How to get to Yosemite
The most reliable route to get to Yosemite Valley from Santa Cruz using public transportation is outlined in the timetables below. It uses the Highway 17 Express bus—our main link to the world outside Santa Cruz—leaving from the Santa Cruz METRO Center in downtown Santa Cruz, and arrives after about an hour at the San Jose Diridon (SJC) station.
From there, board the Amtrak bus to Stockton (SKN), where one may transfer to the San Joaquin Amtrak train to Merced (MCD).
At the Merced Amtrak station, board the YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System) bus to Yosemite Valley. The YARTS home page is here, and is worth a look.
The total one-way fare is $44.00 ($34.10 for 65+). There is no entrance fee to Yosemite for those who ride YARTS.
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| 17X | Bus | Train | YARTS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | SJC | SJC | SKN | SKN | MCD | MCD | YV |
| #3912 | #712 | ||||||
| 4:40 | 5:38 | 6:00 | 8:15 | 9:25 | 10:36 | 10:55 | 1:18 |
| #3916 | #716 | ||||||
| 12:00 | 1:00 | 1:25 | 4:05 | 4:22 | 5:29 | 5:50 | 8:12 |
| YARTS | Train | Bus | 17X | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YV | MCD | MCD | SKN | SKN | SJC | SJC | SC |
| #713 | #3913 | ||||||
| 9:10 | 11:46 | 12:05 | 1:13 | 1:20 | 2:55 | 3:10 | 4:24 |
| 17X | Bus | Train | YARTS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | SJC | SJC | SKN | SKN | MCD | MCD | YV |
| #3916 | #716 | ||||||
| 11:45 | 12:33 | 1:25 | 4:05 | 4:22 | 5:29 | 5:50 | 8:12 |
| YARTS | Train | Bus | 17X | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YV | MCD | MCD | SKN | SKN | SJC | SJC | SC |
| #713 | #3913 | ||||||
| 9:10 | 11:46 | 12:05 | 1:13 | 1:20 | 2:55 | 3:00 | 4:17 |
“The mountains are calling and I must go.”
– John Muir