Direction

We highly suggest you double-check any driving instructions provided by your GPS navigation system to make sure you are being directed upon a sensible route.
We offer free parking behind our hostel.



From the San Francisco Bay Area

  • Head east on Interstate 580 through Livermore.
  • Near Tracy, merge on to I-205 East.
  • Stay on I-205 until I-5 North, following the signs for Yosemite.
  • Take I-5 North for a very short distance.
  • Take the first exit, Hwy 120 East toward Yosemite.
  • Remain on Hwy 120 East through Manteca, Escalon and Oakdale.
  • Following the signs to Yosemite’s Northern Entrance, turn RIGHT at ‘Yosemite Junction’ and pass through Chinese Camp, up the unforgettable ‘Priest Grade’ and through Big Oak Flat.
  • Groveland is just after Big Oak Flat, and the Yosemite International Hostel can be found on the right-hand side of the road just past the Pizza Factory Pizzeria.

From Sacramento

  • Take Hwy 99 South to Manteca.
  • Exit onto Hwy 120 East in Manteca and follow signs to Yosemite.
  • Remain on Hwy 120 East through Manteca, Escalon and Oakdale.
  • Following the signs to Yosemite’s Northern Entrance, turn RIGHT at ‘Yosemite Junction’ and pass through Chinese Camp, up the unforgettable ‘Priest Grade’ and through Big Oak Flat.
  • Groveland is just after Big Oak Flat, and the Yosemite International Hostel can be found on the right-hand side of the road just past the Pizza Factory Pizzeria.

From the south

  • The most direct route is to take Hwy 99 north to 120 east in Manteca and follow the signs to Yosemite (see above).
  • Another option is to take Hwy 99 to Fresno, and then take Hwy 41 through Yosemite Valley for a more scenic drive.

From Mono Lake and Eastern Sierra

  • Follow Hwy 120 West. This spectacular route climbs Tioga Pass at 9941 feet, and winds past Tenaya Lake, spectacular granite formations with some of the world’s finest sport climbing routes and unforgettable views of Half Dome from the Olmsted Point turnout.
  • At Crane Flat, turn Right/West, following the signs to San Francisco. There is a service station at this intersection.
  • Groveland is 31 miles west from Crane Flat, and the Yosemite International Hostel can be found on the left-hand side of the road just before the Pizza Factory Pizzeria.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

This season route is usually open from Memorial Day weekend through October, but closed for the winter. Check road conditions by phone at 209-372-0200.

Winter Driving

Groveland occasionally receives trace amounts of snow, but is normally accessible in all but the heaviest storms via Hwy 120 from west, towards Oakdale and the San Francisco Bay Area. Higher elevations along Hwy 120 towards Yosemite to the east can experience very heavy snowfalls during storms. It is advisable to carry chains in your vehicle when heading toward Yosemite in the winter months.

All public roads into Yosemite Valley are open year-round. However, Tioga Pass Road (Hwy 120 East between Crane Flat & Hwy 395 near Mono Lake) closes for the winter, typically from mid-October to late May, depending on the weather. Call the Yosemite road hotline at 209.372.0200 or visit The Yosemite National Park website or The California Department of Traffic website for current conditions.