Glacier Point Road is open, the view from Glacier Point looks straight across at Half Dome. For lunch, there are restaurants and a grocery store in the valley. Tell us how you like to travel, by car, by bike, or on foot all day, and we will help you plan.
- Day 2 · Early afternoon
Leave along the Merced River
Hwy 140, Merced River canyonThe tall valley walls block the sun early, so the valley floor gets shady and cool well before sunset. That is your cue. Leave in the early afternoon on Hwy 140, which follows the Merced River down its canyon toward Mariposa. It is a different road with different views; the drive is part of the trip. Leaving early gives you time for a great meal in Mariposa, or even for sunset back at Mariposa Highlands.
- Day 2 · Dinner
Barbecue in Mariposa
Mariposa, CAOur family's favorite is Smokin' Oak BBQ on Hwy 140 in Mariposa, slow-smoked over local oak. Eat there, or take it back to your Airstream. Check their hours before you go. Mariposa is full of other places to eat, too.
- Day 2 · Evening
Back for a second sunset
Penon Blanco PeakFrom Mariposa, head north on Hwy 49 toward Coulterville. Our hillside sits high on Penon Blanco Peak, so the sun is often still up when you get back, even after the valley has gone dark. You get a second sunset, then the stars.
- Day 3 · 9:00 AM
Coffee with the Cows, then linger
Mariposa HighlandsJoin Coffee with the Cows at 9 AM and meet Pearl and the herd. Check out of your Airstream by 11 AM, then stay on the land as long as you like that day at no extra cost.
Insider tips from the family
- 01
Check the park first
Before you go, take a quick look at nps.gov/yose for road status, conditions, and chain controls.
- 02
Gas in Groveland
Fill up before you enter the park. Stations inside the park are few and expensive.
- 03
Watch the shadows
In the early afternoon, when the shade starts reaching the valley floor, start driving out. You trade a cold, dark valley for a good meal in Mariposa on the way home, and often a warm sunset back on our hill.
- 04
Coffee and eats in Mariposa
Mariposa is full of places to eat and coffee shops. Our favorite coffee stop, when they're open, is Pony Expresso Coffee House on Hwy 49. We also really like the Cinnamon Roll Bakery and Cafe on 5th Street. Both close in the afternoon, so check their hours.
- 05
Glacier Point is seasonal
Glacier Point Road usually closes to cars in winter and opens in late spring. When it is closed, spend more time on the valley floor.
- 06
Winter works
We are open all winter. Big Oak Flat Road to the valley is usually open year-round, but carry chains when chain controls are posted.
- 07
Pack the day bag
Water, layers, snacks, sun protection, and a paper map. Phone signal is weak in parts of the park.
Getting there
Mariposa Highlands is at 4584 Penon Blanco Road, Coulterville, CA 95311, in the Sierra foothills between Lake McClure and Lake Don Pedro.
To Yosemite: about 36 miles (roughly an hour) to the Big Oak Flat entrance via Hwy 120, then about 24 miles (45 minutes to an hour) down to Yosemite Valley.
Back from Yosemite: Hwy 140 along the Merced River to Mariposa, then Hwy 49 north to Coulterville. That is about 75 miles; allow about 2 hours, plus your stop in Mariposa.
From Modesto (about 1 hour 20 minutes), Sacramento (about 2 hours 40 minutes) or the Bay Area (about 3 hours), you reach us before the Yosemite crowds, so day 1 is about the land, not the traffic.
The roads are paved asphalt all the way to us.
Good to know
- Yosemite National Park charges an entrance fee, paid separately from your stay.
- Drive times are estimates from online maps. Allow extra time on summer weekends and in winter weather.
- Arriving early and staying late on the land is free, but not in the Airstreams. Cleaning time between guests is tight, so your Airstream and its site are yours from 3 PM check-in until 11 AM check-out. Outside those times, enjoy the rest of the property.
Questions guests ask us
How far is Mariposa Highlands from Yosemite?
We are about 36 miles (roughly an hour) from Yosemite's Big Oak Flat entrance via Hwy 120. Yosemite Valley is about 24 miles (45 minutes to an hour) beyond the entrance.
Is one day enough for Yosemite Valley?
One full day is enough to see the big sights of Yosemite Valley: El Capitan, Half Dome, and the waterfalls. That is why we suggest two nights: a whole day in the park without rushing in and out on the same day as check-in.
Why go in on Hwy 120 and come out on Hwy 140?
Because the journey is almost as rewarding as the destination. Both roads are nonstop scenery, and they are different: forest on Hwy 120 as it climbs through Groveland to the Big Oak Flat entrance, and river scenes on Hwy 140 as it follows the Merced River canyon down to Mariposa.
Can I really see a second sunset?
Yes, especially in summer, when the days are long. Yosemite Valley is deep, so the sun leaves the valley floor early. Our hillside on Penon Blanco Peak is high and faces west, so the sun is often still up when you get back.
Why stay at Mariposa Highlands for a Yosemite trip?
It makes a calm, comfortable base camp. Yosemite Valley is generally a lot colder, even in summer, so our ridge is a much warmer stay, especially in the off season. We are below the snow line and almost never get snow, which makes winter trips easier and safer. You sleep on a quiet ridge, drive in early on Hwy 120, and come back to open space, the Highland cows, and often a second sunset.
Does this itinerary work in winter?
Yes. We are open all winter, and the road from Big Oak Flat to the valley is usually open year-round. Glacier Point Road is usually closed in winter, and chains may be required. Check nps.gov/yose before you go.
Do I need a reservation to enter Yosemite?
Not currently. Yosemite is not using an entrance reservation system in 2026; you pay the park entrance fee when you arrive. Rules can change, so it is always worth a quick check of nps.gov/yose before your trip.
